How to Serve an Ace in Volleyball

Beach volleyball is a popular team sport that is played on a sandy surface. As beach volleyball only features pairings, as opposed to the larger sides featured in team indoor volleyball, the ability to dominate on the serve is a great tool to develop, as there is a great deal of open space to aim at. The key to developing the ability to score aces with your serve begins with perfecting your jump serve, which allows for the best ability to work the ball around the court with pace.

Things You'll Need

  • Volleyball
  • Volleyball net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Learn your ideal setting height for spikes. The height required for a kill on a spike is the same height required for a good jump serve.

    • 2

      Aim a shot into the dead zone between the two opposing players. Splitting the opposition often can lead to a miscommunication in which neither player is able to react to the serve in time to make the play.

    • 3

      Pick an outside corner and attempt to land a serve in the corner, where only one opposing player will have a shot at the ball. The closer to the corner you hit it, the less likely the player is to get it and prevent an ace.

    • 4

      Hit a shot with topspin to one of the side channels near the net. Topspin will allow the ball to drop sharply, allowing it to fall very close to the net and very far from the receiving players.

    • 5

      Factor the weather into the shots you will be playing. A strong head wind will improve your ability to play drop shots over the net, but will make blasts to the corners more difficult. Conversely, a wind at your back may make drop shots very difficult; however, you can put a lot of pace on deep corner serves or splitting serves.

    • 6

      Practice serving when not in matches to develop the ability to serve to each of these ace zones.

    • 7

      Remain unpredictable when playing in a match. If you continue to hit to the same spot, other teams will catch on, and your likelihood of serving an ace will decrease substantially.