Quickly Elevate Your Game With A Deadly Jump Float Serve in Volleyball

In this simple guide, I teach you how to improve your jump float serve in volleyball by measuring your steps, create a serving ritual and how to fix your toss.

Learn how to jump float serve in volleyball with power with these serving tips: face your target, visualize your serve, fix your toss and serve like you spike.

The jump float serve in volleyball is a powerful way you can score an ace, a direct point by yourself, without the help of any other teammate with a serve that floats, dips and bobs after you contact it in the air as  it makes its way over the net making it difficult to pass by the opposing team.

How valuable does this make you to your team?

The jump float serve in volleyball is a powerful way you can score an ace, a direct point by yourself, without the help of any other teammate with a serve that floats, dips and bobs after you contact it in the air as it makes its way over the net making it difficult to pass by the opposing team.

Ryanwils, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When done correctly the jump float serve is difficult for them to return.

I will guide you through the steps needed to develop a powerful jump float serve from

• setting up in the right position, 
• to measuring your steps, 
• to accelerating your approach from slow to fast 
• to developing a consistent toss
• to mastering the perfect swing.

Before starting your jump float serve, most players create a serving ritual before they do each serve.

A serving ritual is a way to "get settled" and get focused on the serve you're about to do next.  

One of the most common rituals players do is once they have the ball and go back to do a jump float serve in volleyball, is they measure their steps. 

They pause and stand with their heels on the service line with their back to the net before walking back to where they want to begin their serve, while taking a very precise number of steps, the same number of steps they plan to use during their serving approach. 

Players who normally take a three-step approach when they serve the ball, will take three steps away from the service line and players who use a four step approach take four large steps from the end line before turning around to face the net. 

One of the most common rituals players do is once they have the ball and go back to do a jump float serve in volleyball, is they measure their steps.

Doing this ritual does two things.

It helps players measure out the correct steps and the distance each step is going to be so they get set up before the serve in the correct distance they need to be from the service line so they don't step on the line before they launch themselves in the air to jump. 

One of the serving rules states that if a server steps on the service line while serving, then that's a point and a side out for the other team.  So servers with this ritual are getting themselves in the right spot before they serve. 

Once you've turned around to face the net, you'll be standing facing the net about four steps away from the service line with your non-dominant foot slightly forward slightly in front of the foot you're going to use to take your first step in your serving approach. 

So if you're a right hander then the weight of your body should be on your left foot which should be slightly in front of the right. The opposite for a left hander. 

Jump Float Serve in Volleyball-When you are preparing to do the float serve, you want to show everybody in the gym where you intend to serve the ball. (Jon Fravel)

Face your target. 

When you are preparing to jump float serve in volleyball the float serve, you want to show everybody in the gym where you intend to serve the ball. 

Pointing your body in one direction and then serving to another area on the court rarely “fakes out” the players in serve receive.

You will always be off-balance, and this will increase your chances of 

• serving out
• making a bad contact with the ball or
• into the net

Be sure that your

• lower body---hips and waist along with your
• upper body---chest, shoulders and arms

are all facing your intended target once

• you've started and once 
• you've finished

your serving action.

Serving Tips For Volleyball-It's critical when you proceed through all of the serving steps, that you toss the ball the same way every time you serve. (The Armstrongs)

Let that passer know that you are serving them.

Trust me, let that passer think about what kinds of trouble your serve is about to cause them.

Before you start your jump float serve toss, the ball should be in the palm of your tossing hand with the same arm fully stretched out in front of you perpendicular to your body. (photo) Ralph Aversen

Before you start your jump float serve toss, the ball should be in the palm of your tossing hand with the same arm fully stretched out in front of you perpendicular to your body. 

Your serving arm should be extended towards the ceiling with the palm facing the opposite wall while keeping your elbow close to your ear, so your arms form the shape of an L.  

To deliver a consistent toss, toss the ball with an open hand, keeping your tossing arm straight and your elbow locked. Guide the ball with your open palm 4-5 feet above your head and in front of you before or while you take your first step ... 

Ideally the ball should travel straight up and down in front of your serving arm that will be contacting the ball.

It takes a lot of practice reps to get your toss right where you need it every time so be sure to do tons of tossing reps in volleyball practice. 

Once the toss reaches its highest point then you complete your last two steps of your three step or four step approach while rotating hip and shoulder  which brings the serving arm  and hand to the ball, contacting the middle panels of the ball with the middle of your hand.  

The jump float serve volleyball approach is where you build the momentum like a plane going down the runway that creates the power you need to generate to jump high in the air and create the pace needed to get the ball quickly over the net.

The approach is where you build the momentum like a plane going down the runway that creates the power you need to generate to jump high in the air and create the pace needed to get the ball quickly over the net. 

Spangineer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Like your spike approach your first step or first two steps if you have a four step spike approach are slower smaller steps then the last two steps are your largest and most aggressive.

The last two steps are your most aggressive – a big step with your left foot, followed by a quick right-left-step if you're right handed and the opposite if you're a lefty. 

I like to tell my clients that they want to treat the floor like a trampoline...and really attack the last two steps aggressively in order to launch themselves higher in the air. 

For the jump float serve you keep your wrist rigid and hand flat and straight on contact which creates a lot of float and unpredictable movement making the ball dip and float in the air with a lot of pace when it crosses the court (R.Aversen)

Unlike the top spin serve, where you contact the ball with arm follow through and bent wrist.... for the jump float serve you keep your wrist rigid and hand flat and straight on contact which creates a lot of float and unpredictable movement making the ball dip and float in the air with a lot of pace when it crosses the court and over the net making this type of serve very difficult to pass by players in serve receive. 

The overhand jump serve volleyball technique adds more speed and momentum to the ball than a standing serve making it more challenging for the receivers to read and control.

Practice Makes Perfect

Finally, remember that everyone has a different style and rhythm. Pay attention to what works best for you and adapt the steps as necessary. With practice, dedication, and persistence, you will not only increase your serving power but also become a more valuable player to your team.

Be sure that your

• lower body---hips and waist along with your
• upper body---chest, shoulders and arms

are all facing your intended target once

• you've started and once 
• you've finished

your serving action

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. 

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

1. Learn more about Volleyball Training by exploring the Related Links below. 
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page  Learning How To Play (Sitemap)

1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Vegas VB Coach April Chapple
 ›
2. Six High School Varsity Volleyball Skills That Top Prep Players Crush
 ›
3. Four Ways To Get An Even More Powerful Jump Float Serve in Volleyball

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