Bergen Reilly serving
© Charlotte Gottfried / Red Bull Content Pool
Volleyball
How to serve a volleyball: Tips and techniques for success
Ready to ace your volleyball serve? Learn step-by-step techniques for underhand, overhand, and jump serves, plus tips to boost accuracy, power, and strategy on the court!
By Amanda Clark
8 min readPublished on
Serving in volleyball is a chance to seize momentum and rack up points. Mastering advanced techniques to successfully serve a volleyball keeps opponents on their toes, central to winning in competitions like the Red Bull Spike and Red Bull Back Line. This guide will break down the importance of a strong serve, the different types of serves, and volleyball serving tips that’ll help level up your game.
Participants at Red Bull Back Line Izmir Qualifiers in Turkey
Participants at Red Bull Back Line Izmir Qualifiers in Turkey © Mahmut Cinci / Red Bull Content Pool

Importance of a good serve

A strong serve does much more than put the ball in play — it’s strategic. A well-executed serve can catch the opposing team off guard, disrupt their formation, and force them into defensive positions.
Teams that master serving techniques have the ability to control the pace of the game. Consistent pressure from the service line forces opponents to adjust their strategy.
It’s one of the leading ways to score an ace. This type of serve lands on the opponent's court untouched, earning your team a point that could mean the difference between winning and losing. It’s one of the most exciting plays in volleyball and can shift momentum in an instant.
A good serve also forces weak returns. A powerful or unpredictable serve sets up your team for an easy attack.
01

Types of volleyball serves

Underhand serve

Participant at Red Bull Back Line Izmir Qualifiers in Turkey
Participant at Red Bull Back Line Izmir Qualifiers in Turkey © Mahmut Cinci / Red Bull Content Pool
The underhand serve is ideal for beginners learning how to serve a volleyball for the first time. It’s simple, controlled, and reliable. It may not always result in a point-winning ace, but it’ll give your teammates a chance at winning the round.
How it works: The player swings their dominant hand in a pendulum-like motion to hit the ball, held at waist height with the non-dominant hand. The player hits the ball with a closed fist.
When to use it: The underhand serve is best used when accuracy and consistency are the primary goals over power, specifically for new players. There are no volleyball rules against using underhand serves in major competitions. However, advanced players prefer other serves because the underhand can make it easier for opponents to get a hit.

Overhand serve

Bergen Reilly
Bergen Reilly© Charlotte Gottfried / Red Bull Content Pool
More advanced than the underhand serve, the overhand serve introduces more power and precision. Its speed, trajectory, and placement technique can be used as an offensive play.
There are two main variation types:
  1. Float serve: This serve has minimal spin, causing it to “float” over the net. This makes it difficult to receive.
  2. Topspin serve: By snapping the wrist at contact, this serve creates forward spin, causing the ball to dip quickly. Topspin serves are the most common serve, as it lets players aim toward the back of the court.

Jump serve

Anders Mol serving
Anders Mol serving© Herman Berger / Red Bull Content Pool
The jump serve is an attack technique that combines power, spin, and unpredictability. It’s a favorite of elite players due to its speed and difficulty to receive. Mastering how to do a jump serve requires practice and precision, but it’s a potent weapon in the game.
How it works: The player takes a running approach, tosses the ball high, and jumps to strike it at the peak of the jump.
When to use it: Break out a jump serve when you want to maximize power and angles, white even exhibiting a little bit of intimidation on the court. It's especially effective against teams with weaker passers, as the speed and spin make the ball harder to control.
02

Strategic applications of different serves

Serving strategically in volleyball is about knowing when and how to deploy different serves. These smart, tactical decisions exploit the opponent’s weaknesses and can change the trajectory of the game.
  • Float serve strategy: The unpredictable flight path confuses receivers, forcing them into defensive positions. This is a great option for disrupting an opponent's formation.
  • Topspin serve strategy: This serve forces the ball to dip quickly, often causing errors from receivers. Use it to target weak passers.
  • Jump serve strategy: The speed and angle of the jump serve can make it difficult for your opponent to control. It’s an aggressive option when your team needs momentum.
03

Step-by-step guide to serving techniques

Underhand serve

This method is often taught to beginners learning how to serve a volleyball for the first time. To perform an underhand serve:
  • Stance: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, with the non-dominant foot forward. Be behind the end line and place weight on the back foot.
  • Grip: Hold the ball in the non-dominant hand at waist level. Keep the dominant hand in a closed fist or an open palm position, and get ready to serve.
  • Swing: Draw the hand back and shift weight onto the front foot. Swing the dominant hand toward the ball and strike with the fist or the heel of the palm.

