When to use Australian or I-Formation in Rec Doubles and when not to?

[Cawlin]

I was able to use Australian formation successfully in a recent dubs match when my partner was having trouble with his serve and couldn't hit with much pace. Me and my partner were in the standard one up, one back serve formation and the opponents were either slicing or dropping his serves right in the alley such that neither of us could really reach the return in time... so we switched to Aussie and completely neutralized that serve return, and held my partner's serve the rest of the match as a result. It was the only time I've ever used Aussie in a match though, and I suspect my opponents hadn't ever dealt with that, as they were unable to do anything even approaching aggressive returning what was, for all intents and purposes, quite a weak serve. I have never seen anyone use Aussie or I formation in any of my matches in the past 2 years, but that's not a big sample and is only in the 3.0 and 3.5 range.

Then this morning this post caught my eye in another thread and made me think about when Aussie (or I) formation should be used.

I agree, but my partner doesn't have the serve to play Australian

So when should you employ non-standard serve formations in rec leagues and when should you not?
Is it just to give the opponents a different look?
Do you have certain prerequisites for the server?
Do you have certain caveats when you shouldn't use it?
Are there big counter-indications for the use of any non-standard serve formation?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

 

[Matthew ATX]

I employ it in mixed a lot of the time when my partner is serving to the guy BECAUSE my partner has a weak serve. Guys at my level love inside out forehands so her serve often gets tattooed out wide and she can't do anything with that. If I slide over, it takes that away and forces him to go down the line, with no angle, right to my partner's forehand. It also gives me better poaching opportunities (we usually employ signals when going Aussie so she knows if I'm going to sell out) because I have less distance to cover. Once I sell out on a few poaches, it gets in the guy's head and a well placed head fake from me will either get him to miss or feed me a sitter at the net.

 

[Cawlin]

I employ it in mixed a lot of the time when my partner is serving to the guy BECAUSE my partner has a weak serve. Guys at my level love inside out forehands so her serve often gets tattooed out wide and she can't do anything with that. If I slide over, it takes that away and forces him to go down the line, with no angle, right to my partner's forehand. It also gives me better poaching opportunities (we usually employ signals when going Aussie so she knows if I'm going to sell out) because I have less distance to cover. Once I sell out on a few poaches, it gets in the guy's head and a well placed head fake from me will either get him to miss or feed me a sitter at the net.

This is very consistent with my own thoughts. Thanks for the input!

 

[Dartagnan64]

I formation and Australian should be used almost every time if you can manage it. Problem is inflexible partners and with I formation the challenge of aging knees and staying low.
I watched a challengers doubles match a couple years ago and the winning team used the I formation on 90% of first serve points. Was enlightening how easily they could win those points by taking the middle away forcing more challenging DTL returns. I started suggesting it to my doubles partners and got dirty looks sadly.

 

[Cawlin]

I formation and Australian should be used almost every time if you can manage it. Problem is inflexible partners and with I formation the challenge of aging knees and staying low.
I watched a challengers doubles match a couple years ago and the winning team used the I formation on 90% of first serve points. Was enlightening how easily they could win those points by taking the middle away forcing more challenging DTL returns. I started suggesting it to my doubles partners and got dirty looks sadly.

I can totally believe it - it does require both partners being willing to do things that they often do not do at 3.5 though... I've tried to introduce this concept to partners in mixed and when I set up Aussie - the woman server stood there and let the rally ball coming back from the receiver into the open court (that she was supposed to move over to cover) bounce on through as she ran up to line up 5 steps directly behind me... three or four tries of that was enough for me.

 

[ShaunS]

So when should you employ non-standard serve formations in rec leagues and when should you not?

I only use it in matches where we're struggling with someone's return. If my team is handily winning service games, I'm not going to risk helping the returner find his groove. Don't feel like you're compelled to use it against both opponents either. For example, if you're playing two right-handers, and the guy on the ad court crushes those serves DTL for winners... just don't do that.

To clarify, I prefer "I Formation" because it keeps that doubt of where you're going to be longer in your opponents' minds. Aussie still gives them the different look, but they're allowed time to mentally prepare for the return target.

Is it just to give the opponents a different look?

That's the biggest part of it. Most people only practice returning cross court, and going DTL can be hard. It's also mentally disruptive for most players, and that's nothing to scoff at. I'm amazed how often people totally botch returns, and they'll tell me they were worried about me moving at the net.

