by Rena Sandou

Created on: July 14, 2009

Serve is the most vital part of a volleyball match. Serve initiates an inning that hopefully will reward your team with a precious point. A successful inning starts from a well-hit strong serve that will be difficult for the opponents to pass. There are many types of underhand and overhand serves such as floater, jump serve, topspin and jump float; all aiming for a winner inning.

Many professional volleyball players choose to perform serves with top spin. Doing so, the ball travels quickly to the opposite court without altering its course. It may seem an easy serve to pass but due to its speed, it is one of the most effective types of serving.

Professional players and coaches provide useful instructions for serving with top spin. Specifically:

- Tossing is crucial. Toss the ball almost four feet above your head. Do not spin the ball. Strike the bottom of the ball and when the ball is about to leave your hands, snap your wrist firm and bring your hand over the ball. Snapping your wrist will direct it downwards making it travel with more power and speed.

- Practise your snap. It may sound easy but if you do not get it right, the ball will not even pass the net. When you are about to hit the ball snap your wrist down until you feel a little stretch on the top of your hand and follow through.

- Always keep your hand curved. If you keep your hand totally open, the fingers will be the ones to touch the ball first altering its course and lowering its speed. Also, you arm has to be fully extended at the time of the impact.

- Carefully position yourself. Keep in mind that you have to be under the ball when it comes down. Try tossing it over your hitting shoulder making you to step under the ball. You can also through the ball behind you with your serving hand. Try to use your right hand to direct your left hand. Think of it as a spear. Move your body weight towards the ball and snap your wrist. If you do it the right way, you will hit the ball at the bottom centre of it. This will give great top spin to your serve making it powerful.

- Practise makes perfect. Keep on practising your toss, snap, body posture and follow through. Soon, you will be able to top spin like a pro.

Top spin is vital in volleyball serves. The speed and power they develop makes them almost invisible to passers. They think that it comes slower than it actually does catching them unprepared. Practise your moves and add top spin not only to your serves but to your hits as well.

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