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The Proper Volleyball Serve Technique, What Types of Serves Are Best?

What's the most proper volleyball serve technique to know? Learn the five serve types and terms for the let serve, sky ball, the overhand and underhand serve.

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There are quite a few different types of service techniques in volleyball , but what's the most proper volleyball serve technique you need to know?

the let serve
overhand serve
sky ball serve
underhand serve
service error

The serve in volleyball is an offensive weapon and the first chance for a player to score a point.

When used intelligently it can help you and your team score easy points from the baseline.

The list of terms below describe various types of volleyball serve techniques players use to start a rally.

I suggest learning these to increase your volleyball IQ.

Proper Volleyball Serve Technique
Let Serve

But with the new serving rule, if the ball touches the net, the referee is allowed to "let" the play continue so the players on serve receive must be ready to continue to play the ball.

The let serve was created because of a rule change made by the powers that be (FIVB) to

increase the speed of the game and
to make it more appealing to television audiences and spectators by

reducing the pauses that occur between plays.

But with the new serving rule, if the ball touches the net, the referee is allowed to "let" the play continue so the players on serve receive must be ready to continue to play the ball. (volleyballserver-serve-front-row-dan-morgan)

Initially a served ball couldn't touch any part of the net as it passed over it to start the rally.

But with the new serving rule, if the ball touches the net, the referee is allowed to "let" the play continue so the players on serve receive must be ready to continue to play the ball

Proper Volleyball Serve Technique:
Overhand Serve

When you look at my players you'll see (or shoudl see) that all of them have the same serving form and technique. We work hard on -

keeping the elbow close to the ear
watching their hand when they contact the ball
watch how their hips are facing where they want to serve the ball (we were working on serving line to zone 5)

When you look at my players you'll see that all of them have the same serving form and technique.

We work hard on -

keeping the elbow close to the ear
watching their hand when they contact the ball
watch how their hips are facing where they want to serve the ball (we were working on serving line to zone 5)
all of them are or will contact the ball at the same spot on the ball, so the upper part of the palm just below the knuckles contact the middle panels of the ball
working on a consistent toss on every serve so I know exactly where to contact the ball

The overhand volleyball serve describes

what happens when a player tosses the ball with one hand about two feet up in the air
steps towards it, and
raises their other arm to perform a bow and arrow arm movement
keeping their elbow high above their ear
contacting the ball with an open hand to propel it over the net and
into the opposing volleyball team's court

which starts the rally.

I focus on teaching the proper volleyball serve technique to clients and players training in my Boot Camp classes during August post summer high school prep volleyball classes.

In competitive volleyball in high school, club, college and professional indoor and beach leagues and competition, the overhand serve is the most popular form used to start the rally when serving.

Various forms of the overhand serve include the floater serve, the topspin serve and the jump serve. All these types of serves require the player to make contact with the ball over their head.

Proper Volleyball Serve Technique:

Various forms of the overhand serve include the floater serve, the topspin serve and the jump serve. All these types of serves require the player to make contact with the ball over their head.

If you hear someone call this an "overhand" serve or an "overhead" serve, they are referring to the same type of volleyball serve.

Proper Volleyball Serve Technique:
Sky Ball Serve

Sky ball serve - Beach players use this style of serve to take advantage of the wind and bright sky by underhand serving the ball 20-30 feet in the air. (Ralph Aversen)

Proper Volleyball Serve Technique: Sky ball serve - Beach players use this style of serve to take advantage of the wind and bright sky by underhand serving the ball 20-30 feet in the air. (Ralph Aversen)

Beach volleyball players use this style of a serve in volleyball to take advantage of the wind and the light colored sky.

By serving the ball more than 20-30 feet into the air, they force the opposing passers to take their eyes off of the court in order to visually track the ball.

Because of the brightly lit sky and the wind currents, it makes it difficult for passers to pass the light colored ball since it can get lost against the light colored background of the sky or get moved around alot in the wind currents.

It was much harder when the official beach volleyball ball was only white but in recent years they've changed the color of the balls so that players play with balls that are multi-colored, that are much easier to see against the bright sky.

