Anyone play the I formation in competitve doubles?

[RobFL]

The I is played differently than Aussie. Anyone use it in competitive doubles as a different look?

 

[schmke]

You bet. My partner and I are increasingly using the I formation and not just as a change of pace. It can be effective at taking the returners out of their comfort zone and make them think twice rather than just reacting. Against teams that aren't used to it, you'll get some free points or easy points from poor returns or simply taking away the preferred stock cross-court return.

 

[Maui19]

Yes, I have some good partners where we use Aussie and I formations to good use. We will even signal serve location. It is a huge tactical advantage, and really not that hard to implement.

 

[spot]

Absolutely. If the opponent is killing us on returns and the net player isn't getting any weak balls to poach then we will go australian to take away the crosscourt return.

If the returner is able to blast that ball up the line then we will go to the I formation with signals to make them guess which way the net player is going and put another thought in their head.

If that doesn't work and we still aren't in a good position because of the strength of the return then we will go 2 back.

 

[goran_ace]

I use it here and there depending on the situation but would never use it as my bread and butter formation. Usually as a change of pace if the returner is grooved on CC returns and is picking on the server and/or the net guy can't get a racket on anything. Otherwise I like to give the other team a different look when in a 30-0 or 40-0 situation and trying to close out the game/set.

 

[Nellie]

Yes, but you have to be quick/fast, especially the server.

 

[schmke]

It is also very important for the server to be able to hit spots. When playing I, my partner and I signal serve position and direction netman will move, so hitting the right spot with the serve is critical to getting the return funneled to the desired/expected location.

 

[spot]

Otherwise I like to give the other team a different look when in a 30-0 or 40-0 situation and trying to close out the game/set.

Wow... you have exactly the opposite philisophy of me. It seems absolutely crazy to change up what was working for you in order to try and close out a set. I don't change my strategy unless the other team forces me to.

 

[SwankPeRFection]

Went to state for Combo last season and we lost the first set during out first morning match. Second set on my partner's serve (I was playing really well at the net) we played nothing but I formation and he was able to hold his serve easier than during the first set. We won that one pretty convincingly (surprising the other team who was waiting for the give-up in the second set). The tiebreak we won 10-2. lol So ya, we used it to basically mind-f the other team real good like.

 

[chatt_town]

I haven't as my serve sucks most of the time. I have my moments but it's average at best most of the time. I have seen it though with a couple of my friends and if you get two guys or girls with pretty good serves and hands...you will catch hell breaking them...the guys that I've seen do it serve everything down the T and you can't get it by them.

The wife and I have been running Ausie for the first time the last couple of weeks and it has helped us greatly. She doesn't get pinned behind the baseline now. So we are going to roll with it this weekend in the playoffs.

The I is played differently than Aussie. Anyone use it in competitive doubles as a different look?

 

[blakesq]

Nellie,

I saw in an old thread that you are a patent attorney, can you drop me a quick email, would love to chat about Austin and the patent attorney scene!

blakesq @ hotmail dot com no spaces.

Yes, but you have to be quick/fast, especially the server.