10 Frequently Asked Questions About The Float Serve Volleyball Technique

I answer ten of the most frequently asked questions that I get about standing and jump float serve volleyball skill, technique and strategy used to score aces

The float serve volleyball skill is a type of overhand volleyball serve performed by contacting the ball with flat hand in the middle panels of the ball facing the server which produces a fast paced ball that as it crosses the court and goes to the opposing side does not spin but it floats, dips and moves unpredictably in the air, making it difficult for the receiving team to read and anticipate where its going to land in their court.(White and Blue Review)

Welcome to my informative guide on the float serve volleyball technique!

The float serve technique is a distinctive serving skill used to confuse opposing team passers and help you score aces.

Ryanwils, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In this article, I provide a clear definition of the float serve volleyball skill.

So, let's get into it and unravel the secrets of this powerful serving technique.

The float serve in volleyball is a type of overhand serve done by contacting the ball using the top part of the palm of your hand to make contact with the middle panels of the ball while keeping a rigid wrist upon contact in order to avoid generating spin on the ball.

Unlike a traditional spin serve, the float serve relies on the fluid motion of the server's hand and the ball's aerodynamics to create unpredictable movement in the air after contact while moving from one half court to the other.

As the ball crosses the court, the flat hand middle of the ball contact causes the ball to dip, to sway, or to change course, making it tough for the passers in serve receive to accurately predict its landing spot.

The unique characteristic of the float serve lies in its ability to keep the passers guessing while challenging the opposing team, often resulting in shanks and mispassed balls and aces scored and creates valuable opportunities for the serving team to gain an advantage in the rally.

A: The float serve volleyball skill is a type of overhand volleyball serve performed by contacting the ball with a flat hand in the middle panels of the ball.

By facing the passer while doing this it produces a fast paced ball that as it crosses the court and goes to the opposing side does not spin but it floats, dips and moves unpredictably in the air.

This makes it difficult for the receiving team to read and anticipate where its going to land in their court.

Remember, staying balanced in the air and when you land is the key.

Start by positioning your feet shoulder-width apart with the foot of your non-dominant leg slightly forward and your bodyweight on your back foot.

Be ready to start your serve with a slow step that gets your body moving with forward momentum, before you toss and spring into the air after taking the last two steps of your approach.

Work to stay behind the ball while in the air so you can keep an eye on the ball and still have a sense of where your target is in the opposing court during your arm swing.

While in the air,  keep your body tall and balanced while bringing your serving hand with a flat wrist to contact the middle of the ball with the middle of the palm of your hand.

Remember once you contact the ball your hips and shoulders should be facing the direction of your target, where you want the ball to go upon your landing.

One huge key to having successful float serve volleyball technique is to....make sure you watch your hand when when it contacts the ball.

That way you can make minor last minute changes if your toss is off while you're still in midair.

Start by watching your opponents during warm-ups.

Spot any weak passers? Perfect, aim for them!

Do they have a left-handed player who passes in serve receive?

Then serve to their right side.

See a gap also known as a "seam" between players or near the corners of the court?

Even better. Aim your serve there. 

Additionally, it's crucial to exploit potential gaps or seams in the opposing team's serve receive formation.

These seams are the empty court spaces that separate the players or are the empty spaces near the corners of the court.

Targeting these areas with your float serve creates confusion and hesitation among the passers in serve receive, increasing the possibility of them failing to effectively pass the ball to their setter or their intended target. 

By capitalizing on these gaps, you force the opposing team to readjust their positioning and serve receive pattern and scramble to recover, giving your team a valuable opportunity to launch a strong and coordinated attack.

When doing a float serve, one effective tactical approach is to strategically target weaker passers on the opposing team.

Weak passers or players who have just made mistakes are often low in confidence, more likely to commit errors, which makes them easier targets to exploit and go after with your serve.

By observing the warm-up sessions or paying attention to previous rallies, you can identify players who struggle with their passing technique or show signs of inconsistency.

Typically, weak passers will be found in specific positions, such as the left-back or right-back.

