Embracing The Australian

[Cindysphinx]

*Finally* I got to try the Australian formation!

I was playing a social match. My partner was a 3.5 who stays at the baseline when she serves. Our opponents were two middle 3.0s.

The opponent in the deuce court did one thing very well: smack service returns hard cross-court. My partner is fast, but she wasn't getting there fast enough, especially since she is a lefty and needed to set up for her 2HBH. These balls were too low and too far away for me to offer much help at net. They were killing us.

I suggested we try the Australian. My partner had never played this way before, so after a brief conference we gave it a whirl. It worked beautifully. The opponent didn't have enough topspin on her down the line shot, so they went long. Then she tried to aim lower and they started going into the net. Then she thought about trying to pass me, and that was an easy put-away.

My partner was thrilled with this new formation. As the set wore on, we switched back and forth between Australian and regular, and the different looks also rattled the receiver (as she told us after the match).

OK. Some questions.

Where exactly should the net person stand for Australian? Service line, middle of the box, someplace else? I was crowding the net to force her to go up the line, but I felt very vulnerable to the lob. Given that my partner was staying back, should I crowd the net and figure she can run down any lobs that get over me?

Where should the serve go? Is it better to hit a slower serve so the server has time to cross, or does it not matter?

When trying Australian in the ad court (which we did later in the match just to see how it felt), are there any different considerations about where the net player should stand?

When using Australian, should the net player poach aggressively or is it better to be more conservative on the theory that the purpose of Australian is to eliminate the cross-court return?

Cindy -- still smiling that one of the opponents initially claimed that this newfangled formation was flat-out illegal

 

[Topaz]

Oh, you mean Australian *formation*...I thought you had hugged an Aussie!

 

[Nellie]

Cyndi – welcome to advanced doubles!

There are some good reasons for Australian position, include, as you mentioned, thwarting a returner who is grooving the ball cross court. In this situation, you could also have your partner stand really wide to have more time to prepare for the expected return. Another good reason for Australian formation is that, from the ad-side, you can force the returner into a down-the-line rally in which the server hits forehand and the returner hits backhands. Because of this, I see more serve and volley to the deuce side (since you typically do not want to rally your backhand to their forehand.)

As the net person, I stand closer to the centerline (about 1/3 between the centerline and the side of the service box) because your job as the net person is to stop the crosscourt return and this position leaves as little space as possible to pass you. Standing too close to the sideline, leaves a lot of space for a return down the middle, which may be hard to you or your partner to reach. In Australian, it is bester if you move around the box according to the position of the ball (shift toward the middle when the serve is wide, toward the side when the serve is down the middle). In particular, with the wide serve, you are worried about the return that is between you and your partner.

I would also stand about half-way back in the service box (less aggressive than 1-up/1-back). I like this position because, if the other team start lobbing, it will be difficult for your partner to cover so you will need to be far enough back to get to almost any ball because your partner’s first move after the serve is to run to cover down-the-line, so he/she cannot easily turn around. At the same time, being half-way between the service line and the net allows you to take one or two steps toward the net to hit an aggressive volley and to handle returns hit toward your feet.

Although others may disagree, I would generally poach conservatively in this position except on an easy sitter (where you think you will when the point on the poach) because, again, it will be hard for the server to turn around to cover crosscourt if your poach is returned. You can poach more if you partner has a good serve down the centerline, which will minimize the wide returns. In fact, at higher playing levels, poaching occurs with the same frequency regardless of the starting position. In fact, it may be something, for example, where you poach regularly from the deuce side because you want the returner to hit back crosscourt to your left-handed partners backhand.

Regarding the serve, I would think that serving down the middle is a better play because it minimizes the return angles. I don’t know about serving slower, unless your partner is really struggling to make it across the court. I would think that a better serve, coupled with the formation, would put a lot of pressure on the return. Myself, I hitting almost all second serves in doubles to maximize the time I have to rush the net.

I don’t play a lot of Australian formation, but I really like I-formation, where the net person is in the middle, at the centerline. With I-formation, you will need to plan with your partner which way to move. Usually, if your partner goes down the center, you should look for a return up the middle and try to poach, and if your partner serves wide, you should cover the down the line (similar to the conventional 1-up/ 1 back strategy). IT takes a lot of energy however, and I am getting to old to run around so much.

 

[Cruzer]

OK. Some questions.

Where exactly should the net person stand for Australian? Service line, middle of the box, someplace else? I was crowding the net to force her to go up the line, but I felt very vulnerable to the lob. Given that my partner was staying back, should I crowd the net and figure she can run down any lobs that get over me?

When I play Australian the server and net person both stand 2-3 feet off the center line. The net person typically does not crowd the net since it gives the returner an easier lob return option. The net person should stand about the middle of the service box and the lob return will not be easy for the returner to hit. Personally I prefer the I-formation over the Australian formation.

Where should the serve go? Is it better to hit a slower serve so the server has time to cross, or does it not matter?

For this formation to be most effective the server needs to be able to serve up the T from both sides.

When trying Australian in the ad court (which we did later in the match just to see how it felt), are there any different considerations about where the net player should stand?

I have not played any differently on the AD side when playing Australian or the I-formation. Service placement is very important on both sides.

