The Volleyball Toss How Consistent Is Your Ball Toss Before You Serve?

The volleyball toss for the overhand serve needs to consistently be two feet up in the air and one foot in front of front foot which puts the ball in front of your serving arm. 

The volleyball toss for the overhand serve needs to consistently be two feet up in the air and one foot in front of your front foot in the path of your serving arm.

Are you looking to elevate your serving game in volleyball?

A crucial aspect to focus on is the toss in volleyball. A consistent toss sets the stage for a powerful and accurate serve.

In this section, I will provide you with valuable tips and techniques to improve the consistency of your volleyball toss, along with common mistakes to avoid. 

Your volleyball toss for the overhand must be consistent regardless of what serving style you choose…but especially important for the standing float serve.

You have to learn to toss the volleyball ball the same way, …at the same height, putting the ball in the same spot every single time.

If you have a problem with your serve, one of the first places to look, in order to solve your problem is at your toss.

- Begin by positioning yourself in a balanced stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart. This will provide a stable foundation for a consistent toss.

- As you release the ball, use your fingertips rather than your palm to have more control over its trajectory and spin.

- Practice tossing the ball to a specific target area consistently. This will enable you to achieve muscle memory and replicate the toss during game situations.

- Focus on maintaining a straight arm during the toss, as a bent arm can lead to inconsistencies.

- Utilize a consistent arm motion and follow-through as you release the ball, ensuring a smooth and fluid toss.

I have a formula that we use …

…two feet up in the air and one foot in front of your front foot.

Two feet up in the air …gives you time to rotate your hips and arm to the ball….

One foot in front of your front foot …gives you a specific target area to place your ball that’s in the path of your serving arm when you bring it around to contact the ball.

With this little formula you can check yourself ..to see if ...

• you are leaning over to one side to contact the ball or 
• if you are bringing your serving arm across your body to try and contact the ball.

If you are..then your toss is throwing you off balance...

Volleyball Toss: If your toss is in the right place you should be contacting the ball in front of your serving shoulder with your elbow above the level of your ear and not outside of your body line.

For the standing overhand serve you want to start in a balanced position and you want to finish in a balanced position. 

If your toss is making you do or add unnecessary body movements then you need to fix it. ..

For the standing overhand serve you want to start in a balanced position and finish in a balanced position. If your toss is adding extra body movements then you need to fix it. (White and Blue Review)

If your toss is in the right place then you should be contacting the ball ..in front of your serving shoulder with your elbow above the level of your ear.…and not outside of your body line. 

1. Tossing the ball too low or too high:

Aim for a toss that reaches a height of about two feet above your serving hand and just in front of your front foot. Tossing too low or high can make it difficult to execute a powerful serve.

2. Tossing too far away or too close to your body:

The ideal toss should be positioned about one foot in front of your front foot. Tossing the ball too far away or too close can affect your timing and accuracy.

3. Inconsistent release point:

Ensure that you release the ball from the same spot every time for a consistent trajectory. Varying release points can lead to unpredictable tosses and affect your serving consistency.

4. Gripping the ball too tightly:

A relaxed grip on the ball allows for better control and accuracy during the toss. Avoid gripping the ball too tightly, as it can disrupt the natural flow of the toss.

Here’s your at-home volleyball drill homework.

Just practice your volleyball toss.

Use this formula to start instilling the correct muscle memory for your toss. 

Today go out and do 50 tosses.

Tomorrow do 60.

Tuesday 70.

Add 10 everyday until you do 100 tosses on your own at home.

To get consistently better at tossing…you have to practice tossing.

Just tossing.

This will improve the consistency of your serve because now you know exactly where the ball will be when you contact it. 

Two feet up in the air, one foot in front of your front foot, in front of your serving arm. 

How do I know?

Because I did this and it helped me improve my serve in high school and again in college. 

This formula helped be set career and  All-Time records that still exist today in the volleyball serve aces category at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. 

The Volleyball Serve - Career Aces Record at the University of Tennessee Knoxville

The Volleyball Serve - Season Aces per Set Record at the University of Tennessee Knoxville

If those records still remain unbroken after all this time, then whatever I did back then probably still works today, so try it.

What to do you have to lose? 

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. 

Where do you need to go now? Here are three options: 

1. Learn more about Volleyball Basics. 
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages to learn more about the volleyball serve in the Related Links below.

Meet Tatoo the Tiger, Serving Specialist on VolleyBragSwag's All Beast Team

The volleyball toss for the overhand serve needs to consistently be two feet up in the air and one foot in front of front foot which puts the ball in front of your serving arm.

1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Private Volleyball Coach April Chapple
 ›
2. Basic Volleyball Skills: Six Essential Skills Varsity Players Know
 ›
3. The Volleyball Toss How Consistent Is Your Ball Toss Before You Serve?

ShareFacebookXPinterestTumblrRedditWhatsApp