What is an underhand serve in volleyball?

An underhand serve is a type of volleyball serve in which a player holds the ball with one hand and swings the other hand in an arc motion, striking under the ball with a fist to put it into play. An underhand serve is the most common serve for beginners.

The primary goal in serving a volleyball is to drive the ball into the opponent's court. Speed, acceleration and direction are also key components of a successful serve, ideally used to make it more difficult for the receiver to return the ball. Underhand serves are rarely used in competitive volleyball matches because they are too easily received by the opposing team.