Consistent and accurate serving is the goal of all volleyball players, from juniors to Olympic team members. However, to get to that point, it’s important to know if you’re serving correctly. Here are some ways to do that.
The first way to know if you are serving correctly is if the ball is going where you want it to go. I know that sounds very simplistic, but the reality is that the right mechanics tend to result in high levels of accuracy. If you are consistently hitting your target, then there is a good chance you hit the target. With that being said, you are most likely reading this article because it is not as precise or powerful a server as you would like, so let me provide you with some checkpoints you can use to get on your way.
Are you finishing your balanced serve? If not, there is something wrong. Usually it all comes down to your pitch. If you throw the ball too far to the left or right, you’ll end up leaning in that direction to try to make proper contact with the ball. Either that, or you’ll be serving the ball in that direction when you didn’t mean to. If you find your weight on your front toes, then you’ve thrown the ball too far forward, whereas having to arch your back and lean back means a shot behind your ideal point of contact. All of this can be fixed by upgrading your launch.
Does the ball spin when you want it to float or does it float when you want it to spin? That is a function of his contact with the ball. You have to make sure you hit the right part of the ball in the right way to get the desired effect.
Does the ball arrive short or does it go too far? Distance on serve has to do with your hand speed at contact. Swing your arm faster to hit the ball further (notice I didn’t say swing harder). Move your arm slower to hit the ball shorter. However, be sure to keep your contact with the ball firm. No limp wrist or soft hand!
Does your shoulder hurt when you serve? If so, it probably means your arm swing is off somehow, assuming you just don’t have an injury from something else, of course. This again could be related to the launch of the ball, but could also be a function of its mechanics. However, this can be difficult to judge for yourself. You’ll probably want the help of a trainer to assess your arm swing, or at least the use of a video.
Which brings up perhaps the best way to gauge if you’re serving properly. Record your own serve and compare it to someone else’s video serving correctly. There are many tools these days that allow parallel analysis. This will allow you to see how your technique compares to that of a good server in the areas of body posture, arm set-up, throwing, footwork, and follow through.
Hopefully you have a coach to keep an eye on your serving technique and help correct things as needed. However, if not, the tips here should help you identify problems and get you on the road to more effective service.