Overhand serve

If you’re focused on how to overhand serve consistently, the key lies in mastering your toss and hand contact. To perform an overhand serve:
  • Stance: Stand with feet staggered, body facing the net, and behind the service line. Keep the foot opposite of the serving hand positioned a little bit forward. Hold the ball above the head in the nondominant hand. The serving hand should be open-palm, not closed fist.
  • Toss: Lift the ball in the air with the non-dominant hand while swinging the serving hand backward. As arms swing back, take a step forward to hit the ball.
  • Contact: Hit the ball with the heel of the hand and have the arm follow through. This guides the ball in the desired direction.

Jump serve

Yuji Nishida serving
Yuji Nishida serving© Jason Halayko / Red Bull Content Pool
How to do a jump serve properly comes down to synchronization — toss, jump, and contact must all happen in quick succession. To perform a jump serve:
  • Approach: Take three to four steps forward to build momentum.
  • Toss: Toss the ball high enough for an arm swing.
  • Jump: Move the body forward. Jump explosively with both feet.
  • Contact: Hit the ball at the peak of the jump, ensuring maximum speed and downward trajectory. Try to hit the middle of the ball to fly it straight or on the side to curve the serve.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even seasoned players can struggle with serving consistency. Here are some of the most common errors and tips on how to work on them.
  • Inaccurate hand contact: Hitting the ball with fingers or an improper part of the hand can negatively impact control. To fix your contact, use the heel of your hand or the palm for serves.
  • Inconsistent tosses: Tossing the ball too high, too low, or too far in front or behind you can lead to an error. To fix this, practice tossing volleyball drills. The toss should be consistent and predictable every time.
  • Lack of follow-through: Stopping your arm motion too soon leads to weak serves. Fix your follow-through by extending your arm fully, and keep it moving after contact to direct the ball.
  • Shaky hits: Not having control over a hit leads to an unsuccessful serve. Fix your hit by practicing serving drills on repeat to gain confidence. Aim for a certain target by hitting the ball with your palm or fist.
  • Using too much force: A serve that’s too overwhelming can be hard to control. Learn to harness your serve’s power by focusing on precision and where you want the ball to land.
04

Drills to improve serving skills

Anders Mol serving
Anders Mol serving© Herman Berger / Red Bull Content Pool
Mastering how to serve a volleyball takes repetition and targeted practice. These drills can sharpen your skills by building consistency, power, and precision.
  • Target serving: Place cones or markers on specific court zones and try to hit them with serves to improve accuracy.
  • Under pressure drills: Sometimes, stress can help generate better serves. To practice consistent form under heightened conditions, create a match-like game with someone timing you and your opponent.
  • Consistency drills: Repeatedly serve the ball. The goal is to achieve a set number of successful serves over the net without missing.
  • Toss and catch: Standing on the baseline, you’ll toss the ball while aiming for the desired height and direction.
  • Jump and catch: This advances the toss and catch drill. Toss the ball, continuing to aim for height, then jump and catch. At the peak of your jump, catch the ball.

Master your serve: The key to volleyball success

Serving is one of the most important volleyball skills. From beginners learning how to serve a volleyball underhand to advanced players mastering how to do a jump serve, every stage of development matters.
With consistent practice, you’ll build accuracy, power, and control. Start with more simple techniques like the underhand serve, then progress to mastering how to serve a volleyball overhand. Once you’re comfortable, level up with the jump serve to truly dominate.
The court is yours, whether it’s beach volleyball or an indoor arena. Take control of the service line and set the tone for every game. Practice hard, serve smart, and watch your game rise.
Volleyball