How To Jump Serve in Volleyball | Get 37% Better at Serving

This video breaks down the three types of serves in volleyball: float, jump serve, and hybrid.
If you want to skip straight to my breakdown of the jump serve head to 4:41.

[@_.omikami._]

just went to an open gym and landed 80% of my jump serves so hopefully this video gets me to 100🙏

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Boy math, love it

[@tixz.]

you are so lucky that you have a gym to go to to practice

[@_.omikami._]

@@tixz. only found out abt it recently ive spent a year ish just practicing in my back yard to be able to set consistently, jump 24+ inches, hit floats, jump serves, hybrids, etc. without thinking i would ever have the chance to play unless i made it to college. just keep working if u really wanna play and getting involved in your community and im sure you can get sum set up like i did (met all the girls clubs and started my own hs club) and im sure eventually youll get a chance🙏

[@tixz.]

@@_.omikami._ wow thats pretty impressive, I like it. Yes you are right. I used to train in a club daily but now I am in USA for a year and I miss the competetiveness. I am just waiting for the volleyball season and try to be as prepared as I can. My goal is big so I have to do everything I can to achieve it. 😄

[@sp3ctrum_]

Where do you find open gyms? Ive been looking for some time now but idk if they even exist

[@blooves171]

I used to play volleyball in highschool and haven't in a lot of years but I'm getting back into it with a fun little casual team, its been great for meeting people and getting more integrated into the community. That being said the amount I have learnt from your videos is phenomenal, you would run laps around the coaches I was used to in highschool. I adore learning and you have the best informative + clear and concise volleyball videos out there. 2 months of practice and really keeping your videos in mind and I am vastly better as a player then I used to be. I look forward to every upload you put out and thank you so much Mitch for creating these for those of us who are passionate about learning the game! cheers

[@mitchsterkenburg]

This is a fantastic story @blooves171! Volleyball is a great way to build community regardless of the level you play. I'm glad you were able to take something from my recent videos. Keep up the practice and you'll achieve what you want in this game.

[@elseradtke5969]

There also is another type of hybrid serve. You toss you ball nice and high with rotation, like a topspin serve. You also approach the same way, but then you kill the rotation and do a jump float. Japanese setter Masahiro sekita does this really well, you can find videos on KZbin where you can watch this. From his toss he can do both a float and a topspin, which makes it very hard for the receivers to position themselves right. His topspin is on the slower side, compared to other international pro players. But I don't know how much of that comes down to the technice as opposed to sekita being quite small for a volleyball player and also a setter (not practicing hitting as much as hitters) and stuff

[@yellowleaf28]

SO jealous of how much landing room the jump server is getting from his team. 100% of the time, I have to break my focus to tell someone before each serve “please take one step up and one step to the left”.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

You bring up a really good point. This server is our setter which allows him to land far into the court because his defensive base is zone1. However, across the board you will see our guys creating lanes for the serves to have plenty of room to serve without running into anyone.

[@msittig]

Merrick McHenry of UCLA has a great example of a hybrid serve, very fun to watch.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Without a doubt. With the wingspan he has it’s deadly

[@Ollowayn]

As someone getting into jump serving, thank you so much! Love the details and video footage to go along with it.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lolrtrader3939]

Good video...Thanks! My daughter just added a jump topspin and this is very helpful.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that.

[@parsun6905]

your videos are always helpful

[@mitchsterkenburg]

So glad to hear that!

[@lonk1769]

Your channel explains so much that is never told to us by our coaches here in germany (feel like you are often left alone with these little details). On that regard, i have a very selfish request, but maybe the middle blockers of your channel would appreciate it aswell. In the attacking video the spoke about the approach, the route and the timing of your attacks. I dont know where to start getting my timing right. So a for me a video about the different timings on the different attack options would be verrry helpful. (For example timing for slides, timing for "3" timing for "c" balls. As I wrote, I have know idea where to get this information from

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Glad to hear it! And a great video idea. Definitely can add it to the list. I think it can benefit a lot of people.

[@lonk1769]

@@mitchsterkenburg thank you!