Aim your serves towards these players to increase the chances of disrupting their reception consistency and putting pressure on the opposing team's receiving set-up.

How To Float Serve And Find Aim and Score Against The Weak Passer: ”I don’t want to serve the opposing team a ball that’s easy for them to receive and run an attack off of." (Matt Duboff)

Yes, these playing and "next level' float serve volleyball strategies are used at all levels of play, from beginner to professional.

The key in learning how to serve a floater at the next level is learning how to better "read the game" to improve your skill level at identify the opposing team's weaknesses and then using that knowledge to your advantage.

That's how you make varsity and that's how you get more playing time.

Avoid overthinking it - nerves can get the best of you!

Don't rush your approach and jump, you have 6 to 8 seconds to prepare your serve so no need to rush, take your time.

Oh, and contacting the ball too high can send the ball out of bounds to the back wall or contacting the ball too low will serve it into the net.

Aim for a clean, flat hand contact in the center of the ball to get that perfect float effect which makes the ball dip and move with pace on the way over to the opposing court making it a hard ball for receivers to pass. 

Ah, the million-dollar question which I get at least several times a week from guy and girl high school players .

The secret is in strengthening your legs.

As a high school player who began to lift weights first with bodyweight and then in the weightroom I knew this had to be my focus in order to gaining an edge in order to run and play faster and jump higher.

And nothing has changed.

Power exercises like squats, box jumps, or even simply jumping rope can all increase your jump height.

When you jump higher in the air you give yourself the opportunity to aim for and hit or serve at sharper angles in the court. And sharper angles are harder for opposing passers and liberos to get to ..

Jumping higher gives you more time to create a more powerful swing for your serve and we know a more powerful swing increases your chances to score points and aces for your team.

Everything, period!

You know what they say, "Your serve is only as strong as you are".

Strength-training and bodyweight training exercises, especially for the core and lower body, can boost your overall serve power.

Developing a strong mindset for yourself is a game-changer. mentally and emotionally strong players can beat out physically strong players in many circumstances.

Take a minute before each serve to visualize doing it properly.

Take deep breathes to slow your heart rate down as you walk back to the service line while in your mind's eye you see the serve happening, see it being successful, and then go make it happen!

You got this!

The coach often plays a role in setting serving strategies by telling server's where to serve based on their understanding of the opposing team's weaknesses.

Often coaches will scout the team you are scheduled to play before your match so they can identify who the weak passers are and where the vulnerable areas are for that particular team before you step on the court to play.

But if the coach doesnt "call the serve", its up to the individual player to identify weak targets.

  Coach April Chapple's Volleyball Passing Tips For Youth Volleyball Players

MY PASSING EBOOK QUICKLY HELPS YOU IMPROVE YOUR PASSING SKILLS. Learn how to perform one of the most important skills you need to know to gain more playing time on the court!

Learn Passing Secrets!

 

 

 

 

Here are some reminders to tell yourself before serving in volleyball.

"I want a specific passer to mess up or shank the ball or if I can't force them to do that then at the very least I want my serve to force the opposing team to give our team an easy ball that we can defend or pass and run an attack against them.”

"I want to serve a ball that puts them in a difficult situation where I force one of the passers to have to move out of their comfortable passing position to pass my tough or well-placed serve."

”I don’t want to serve the opposing team a ball that’s easy for them to receive and run an attack off of."

”I don’t want to serve the opposing team a ball that’s easy for them to receive and run an attack off of."

Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

Your three options are: 

1. You can learn more about Serving Strategies by visiting the related links below.                            
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages in the How to Play Volleyball section in the drop down menu at the top of the page to get started. 
4. Before leaving this page Say "Hi" to Miss Tattoo the Tiger wearing the #9 jersey below.  Miss Tattoo is the starting defensive and serving specialist for the All Beast VolleyBragSwag All Star team.

Say "Hi" to Miss Tattoo the Tiger wearing the #9 jersey below. Miss Tattoo is the starting defensive and serving specialist for the All Beast VolleyBragSwag All Star team.

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