The Different Types of Service
Serving can be an effective way for a team to score points quickly. There are four main type of serve: underarm, overhead, floating and jump serves.
1. The Underarm Serve
This is the easiest and most reliable method of serving which is easier to control
Tips
- Face direction of serve
- Point feet, hips, shoulders toward target
- Hold ball in path of striking arm
- Swing hitting arm like a pendulum to contact ball
- Hit ball with heel of hand or closed fist
- Transfer your body weight after the ball
2. Overhead Serve
To use this serve, a player must be able to toss consistently and must have the strength and
coordination to hit the ball over the net using an overhand throwing motion.
Tips
- Face direction of serve
- Pint feet, hips, shoulders toward target
- Step into serve for added power
- Toss ball in front of hitting shoulder
- Withdraw hitting arm keeping elbow high
- Rotate striking arm forwards and upwards
- Make contact as high as possible just in front of the shoulder
- Hit ball with open hand
- Follow through and move into backcourt defensive position
- Transfer your body weight after the ball
3. Floating Serve
- Hard to hit but will be very difficult for the receiver to predict
- The laws of aerodynamics affect the flight of a ball hit without spin and it can therefore swerve or dip unpredictably towards the end of its flight.
- Ensure that the ball is hit without spin, otherwise the ball will not float
- The toss will normally be low so that there is less chance of spin being induced during the toss and the server can accurately time the hit
- Contact with the ball must be firm. Keep the hand rigid throughout the contact phase, diving into the ball but then stopping all movement sharply
4. Jump / Topspin serve
- Most advanced of the four types of serves.
- When performing this serve, the player must
jump into the air to contact the tossed ball.
- The jump serve can add more power to the serve
and make it even more difficult for opponents to pass accurately.
- Advantages of this serve are speed and
trajectory.
- However, a much higher error rate and lower levels of accuracy offset above advantages.