Do you have certain prerequisites for the server?

Generally speaking, they should be serving up the T. As usual, first serve in is important so the returner doesn't feel more comfortable (weakening the mental advantage).

Do you have certain caveats when you shouldn't use it?

There are inherent weaknesses to the formation, and depending on you/your partner you can mitigate them. As I mentioned before, I wouldn't use it if we're not having trouble with someone's return. Otherwise, look out for people who handle the look well. A few years ago at a state match I had a team break out the I formation against me. They did a poor job of keeping the ball up the middle, and one of my favorite shots is a forehand DTL from deuce court. They stuck with that formation way too long, and we got a lot of free points off it. Bottom line - if it doesn't work well at first, I wouldn't keep going to it.

I'd also be cautious about giving people a look at the server's weaker side. If you have a left-handed server, serving to the ad court, and the opponents keep putting the ball deep DTL to his backhand... maybe don't do that either.

 

[SavvyStringer]

I was able to use Australian formation successfully in a recent dubs match when my partner was having trouble with his serve and couldn't hit with much pace. Me and my partner were in the standard one up, one back serve formation and the opponents were either slicing or dropping his serves right in the alley such that neither of us could really reach the return in time... so we switched to Aussie and completely neutralized that serve return, and held my partner's serve the rest of the match as a result. It was the only time I've ever used Aussie in a match though, and I suspect my opponents hadn't ever dealt with that, as they were unable to do anything even approaching aggressive returning what was, for all intents and purposes, quite a weak serve. I have never seen anyone use Aussie or I formation in any of my matches in the past 2 years, but that's not a big sample and is only in the 3.0 and 3.5 range.

Then this morning this post caught my eye in another thread and made me think about when Aussie (or I) formation should be used.



So when should you employ non-standard serve formations in rec leagues and when should you not?
Is it just to give the opponents a different look?
Do you have certain prerequisites for the server?
Do you have certain caveats when you shouldn't use it?
Are there big counter-indications for the use of any non-standard serve formation?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

I use non-standard when a person consistently returns the same. If they clearly hit a pattern I'll switch formation to make them change their pattern. People do it to me all the time as well. As a rule I return cross court 99% of the time in regular gender doubles. I'm comfortable hitting that pattern and typically don't have time to employ good directional control for accurate, well placed dtl shots. In mixed I tend to hit more different returns because typically on the woman's serve I have plenty of time to hit good dtl shots. It works especially well if A) your partner serves big or B) your partner prefers to play a certain side. I personally enjoy when people play different formations and make me change the pattern because it leaves a lot of court open and you don't really have to aim to just punch it down the line. As for using it on the slower serve like you mentioned, the woman last night would have just bunted the ball down the line and destroyed the change. I looked her up a bit ago. She's a 4.0 this year and is 28-5. She wasn't doing anything crazy but had excellent directional control.

 

[Pro Kenneth]

I can totally believe it - it does require both partners being willing to do things that they often do not do at 3.5 though... I've tried to introduce this concept to partners in mixed and when I set up Aussie - the woman server stood there and let the rally ball coming back from the receiver into the open court (that she was supposed to move over to cover) bounce on through as she ran up to line up 5 steps directly behind me... three or four tries of that was enough for me.

Or the server doesn't begin near the centerline but still serves in the old-guy doubles alley area, and cannot possibly cover the open court after serving, and then looks at the net guy as if to say "see I told you it wouldn't work".

 

[Traffic]

When to use:
In doubles, our opponent was able to take our serve and hit a slice, drop shot, with angle to the alley on the deuce side. He was always winning that side. My partner and I both have good serves and this was the first time both of us got broken in a row. Down 1-4, we decided to start off in i-formation. We had one direction the net person was moving to and that was on the deuce side while the server ran over to cover the DTL shot.

Any drop shot was reached by the net person. And the ROS DTL wasn't particularly powerful so the server could come in on it and hit their own DTL or slice volley to pass. We completely shut down this tactic.

When not to use:
The opponent, seeing our success with i-formation, decided to use the same. We had a specific tactic that we were trying to neutralize. For them, we were pounding ROS and winning more of the points. I'm not sure what problem they were trying to solve because I was hitting both cc and dtl ROS. I think it confused them more than it confused us. I didn't change my ROS aim. I knew exactly where I was going to hit to regardless of what the net person did. But it disrupted the server enough for us to get a few DFs out of them.

