Start with your left foot forward if you are right handed, and your right foot forward if you are left handed. You will take a three step approach.
Position your body so that you are facing one of the dead zones. Turn your hips and shoulders toward the area. You should not have to turn your head to look at it.
A good rule is to throw the ball the way that you like the ball to be set to you. If you like your sets low, then throw the ball lower. If you like your sets higher, throw the ball higher.
Aim your jump so that you remain in the serving area. If you hit the ball when you are outside the service area, the serve will be void.
Contact the ball with a fully extended arm and jump high. If you do, the ball should clear the net and land deep.
Follow through with your eyes as well. This will ensure that you focus on the ball from the moment of contact until your follow through.
Land with both feet. Keep your knees bent to avoid any injuries.
Placing balls close to the net gives you a good idea of the height you need to extended your jump and your arm in order to get the ball over the net.
It is important that you do not jump, so that you get a sense of how long your body and arm should be extended. You want to use the same position when you jump serve, with your arm fully extended.
As you get back to the serving line, use everything that you have learned thus far. You should be jumping and fully extending your arm just as you did before you were jumping. You should also be jumping as high as you had to when you were serving close to the net.
