This does not mean, however, you should give your opponent "easy" serves. On the contrary, you should "serve tough," but rather than relying on velocity you should use placement and a good "floater" to make your serves "tough."

Serving mechanics
As with any volleyball skill, you should use as little body motion as possible when you serve. Prepare to serve by standing just behind the baseline with your weight on your right foot (for right-handers) and your left foot slightly in front. Hold the ball at your waist with both hands. When the referee whistles and motions for serve, you have five seconds to serve the ball (which is a lot longer than it sounds).

There are two methods for tossing the ball: a one-handed toss and a two-handed toss. If you feel comfortable tossing the ball with one hand and can do it accurately, raise the ball in front of your right shoulder with your arms nearly straight, keeping your left hand on the bottom of the ball and your right hand on top. Lift your right hand off the ball and slowly draw your right elbow back and slightly up, so that it passes by your right ear. When your right hand is even with your ear, begin the serving motion.

As you toss the ball, step forward with your left foot and transfer your weight from right to left. This weight transfer will impart momentum to the ball and make it travel further without you having to swing very hard. The toss should peak only about 5" or 6" inches higher than you can reach (which means you're probably tossing to high) and it should remain directly in front of your right shoulder. As the toss nears its peak, begin your swing by reaching up with your elbow and slinging your hand at the ball. Make contact with the heel and palm of your hand and try not to let your fingers touch the ball. This action will keep your wrist stiff and impart little or no spin to the ball, which is precisely what you want. A ball with no spin will "float" -- that is, it will travel in erratic path, like a knuckleball, and be extremely difficult to pass. Followthrough to your right hip, keeping your wrist stiff, and then move quickly to your defensive position.

If you do not feel comfortable using a one-handed toss (or cannot do it accurately), use a two-handed toss. Everything is done exactly the same, with two exceptions. First, you do not raise the ball from your waist and hold it in front of your right shoulder; rather, you toss the ball from your waist. Second, and relatedly, you don't have as much time to draw your right elbow back. You must, however, go through exactly the same motion, so you have to do it faster.

**If you have a strong, relaxed armswing, you should probably use a two-handed toss, because the toss will be the weak link in your serve. If your armswing is still weak, you should probably use a one-handed toss, because it gives you more "preparation time" for your swing.

Hints for better serving
1. Don't dribble the ball repeatedly before you serve; don't take a jillion steps; don't twist your body for more power; etc. All these actions add extraneous motion and increase your chance for errors.

2. Keep your toss low and in front of your hitting shoulder. If it's a bad toss, let it fall to the ground. The referee will whistle for a replay.

3. Swing at the ball; don't push at it.

4. Don't think of the toss, step, and swing as separate components; they should all be one fluid motion.

5. Keep your wrist stiff and your fingers away from the ball as you make contact. This will keep spin off the ball and make it "float."

Back to main Serving page.

Updated January 2006.