The serve is the first action in the game. With a good serve, you can immediately score a point. Furthermore, a well-executed serve also makes it harder for your opponent to build up his first attack and gives you some time to prepare your defense. For this reason, we will have a look at the different ways to serve.

Float/flutter serve

The first technique we look at is the float - also known as flutter serve. The float is a simple technique where you throw the ball with one arm and hit it over the net into the opposing half. Make sure that you throw the ball in front of your shoulder without giving it a spin, and play it with your flat hand in the center of the ball. If executed well, the ball won't spin, which makes it flutter. You use the angle of your open hand to determine where you want to play it. Make sure that your wrist is stable to have full control over the ball.

Topspin

Easier to execute than the float but more difficult to perfect is the topspin. Here, you throw the ball in the air and hit it into the opponent's half. Unlike the float, you should play the ball above the center and fold your wrist forward to give it the desired spin. If you give the ball some spin when you throw it, it will be even more dangerous for the opponents.

By the way:

After the first referee's whistle, you have 5 seconds to serve. As soon as you throw the ball in the air, it is a serve, no matter if you play it, catch it or let it fall to the ground unaffected.

Jump serve

You can perform both the float and topspin while standing or jumping. The jump serve is therefore not a serve in itself, but rather a possible execution. In contrast to a standing serve, you have to jump after throwing the ball into the air. The movement of your arms is identical to a standing serve. When performing a jump serve, pay attention to the right height and timing to hit the ball perfectly.

Skyball

Skyball is a unique type of serve in beach volleyball where you use the weather, especially the sun and wind, to your advantage. Skyball is a serve from below, where you play the ball very high in the air. The sun should make it difficult for your opponent to see the ball, which makes it difficult to trap the ball. The wind can also help to make the ball unpredictable. This serve is particularly effective when you have the sun at your back or when your opponent has problems judging the direction of flight.

You can find the next place to practice your serve in our BeachUp App

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