 

[kylebarendrick]

When to use? Anytime as along as you and your partner are comfortable with it.

I've played with a couple of partners who are very comfortable with varying positions and signalling. With those partners, the server's partner would line up wherever they want (normal, I or Aussie) on any given point and signal where they would go. If you've practiced this well, the receiving team never gets a rhythm because their targets change on every serve.

When not to use? When you haven't practiced it or your server is a head case (tends to double fault when asked to execute anything)

 

[WhiteOut]

When not to use? When you haven't practiced it or your server is a head case (tends to double fault when asked to execute anything)

hmmm...things are becoming more clear...I've never had a partner try any of this with me...

 

[mikeler]

Some people get grooved into that cross court return to where they have the instant advantage after returning serve. Make them hit over the higher part of the net with less court. The best thing is making the other team always wonder where the net man will be.

In casual doubles, I rarely use it. In league competition, if you are getting killed by a cross court return then absolutely mix things up.

 

[Nostradamus]

I was able to use Australian formation successfully in a recent dubs match when my partner was having trouble with his serve and couldn't hit with much pace. Me and my partner were in the standard one up, one back serve formation and the opponents were either slicing or dropping his serves right in the alley such that neither of us could really reach the return in time... so we switched to Aussie and completely neutralized that serve return, and held my partner's serve the rest of the match as a result. It was the only time I've ever used Aussie in a match though, and I suspect my opponents hadn't ever dealt with that, as they were unable to do anything even approaching aggressive returning what was, for all intents and purposes, quite a weak serve. I have never seen anyone use Aussie or I formation in any of my matches in the past 2 years, but that's not a big sample and is only in the 3.0 and 3.5 range.

Then this morning this post caught my eye in another thread and made me think about when Aussie (or I) formation should be used.



So when should you employ non-standard serve formations in rec leagues and when should you not?
Is it just to give the opponents a different look?
Do you have certain prerequisites for the server?
Do you have certain caveats when you shouldn't use it?
Are there big counter-indications for the use of any non-standard serve formation?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

in recreational doubles, sometimes servers have weak serves where returner has plenty of time deciding to go where ever they want. In this situation Aussie or I formation doesn't work so well. Because returner can go either way and plenty of time to decide where to hit the return.

However, with USTA 4.0 and up, where guys have decent pace and location on the serves, I formation really work well. However when facing good returning team, don't use it all the time. Mix it up. Mix it in about 1-2 times during each service game. Here is the Key. Guy at the net, don't move to either side right away after your partner serves, especially if your partner puts in a decent 1st serve. Just stand in the middle and cut off any semi weak returns, and you will be surprised how much court you can cover at net. It really works well. Also when you do this formation, have your partner serve to returner's weaker side, usually backhand, especially in the beginning.

One caveat, you have to believe in this strategy and practice it little bit. If you don't believe in it, it won't work. I have my team-mates do this all the time especially if we are facing very consistent returning teams. it really breaks their rhythm and makes them think, and puts ton of pressure on their return. and More pressure = more unforced errors and missed returns.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

When to - never
Why not - after crouching rec doubles players blow their knee out

 

[Cindysphinx]

To neutralize a dialed in cross court returner.

Also, some ad players cannot return well up the line or inside in. And they get into a DTL rally backhand against our FH.

Play Aussie on the ad and free points will be yours.

 

[am1899]

To neutralize a dialed in cross court returner.

Also, some ad players cannot return well up the line or inside in. And they get into a DTL rally backhand against our FH.

Play Aussie on the ad and free points will be yours.

100%

I also like Aussie to stop lob returns in 8.0 mixed - returners will often lob my serve DTL over my 3.5 female partner. This is especially problematic because I like to serve and volley.

So I have her stand in the Aussie position and I tell her no matter where the lob goes up, to let me get it (I serve and stay back, obviously). Then if they lob the return, I try to hit the lob hard, out of the air - preferably with an overhead. If I’m successful once or twice with that, the lob returns usually stop.

Another thing with Aussie on the ad side, forcing the DTL return is a good way to open up more looks at forehand ground strokes for the server (assuming the server is right handed and stays back after the serve).

