Serving

Float serve (352k)
Image In this clip (.mov) of a float serve, pay particular attention to the following:

  • In her "starting" position, she has her weight on her right foot with her left foot acting as a "target finder," pointing exactly where she wants the ball to go.
  • As her left hand prepares to toss, her right hand comes straight back and stays high, preparing to contact the ball.
  • Her toss is low and out of front of her. She takes a short step with her left foot in the direction of the serve.
  • Her armswing is short and crisp. Her wrist stays stiff and does not snap her hand over the top of the ball.
  • Her followthrough is short and clean, not all the way to her hip.
  • Body rotation is kept to a minimum to insure solid contact with the center of the ball.

Jump serve (396k)
Image The jump serve demonstrated here (.mov) is designed for ball control, not power. To jump serve with more velocity, follow the same rules outlined below, but make everything slightly "bigger" -- that is, start a little further back for a longer 3-step approach, and toss a little higher.

  • The server starts 12'-15' behind the baseline and uses a compact 3-step approach (left . . . . right, left).
  • He releases the toss very early in his approach, in this case during his first step. (If your toss tends to be erratic, toss while you're completely still, before you start your approach.)
  • The toss is medium height and well into the court, so the server has to jump forward to the ball.
  • The contact point is high and only an inch or two in front of the hitting shoulder (if the contact is any further forward or backward, an error will usually occur).
  • The server snaps his wrist through the top of the ball and followsthrough to his right hip.

More on serving.


Updated January 2006.

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