The Underhand Volleyball Serve How Should A Beginner Serve The Basics

Here's a ten step check list for beginners who can easily learn in ten steps how to perform the underhand volleyball serve.

Here's a ten-step underhand volleyball serve checklist for beginner players. (Craig Fildes)

Here's a ten-step underhand volleyball serve checklist for beginner players.

Learn how to boost your serve game and drastically impact your ability to make big contributions to your squad from the service line. 

For right handers place your right foot behind your left so your right foot is perpendicular to your left and both feet are four (4) to five (5) inches apart.

Make this a comfortable, balanced stance so you do not feel like falling over. 

Point your left foot in the exact direction you want to serve.

Point your left foot, hips, and upper body straight ahead if you want to serve down the line.

Turn your left foot, hips, and upper body facing cross court if serving there. 

Face your target.

Show everybody in the gym where you intend to serve for the floater serve.

Pointing to one spot and serving another rarely "fakes out" the serve receive. You will always be off-balance, increasing your chances of serving out. 

Hold the ball in the palm of your left hand while placing your open palm of your right hand on top of the ball to start.

Hold the ball in the palm of your left hand while placing your open palm of your right hand on top of the ball to start. 

Place your front foot, hips, shoulders, and tossed ball in the direction you plan to serve.

You can create more force and velocity when all your energy is going in one direction (which is ball speed in this case) than when different body parts are going in different directions. 

Put all your body weight on your back foot. Serving requires only a small amount of lower body movement. 

Shift your body weight from your back foot to the front foot once while stepping forward to contact the ball.

Although this movement doesn't seem like much, when it's combined with your arm swing, it's enough to give the ball the momentum needed to get over the net. 

With a straight elbow swing your right arm back keeping it close to your side before swinging it forward.

Contact the bottom of the ball (at 6pm on the ball) with a closed right fist using the underarm swinging motion to create the force and momentum to get the ball over the net. 

Keep your body balanced so you only have to transfer weight from your back foot to your front foot, quicken your arm swing, and make solid contact with the ball's bottom panels with the top of your fist. 

Keep your elbow straight when serving.

This increases the chances of getting the ball over the seven-foot net when you pull or draw your arm back to underhand serve the ball. 

Do the same thing every time you serve.

Create a ritual you perform each time you serve so you don't rush your serve.

That could be bouncing the ball three times in a row, then taking a breath, and pointing your foot in the direction you want to serve before serving.

Work it out so you do the same thing every time, whatever it is.

Remember this is the only time that you completely control the game.

Maintain control by taking your time and being completely aware of everything you plan to do before you serve the ball. 

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!

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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. 

Volleyball Serving Basics 
Where Do You Go From Here?

Your options are: 

1. You can learn more about Serving 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.

1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Private Volleyball Coach April Chapple
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2. Basic Volleyball Skills: Six Essential Skills Varsity Players Know
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3. The Underhand Volleyball Serve How Should A Beginner Serve The Basics

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