 

[Nostradamus]

100%

I also like Aussie to stop lob returns in 8.0 mixed - returners will often lob my serve DTL over my 3.5 female partner. This is especially problematic because I like to serve and volley.

So I have her stand in the Aussie position and I tell her no matter where the lob goes up, to let me get it (I serve and stay back, obviously). Then if they lob the return, I try to hit the lob hard, out of the air - preferably with an overhead. If I’m successful once or twice with that, the lob returns usually stop.

Another thing with Aussie on the ad side, forcing the DTL return is a good way to open up more looks at forehand ground strokes for the server (assuming the server is right handed and stays back after the serve).

what if they lob up the line into the corner ?? that will be same as if your girl was standing in the regular spot. I think it is almost easier to cut those off if you serve and volley. and also location is also critical where you hit that over-head or swinging volley. Do you want to know where ? I can tell you the most effective spot .

 

[esgee48]

When the opposing team switches to I or Aussie, the returner should just lob the service return DTL. Net man is not going to get it and even if the server is coming in, he has to stop to chase down the lob. Then they are on top of the net.

I would prefer to spin the ball over [TS/S/K] to give me time to come in to volley. If the returners are grooving on your serve, it's time to change up the serve. This is my experience and YMMV.

 

[am1899]

what if they lob up the line into the corner ?? that will be same as if your girl was standing in the regular spot. I think it is almost easier to cut those off if you serve and volley. and also location is also critical where you hit that over-head or swinging volley. Do you want to know where ? I can tell you the most effective spot .

Sometimes with the change of positioning, they stop lobbing without me doing anything. (And there was much rejoicing. Yay....).

But if after we move to Aussie they continue lobbing:

If I’m serving the deuce side, and they lob the return I’ll hit a swing volley if I don’t have enough time to get around it and hit an overhead. Ad side I’ll usually have enough time to make an overhead out of it - if the lob is high enough.

The catch of all this isn’t so much where my partner is but that with her there I can serve from the singles position. That position puts me nearly in the center of the baseline and enables me to get to the DTL lob a lot faster than if we were playing straight up.

I’ll respectfully disagree that the location where my swing volley or overhead goes is critical. Generally I’m trying to end the point with that shot - I’m trying to scare them out of lobbing anymore returns by overwhelming them with pace. Mostly I’ll aim at open court. But on the rare occasion that opponents like these have already been trying to hit my partner, I’ve been known to go right at the net player. (Oops)!

To be sure, this strategy hasn’t always worked. But more often that not, the opponents I encounter in 8.0 are on some level afraid of pace. If I can expose that fear, I’m definitely going to do it.

9.0 mixed is a different story. Players there are usually a lot less likely to be afraid of much I do or hit at them.

 

[am1899]

When the opposing team switches to I or Aussie, the returner should just lob the service return DTL. Net man is not going to get it and even if the server is coming in, he has to stop to chase down the lob. Then they are on top of the net.

Seems to me it depends on who’s serving. If a 4.5 is serving, going Aussie is in some way an attempt by the server to make sure he or she hits the next ball. If you’re lobbing return, you’re playing right into the servers hands.

If the 3.5 is serving, I’d agree.

If it’s 2 4.0’s we’re playing against, it depends on what their strengths and weaknesses are IMO.

I also agree that if the returners are chewing you up, the server needs to adjust. Rest assured - I will have already tried all that. On the occasion that the returners we’re facing are not bothered by any of my different serve locations, speeds, spins, etc. that’s usually when I’ll suggest to my partner we try Aussie. It’s usually a last ditch effort to find some way for me to hold...which usually isn’t a problem, but when it is, it’s a big one.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

IMO, nearly any team at the rec level will benefit from mixing up formations and using signals. If you've got a steady partner, this is an easy way to increase your effectiveness as a team without needing to learn any new strokes. The one thing this requires is for the server to be able to serve just as well from two spots (doubles positioning for the serve, and a spot near the center) and not to be screwed up by the variety.

But if the server can handle it, it's just some free advantage without any need for new skills. Each serve, pick a spot to stand and pick who covers what (could be including a "planned poach" where the net person and server switch sides immediately). Swap around between regular and aussie. It gets in the returner's head and makes them start switching up their return all the time, which is probably worth some free points. Or after a few times you might notice that a player has trouble with some specific return, and then you can keep going to that formation all the time.

