I like to play volleyball and I am pretty good at it...?

Question

I can do everything except serve the ball. It is so frustrating!!!!! Does anyone have anything that might help?

I want to learn to serve underhand

Answer 1

When I do volleyball clinics covering serving, I spend as much as 30 minutes discussing the mental approach and the mechanics of serving. In this format it is difficult to cover much more than just the basics of it. Most people learn best from having someone tell them how to do it and then show them how to do it - you should look in your area for any camps you can go to. I know in my area there are a couple of high schools that have offered camps, I will be doing one out of the YMCA where I coach and the local universities offer camps.

Just some tips
1. It is easier and therefore more comfortable to hit the ball closer to your body (letting it drop lower before swinging at it). One of the biggest mistakes I see is players doing that so that they are at least making contact with the ball. Don't fall into that trap. Make contact up and away from your body - you may miss completely a few times as you get your timing down. So what, it will pay off in the end.
2. Make sure you are swinging at the ball. I see a lot of players that are developing an overhand serve, drop their elbow and swing with a "shot put" motion. During your swing, your elbow should never drop below your shoulder.
3. All of your movement should be forward through the ball towards your target. Imagine a narrow box in front of you that you have to pass through. The biggest mistake I see players make is stepping sideways and swinging at the ball with their shoulders and hips square to the net.You should be turning your waist through your swing - 50% of your power comes from that motion. When you step out, you are robbing yourself of that power.

The thing I try to remind my players is serving is about confidence and mechanics. I have a girl that plays for me who is about 4'11" to 5' tall and has a very slight build - she is able generate incredible power when she hits the ball. She has an incredibly consistent and strong serve and in our last season she was in the top 3 or 4 on the team in serves even though she was the smallest player. She is very confident and she has awesome mechanics.

Use your mind to practice. Visualize yourself serving. You should see yourself serving using perfect mechanics and being successful with each serve. You should do at least 20 "mental serves" a day.

Good luck

Answer 2

When I was younger, I used to imagine the ball as my brother's head. (He used to tease & torture me all the time.) That helped me to get the power to get the ball over the net.

Remember... whichever way you serve (underhand or overhand) the ball will go the way that your hand is pointing at the end of your swing. Make sure that is just over the net toward the court. You don't want it to be too high or too low.

Keep trying and don't give up! You will get it eventually. Some people get it quicker than others. Don't get discouraged! :)

Answer 3

My coach always told me to NOT thow the ball when I serve underhanded but I always give it a lil toss. That's the only way I can serve.They're always over and in, too!

Answer 4

Are you serving overhand or underhand? I always had a helluva time controlling an underhand serve, but switched to overhand and have never had any problems.

Answer 5

Just remember to slow down. If you get too excited or anxious your serve won't be as good.

Here is a good site for specific tips on serving and the common areas to work on

Hope this helps :) Good luck...and remember practice, practice, practice.

Answer 6

Concentrate on making good contact with the ball first, then practice on its placement and ability to get it over the net. Also get out of your head that "you can't serve well" - mind over matter. I personally have a good over hand jump serve, but that took practice in the steps I have recomomended. good contact first. timed the jump second, then worked on placement last.
And like always - practice, practice, practice.

Answer 7

When you go to serve the ball think of something really exciting or a happy moment from the past..that always helps me get more energy & then I can hit the ball harder. ;)

Answer 8

Put your feet the way you want the ball to go. I mean point them that way. Over hand always seemed easier for me. You have more control over the ball. Just practice,practice,and practice! Good Luck! Square your shoulders the way you want the ball to go to as well!

Answer 9

The key is to keep trying. Some girls need to take a step before they hit the ball. That can add a bit to the power. Good luck!!! You will get it!!!!

Answer 10

u put ur hand out than u throw the ball under and than hit it it works