How to Hit a Sky Ball Serve in Beach Volleyball

In volleyball, one of your biggest offensive weapons is a strong serve. The jump serve is viewed by many as the hardest to return. In reality, a properly hit sky ball serve in beach volleyball can be much harder to return. This serve takes advantage of two of the biggest obstacles on the beach--the sun and the wind. A properly hit sky ball serve will force your opponents to fight the sun while they receive it, and to adjust for the wind on the beach.

Instructions

1. Position yourself at the back line of the volleyball court on your side of the net to serve the ball. Foot faults are uncommon with a sky ball serve in beach volleyball because you do not move your feet while serving. Instead you shift your weight from your back foot to your front food.

2. Position your feet so they are parallel to the back line of the volleyball net. Your back should be perpendicular to the volleyball net when preparing to make a sky ball serve.

3. Hold the volleyball in your non-dominant hand. Many players mistakenly think you should toss the ball gently when making a sky ball serve. You should actually remove the hand that is holding the ball at the last second before your serving hand strikes the ball.

4. Rotate your wrist slightly towards the net as you strike the volleyball. This will give your arm and hand the proper motion to direct the ball forward and over the net. When you are just starting out using a sky ball serve, do not worry about controlling the rotation.

5. Follow through completely with the swing of your arm. The full follow through while shifting your weight from the foot furthest from the volleyball net to the one closest to the net will give you the most power in your sky ball serve.

6. Position yourself on the court to be ready for a return of your serve.

Tips & Warnings

• As you become more experienced with the sky ball serve in beach volleyball you will become proficient in serving it with very little topspin or rotation. Topspin will limit the height of your sky ball serve, and rotation will limit effects of the wind on the volleyball.

• As tempting as it is, never sit back and watch your sky ball serve. A smart opponent will catch a server admiring his own serve and return it with a bump set over the net to the server's position on the first hit, and the server will not be in position to defend the quick return.