The main difficulties with formations/signals are:
1) If thinking about this stuff messes up the server's serve, it's not worth it.
2) If you don't have a regular partner and just play with different people all the time, you can't discuss and practice this in advance, and so there's too much explaining/discussion/thinking to do during the match.

 

[am1899]

^^ Great points as well.

 

[Dartagnan64]

When the opposing team switches to I or Aussie, the returner should just lob the service return DTL. Net man is not going to get it and even if the server is coming in, he has to stop to chase down the lob. Then they are on top of the net.

I would prefer to spin the ball over [TS/S/K] to give me time to come in to volley. If the returners are grooving on your serve, it's time to change up the serve. This is my experience and YMMV.

I'll take that return. It's lower percentage than CC. I played some mixed last night with my wife and told her we were going to try some Aussie when serving to ad just to get used to it. Fairly simple strategy that the net person took the CC and the server took DTL. Our opponents tried hitting the BH return as a lob DTL and struggled all night as it often sailed wide. Forcing them to hit a direction change on an outside ball leads to more errors than you might think.

Anyways it did work well at keeping the opponents off guard. But unfortunately adding in poaches is probably going to be too complicated for my partner to process. Keeping the responsibilities simple is a key if you have a partner that loses their serving rhythm with changes.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I have never seen anyone use Aussie or I formation in any of my matches in the past 2 years, but that's not a big sample and is only in the 3.0 and 3.5 range.

Which makes it all the more effective since your opponents don't know how to counter them.

So when should you employ non-standard serve formations in rec leagues and when should you not?

Certainly if you're losing, you might as well try something to disrupt their rhythm.

I can only think of very specialized situations where you would not use them [see below]

Is it just to give the opponents a different look?

It can be. And oftentimes that's enough to disrupt their returns.

However, there can be specific reasons:
- The returners are in a CC groove but you suspect/know that they aren't nearly as good DTL
- The server does not S&V and prefers one stroke over the other. When he serves on the side where he has to hit more of the stroke he doesn't prefer, play Aussie, which typically causes a DTL return and now the server gets to his his preferred stroke
- Someone standing in the middle of the net and daring the returner to pass can cause a lot of errors

At some point, they'll figure out that a lob return is very effective if the server is not following his serve to the net. If he is, they have to be careful in not offering up a floater.

Do you have certain prerequisites for the server?

If the serve is so weak that I'd play 2-back because I don't want to get hammered by the return, neither Aussie nor I might help. Still, it's worth a try.

But as long as the serve isn't that easily attacked,that's good enough for me as the net man.

Do you have certain caveats when you shouldn't use it?

- if you know they have better DTL returns than CC.
- If the server gets nervous
- If the server gets tripped up figuring out where to go after the serve

Are there big counter-indications for the use of any non-standard serve formation?

None that I can think of that are specific to Aussie and I, other than what I mentioned above.

The most important factor is not specifically tennis-related: it's being in sync with your partner. If he's extremely reluctant to try anything new and you lose one single point, he'll mentally give up and want to revert to his comfort zone. Also, the other team might try to psych you out ["Hey look, our opponents think this is the finals of the US Open!"]. Get a partner whose simpatico and give it a whirl. Be prepared to make mistakes and mis-communicate but also observe how often it causes problems for the returner.

Have fun with it!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I can totally believe it - it does require both partners being willing to do things that they often do not do at 3.5 though... I've tried to introduce this concept to partners in mixed and when I set up Aussie - the woman server stood there and let the rally ball coming back from the receiver into the open court (that she was supposed to move over to cover) bounce on through as she ran up to line up 5 steps directly behind me... three or four tries of that was enough for me.

It's not enough to tell someone; it must be practiced...a lot. Introducing it at match time is a recipe for disaster unless your partner is an extremely quick study. I've had partners at 4.5 not wanting to change.

 

[Sakkijarvi]

"So when should you employ non-standard serve formations in rec leagues and when should you not? "

Simple: Never. It's recreational by definition - the tennis is a way to kill time until the chips and dip in the clubhouse.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

To neutralize a dialed in cross court returner.

Also, some ad players cannot return well up the line or inside in. And they get into a DTL rally backhand against our FH.

Play Aussie on the ad and free points will be yours.

What does your team do when the returner starts lobbing?