Hit with palm or whole hand?

When executing an overhand serve, is it best to hit the ball with your whole hand (fingers and metacarpal area) or just with the palm?

If you use your whole hand you can generate spin (top, side or back), The fingers make contact therefore more surface area is affected by the action. This also leads to more control for both distance and accuracy. If you use you palm it does increase the power, it also make the ball "float" if hit with out spin. This method is less accurate though. It really depends on what you want to get out of your serve and the weaknesses the opposition have in service receival. Source(s): Played and coached for 23 years.

Whole hand. It'll give you more power and better control.
Just the palm. If you meet the ball with your fingers and the palm, it actually decreases the power because the force is spread out over more area of the ball. Striking with just the palm delivers more speed at impact.
Experience - much experience.
An overhand serve, like an attack, should be contacted with your whole hand, fingers spread. This will allow you to contact the ball in a consistant spot increasing the control and accuracy of your serving.
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