[@gambore]

Very helpful video. Could you make a video on reading the setter as a blocker and defender maybe?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Certainly, not a whole lot you can do against experienced setters to "read" them. But definitely a video that break down some tips to get better jumps on certain sets for blockers. Any specific position in mind? Middle/Oppo/OH, or all of them?

[@gambore]

@@mitchsterkenburg Me, I play mb, but Im sure if you went to make a video on it, many people would appreciate if you also included oh and opp

[@everless_]

The percentage is oddly specific. 😂But really, thank you for this video!

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Specific is good! Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching

[@terik555]

awesome thanks

[@mitchsterkenburg]

You bet!

[@masianish]

Can you explain the low elbow aspect in hitting back court opposed to having a high elbow initially when hitting. Also, front row high elbow or low elbow / what is the philosophy or reasoning behind this I’m very intrigued, thank you for your videos !

[@mitchsterkenburg]

The highest level of volleyball players all hit and serve with a low elbow. The minute you go directly up with your elbow, you lose power, torque, and velocity. The low elbow gives you a whip motion on your swing that is typically more effective and harder.

[@ranaksaxena3300]

OMG yesss. I have been trying to learn jump serves for the past month. Tsym 🛐

[@mitchsterkenburg]

lets go! hopefully this helps a bit more

[@GaryRoberts311]

@pmevolleyball just chillin at the 10 second mark.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

indeed.

[@goomy6502]

Do you have tips on how to serve in a small gym. My school is very small and because of that most of the time i step on the line a while serving.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Gage Worsley from Out of System has one of the best jump serves and only uses about 5 feet behind the service line. I would watch some clips of him and try to mirror his serve. Basically everything is condensed. Less steps, lower Toss, less arms. Same follow through through.

[@ih0k.k]

Any tips on getting onto to team, collegiate or other wise?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

At the high school level, focus on hustle and the fundamentals in tryouts. Also work on your ball control to stand out amongst others. For college, your best bet will be to play club, and get noticed from coaches there / and a go to summer prospect camps.

[@judegrey9416]

Do you contact the ball in front of your body or just above the hitting shoulder for the jump serve?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Good question, slightly in front of your body. Not drastically, you don't want to be reaching for the ball. But far enough ahead that the ball is in front of you for sure.

[@judegrey9416]

@@mitchsterkenburg thanks! I contact the ball in front of me but it frequently hits the net. Should i adjust my hitting motion to more of a pushing motion rather than a spiking motion? Or could it be a different issue?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@judegrey9416 Try tossing the ball much higher, as well as contacting the ball at the peak of your jump. Those two things combined with trying to hit the ball deep rather than short on the court will lead to less misses in the net.

[@judegrey9416]

@@mitchsterkenburg thanks! I'll try it on my next training. Good video content! Keep at it!

[@JoshuaDunn-oi8ye]

Sorry what did you mean about “locking the wrist” to get more topspin?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Good question, instead of having a soft wrist as your being your arms back in your arm swing, I recommend tightening up the wrist which can be done by moving the hand down as your move it back. The more firm the wrist is prior to the actual swing or “locked” the more power you can get on the attack - hence creating more topspin. Hope that helped.

[@wanniesup]

God is good nice video

[@mitchsterkenburg]

thank you very much

[@billcipher801]

37 everywhere

[@mitchsterkenburg]

all around

[@DavidMilkGaming]

Do you have any tips for a right side specifically a left handed right side?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Lefties definitely have an advantage on the right side. They are much more difficult to block based on their swing path in comparison to rights on the opposite. My focus would be to get really good as swinging deep in the back 1/3rd of the court. Once you do that, you’ll find a lot more kills regardless of where the block is.

[@DavidMilkGaming]

@@mitchsterkenburg thank you for the response

[@DavidMilkGaming]

@@mitchsterkenburg to clarify do you mean like deep line or deep diagonal?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@DavidMilkGaming You want to have the option to hit whichever one is better based on the set and the block. I think lefties are a lot more difficult to dig swinging crosscourt from my experience. So maybe deep angle most of the time and mix in deep line when you can.

[@tshiringlama446]

My jump serve improved by 22%.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

I love to hear that math

[@Dr_D752]

What do you mean by knuckle?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

When you contact the ball with the knuckles of your fingers. Usually the thumb, index, and middle finger knuckles.