Proper Volleyball Serve Technique:
How To Underhand Serve

The underhand serve describes one of the first basic skills in volleyball beginners learn. A player begins the rally by tossing a ball with one hand two feet up in the air, steps towards it, and swings her other arm back behind her before quickly swinging it forward to contact the underside of the ball with a closed fist or closed palm to serve it over the net. (Craig Fildes photo)

The underhand serve describes one of the first basic skills in volleyball beginners learn.

A player begins the rally by

tossing a ball with one hand two feet up in the air, steps towards it, and
swings her other arm back behind her before
quickly swinging it forward to contact the underside of the ball with a closed fist or closed palm

to serve it over the net.

Proper Volleyball Serve Technique:
Service Error

According to the rules of volleyball a service error is committed when a player fails to start a rally by getting the ball over the net with their serve.

This can happen if a player serves the ball over the net and it

a) lands outside of the other team's court

b) if the ball doesn't cross the net or

c) if the server steps on the service line and commits a foot fault.

Professional Tips to Enhance Your Serving Technique

- As you start your forward swing, keep your elbow high and close to your ear, bring the middle of the palm of your hand to the middle of the ball - As your arm swings forward, make contact with the middle of the ball, keeping your wrist strong, straight and rigid and aiming to contact the ball with a flat hand

Now that we have covered various serve techniques and the equipment necessary to practice them, let's move onto some expert advice from professional players and coaches.

Here are a few pro tips to enhance your serve:

Addi works on her jump float serve toss consistency while aiming for a deep line serve to Zone 5.

1. Consistency is Key:

Even the most powerful serve is ineffective if it doesn't get over the net. Prioritize consistent serving over power, and as your technique improves, gradually introduce more power to your serves.

Addi puts in 100 reps to improve her technique for her floater in volleyball serve on Super Bowl Sunday.

2. Vary Your Serves:

Keep your opponents guessing by varying your serves - change up the speed, angle, and location of your serve to disrupt their receiving rhythm.

Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.

Ari, my private training client and I are working on proper volleyball serve technique, specifically on serving the jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2

There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with

working on performing the same toss in the same location consistently
every time using the same arm swing speed
the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.

3. Use Your Whole Body:

Many beginners make the mistake of serving with their arm strength alone. I teach servers how to incorporate the whole body into your serve by shifting your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you serve.

I teach servers how to incorporate the whole body into your serve by shifting your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you serve.

4. Mental Preparation:

Volleyball is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Visualize where you want your serve to go before you execute it.

Many times I have my private clients close their eyes before serving the ball so they can create a clear mental image that can help improve accuracy.

During my Breakfast Club for College Players summer training for college players in Vegas home for the summer we work on partner jump float serving technique where two servers at a time in two different lines serve behind Zone 1 and Zone 5 to a designated spot on the opposing court.

Pairs work together to get the ball "in" and if one player in the serving pair misses their serve neither of the two score a point for their team.

So no point for the two people serving and no point for the team they represent so the pressure feels like its double the weight.

The more we do this drill the more the server feels the pressure of having to make their serve in.

5. Practice Under Pressure:

I have my teams and clients practice serves at the end of a practice or after physical training, when they're tired.

It simulates the feeling of serving in a high-stakes game situation where fatigue can affect performance and what you regularly do in practice you should feel comfortable doing in a match.

Volleyball Serving Drills My 10 "Coach April"Overhand Serve Volleyball Tips

Always remember, practice makes perfect. The more serves you practice, the better your serving technique will become."

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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.

Learn more volleyball serve technique in the pages below.

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The outside hitter is the left side spiker in volleyball at the net who is the team's offensive weapon who usually gets the most sets and attack attempts.
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What Sets My Private Volleyball Training Apart From Anyone In Vegas? You should learn what my private volleyball training mission says before you hiring to me as a private volleyball coach because I'm not available for everyone.

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend

Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.

utkaprilcollegepiconneylandstadiumvideoboard

Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee, Coach April Chapple is

the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
former USA National team member
one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist

April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match

Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training

Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!

Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.

Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.

Email me right now to register or for more information.

info@improveyourvolley.com

Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2

There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with

the same toss height and same toss location
the same armswing speed
the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.

kamiminerpac12setteroftheyearformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

Tommi Stockham All Big West Conference sophomore former Coach April Chapple private client 3 years

katepriorallwestcoastconferencebyufreshmanformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

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Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021