Biomechanics of a Volleyball Serve

Proper Technique for a Top Spin Overhand Serve

Overhand Top Spin Serve Technique

Toss, Step, Drag

Conclusion

Starting Position

Serving Position

Finishing Position

Expert Video

Experienced Player

Inexperienced Player

• Upon contact with the ball, snap wrist and "drag" right foot until even with the left foot
• Continue arm swing util arm is slightly hyperextended behind the torso

Stand with feet shoulder width apart; the left foot should be slightly in front of the right

Hold the ball in left hand

Right arm should be pulled back, with hand next to ear and elbow should ALWAYS remain above the shoulder

• Toss ball straight up in the air about a foot and a half
• As ball reaches its peak, step forward with left foot
• Contact the ball at full arm's length with the heel of the hand, and a firm wrist

• Proper technique
• Comparison of Expert, Intermediate, and Beginner servers
• Biomechanical Mechanisms involved in overhand serving

Difference in Phases

Phase 1: Loading

Phase 3: Contact with Ball/ foot drag

Phase 4:Finishing/Follow through Position

Phase two: Back Swing

Biomechanical Mechanisms Involved

Newton's Second Law

Magnus Effect

Impact

-Collision and exchange of force during short time interval.

-the velocities of two colliding bodies before and after impact bear a constant relationship.

-Kinetic energy is transformed into deformation, sound, heat, and other forms of energy.

Force=mass * Accceleration

When an object, such as a ball, is struck, it tends to travel in the direction of the line of action of the applied force

-When you strike the ball, there is a lift force produced on the spinning ball

-When you serve the volleyball, you want to use top spin so that the ball stays low and is difficult to retreive.

-Topspin makes the ball reach the groud quickly, while back spin makes the ball go higher and reach the ground slower

-a top spin volleyball serve enhances the lift force in the direction of the spin [i.e., ascent phase (forward and downward), mid-flight (downward) and descent phase (backward and downward)] while decreasing the drag forces encountered in flight. Imparting spin to a projectile to cause a lift force in a desired direction is referred to as the Magnus effect.

Base of Support

Conservation of Momentum

Moment of Inertia

The momentum of the system (the body and the ball) is conserved throughout because part of the initial momentum of the body is transferred to the ball upon contact

the location on a body where most of the weight is supported

Contacting the ball at arm's reach

• The momentum produced by the body at the initiation of the serve is conserved through the completion of the serve.
• As the ball is contacted, part of the body's initial momentum is transferred to the ball.
• Though the body does not maintain all of its initial momentum, the total momentum is conserved through the transfer of momentum from body to ball upon contact

• Moment of Inertia is the body's tendency to resist angular acceleration
• Allows for a longer leaver, which increase moment of inertia by increasing the force upon which the arm can be accelerated throughout the serve

• Standing with feet shoulder width apart allows for the most beneficial base of support, creating the most balanced position
• Standing with feet closer together makes the base of support too small leading to a less balanced position
• Standing with feet farther apart makes the base of support too large, also leading to an unbalanced position

Biomechanics of a Top Spin Overhand Volleyball Serve