[@malvinhomarinho9742]

watched it 4 times now i am Olympic player

[@mitchsterkenburg]

It’s crazy but it checks out

[@rep_zombi333]

What about a hybrid serve that looks like a jump top (thrown high with a lot of spin) but contact is like a float

[@logang2391]

Agreed Micah Christiansen loves this

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Usually this is used to catch the opposition off guard. Not sure if there’s a specific name for it. Some call it a “chop” serve. If you can do it with consistency I think it could be beneficial but haven’t seen a lot of it in real time to analyze it.

[@pigg5810]

slide at the end 😮‍💨😮‍💨

[@mitchsterkenburg]

electric slide

[@IceSpicesMunchkin]

That court looks like PMEVolleyball’s court in the first clip

[@IceSpicesMunchkin]

Omg it is

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Yes, we play his team (LBC) twice a year.

[@gotzisroom907]

I don't know where you got the 37% from, but good video

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Exactly

[@carwincooper7424]

Devin also seems to be able to fly lol.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

That wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say

[@Klickflip]

Is it exactly 37% or more like 37.87%?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

37 rounded up from 36.88874

[@AnotherRyann.]

in the 3rd clip of the jumpserving of the video @pmevolleyball was there

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Yep we play LBC in twice a year

[@bbqtong148]

Whoops, I got 38% better at serving instead. Think i messed up

[@mitchsterkenburg]

still good math on that. we'll take it.

[@kross-7185]

All my jump serves lands with a 100% of accuracy (in my team's court)

[@mitchsterkenburg]

That's a high percentage

[@JaskaranBrar-gz7gu]

He played pme volleyball

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Yep, we play LBC 2x a year.

[@logang2391]

Are you the head coach anymore?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

I’m the assistant. Was never the HC.

[@logang2391]

@@mitchsterkenburg that’s funny. I assumed you used to be the head coach just because how well you know the game.

[@elias3026]

The thing about trying to stop your hand on contact for float serve is such bullshit:)) it just rekts your shoulder for no benefit at all. Once you whip that ball it leaves your hand so fast that it doesn't care what your hand does afterwards. I've watched so many pro players in slow motion, normal speed, with pause - just the amateurs do it. You won't see them fucking their shoulders for whatever people think it adds to the ball. Hit it dead center, do it with a whip like motion (soft hand) and use your core. It goes really aggressive and floats a lot because of what the air inside does, not because your hand stops. I can post a pov link to a Japanese player doing it. Nice, soft hand. So much movement on the float Here are a few examples: kzbin.infouIFvabr89hA?si=-Di3v4Uu7QSiEsk7 kzbin.infoLeN9rzH_W0c?si=rLGL_CILyBZMuTqd kzbin.infoGAXMhcmQOZU?si=nBDVc2OXHfiilEFM

[@mitchsterkenburg]

These videos only further prove my point. They’re doing exactly what I’m saying with the hand contact.

[@elias3026]

​@@mitchsterkenburgwatch the follow through. The stop you think you see it's just the action-reaction law... If you try to actively stop your hand every time you serve you put so much unnecessary stress on the shoulder for no benefit at all

[@elias3026]

@@mitchsterkenburg I've heard this coach talk about this as well kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpyyhohnqZyiZpIsi=2I5CFI3tls_DyRBL arguing that 'the less time we spend on the ball, the less spin'... That's total bs in terms of physics. The spin is only created by the contact point and the angle you hit the ball. I also play table tennis where spin is the most important aspect of the game. You can watch the slow motion in the video. The hand goes through the ball, the ball leaves the hand, then there's 'a recoil' which achieves absolutely nothing:)) cuz the ball already left

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@elias3026 there is zero scientific evidence that will support stopping your float serve at the point of contact will have a negative impact on your shoulder mechanics. And if you’re swinging your arms that hard then that’s the root of the problem right there.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@elias3026 I never endorsed this guys video you brought it up not me.

[@goldblueranger]

I've became better only 33%, what a lie!!!

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Pretty darn good still?

[@nicholas_craver]

In the intro I saw @pmevolleyball

[@mitchsterkenburg]

yes you did!