When using Australian, should the net player poach aggressively or is it better to be more conservative on the theory that the purpose of Australian is to eliminate the cross-court return?

I think the net person needs to poach sometimes to keep the opponents thinking about what you might do. As you found out not only can the Australian formation help prevent the opponent from hitting effective cross court returns it can sometimes just generally confuse them so they have no idea where to hit their returns.

Cindy -- still smiling that one of the opponents initially claimed that this newfangled formation was flat-out illegal

Your opponent thought the formation was illegal? Obviously a very, very inexperienced player.

 

[Geezer Guy]

You should check this out as well: http://www.operationdoubles.com/australian_doubles_tennis.htm

 

[CrocodileRock]

I like to play Australian on the ad side, because it forces the opponent to hit down the line to my forehand, which I can repeatedly hit back down the alley to his backhand, usually a weaker shot. The odds of us winning the point go up dramatically.

One thing you might also want to try Cindy is the "I" formation, where the net man (woman) is crouched down low on the centerline, then moves to one side or the other after seeing the serve go by. Just let your partner know which side you're moving to each time so she can cover the other side. The thing I like about this is the opponent doesn't know which way you're moving, and if she guesses wrong, you have an easy volley.

 

[sureshs]

One thing you might also want to try Cindy is the "I" formation, where the net man (woman) is crouched down low on the centerline

Don't wear a short skirt though

 

[kevhen]

Yes, I would crowd the net in Australian and let your partner cover lobs and down the line since they are likely planning to stay back anyway. You can also cheat a little more toward center and dare them to hit sharp cross angle which is very difficult.

 

[kevhen]

I usually serve hard down the T in Australian since this gives my partner more chances for a putaway but this also puts me at greater risk for not being able to handle a return outwide.

Experiment and see what works for you. I am not sure it matters too much but it is mostly for mixing up your opponents return if that have gotten in to a good rhythm in the normal formation.

 

[kevhen]

A slow serve will give the server more time to move over to cover the return. Also more time for them to hit a lob too. I usually serve pretty big in this formation. Hard for the them to place their returns crosscourt if I go big so my partner near the center can finish alot.

 

[kevhen]

I haven't had my partner due much poaching in Australian since it is hard for them to move all the way over cover the line. I would shy away from poaching in Australian. Use the I formation if you want to poach more.

 

[kevhen]

If your opponents start lobbing alot then move back a little, otherwise sit as close as comfortable to net as possible.

Australian is not illegal but can be very effective formation to those unfamiliar with playing against it.

Cool that you tried it. I use it maybe 20% of the time depending on the situation (partner's willingness), especially if my opponent is returning too well or struggles with a big serve down the T (their weaker side is on the inside). Also my duece court forehands aren't as strong so Australian gets me over to the ad side where I can use my backhand more.

Oh, I don't play I formation at all since both alleys are open and there is alot of bending and running and moving while trying to hit vollies which I don't like to do. But the I can be very confusing for return team but I still like Australian better since it is simpler and easier to implement.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I don't play I formation at all. So far, I haven't found a partner who is ready. I mean, if you haven't mastered the signaled poach, you're not ready to pop up out of a crouch and do a signaled poach. Also, the popping up part is something that I do so slowly that my opponents know exactly where I'm going before they hit. Maybe in a few years . . . .

OK. So doing Australian on the deuce side. More likely to result in my partner getting into a down-the-line rally where she's hitting her right-handed backhand, so that's bad. Doing it on the ad side get the opposite result. Good to know, good to know.

 

[JavierLW]

I don't play I formation at all. So far, I haven't found a partner who is ready. I mean, if you haven't mastered the signaled poach, you're not ready to pop up out of a crouch and do a signaled poach. Also, the popping up part is something that I do so slowly that my opponents know exactly where I'm going before they hit. Maybe in a few years . . . .

OK. So doing Australian on the deuce side. More likely to result in my partner getting into a down-the-line rally where she's hitting her right-handed backhand, so that's bad. Doing it on the ad side get the opposite result. Good to know, good to know.

The fun part about playing someone who's playing the I formation is when the server takes off for a side right after he serves.

If that happens it's easy, because you just hit it right back to the server (wherever he is going) since you know the net person is going the other way.

(obviously you're not supposed to leave early, but people who just "decide" their going to do the I formation on the fly who are not used to it, tend to make these kinds of mistakes)

 

[JavierLW]

I don't play I formation at all. So far, I haven't found a partner who is ready. I mean, if you haven't mastered the signaled poach, you're not ready to pop up out of a crouch and do a signaled poach. Also, the popping up part is something that I do so slowly that my opponents know exactly where I'm going before they hit. Maybe in a few years . . . .

OK. So doing Australian on the deuce side. More likely to result in my partner getting into a down-the-line rally where she's hitting her right-handed backhand, so that's bad. Doing it on the ad side get the opposite result. Good to know, good to know.

Another thing to consider besides forehand/backhand is which opponent you are isolating in a down the line rally. If it's a real weak opponent and her partner is really strong, then it's good to do this to her no matter what side you are on.

That's about the only time Ive used the Austrailian, we'll pretty much only do it on that one side then which means the net person is on the same side for the entire game.