A strong serve is one of the most effective weapons in volleyball. Whether you’re aiming to ace your opponent or deliver a consistent, strategic serve, mastering this skill is essential. To help you improve, we’ve outlined three drills that will sharpen your accuracy, power, and confidence. Incorporate these into your training routine, track your progress, and take your game to the next level!

Volleyball Serve Drills to Boost Accuracy & Power

Target Zone Challenge

Accuracy is crucial in serving. This drill helps you place the ball where you want, making your serves harder to return.

How to complete the drill:

  • Set up six target zones on the opposite side of the net using cones, markers, or floor tiles.
  • Start with one target at a time and serve until you hit it three times.
  • Gradually rotate through different targets, adjusting your aim and refining your placement.
  • Increase the difficulty by setting time limits or reducing the target size.

Tracking progress: Count how many serves it takes to hit each target. Over time, aim to reduce this number while maintaining proper technique.

Power Boost Drill

A powerful serve puts pressure on the opposing team and can earn you easy points. This drill strengthens your arm swing and leg drive for a more forceful serve.

How to complete the drill:

  • Stand behind the service line and perform 10 standing serves focusing purely on power, using a full arm swing and proper follow-through.
  • Move back 3-5 feet behind the service line and serve again, forcing yourself to generate more momentum.
  • Step into your serve with maximum explosiveness while keeping control and accuracy.
  • Repeat for three sets, resting between rounds.

Tracking progress: Measure how deep your serves land in the opponent’s court. As your strength improves, you should notice more serves reaching the back row with speed.

Pressure Point Serving

Serving under pressure replicates real-game scenarios and builds mental toughness so you can deliver when it counts.

How to complete the drill:

  • Give yourself 10 serves and set a goal (e.g., land 7 out of 10 in-bounds or hit a specific zone 5 times).
  • If you miss the goal, repeat the set until you achieve it.
  • Increase the challenge by adding simulated game conditions—have a teammate or coach call out specific serve placements on the fly.
  • To replicate match pressure, assign consequences for missed serves, like extra conditioning reps.

Tracking progress: Keep a record of how often you meet your goals. Over time, decrease the number of attempts needed to hit your targets consistently.

Take Your Serving Skills to the Next Level

Mastering the volleyball serve takes practice, patience, and persistence. By adding these three drills into your training routine, you’ll improve both accuracy and power while developing the confidence to serve under pressure. Keep track of your progress, challenge yourself, and watch your serves improve!

Looking for expert coaching and more advanced volleyball training this summer? Sign up for one of our 2025 Revolution Volleyball Camps and take your skills to the next level!