You can, but be careful. It requires a good serve, relative to the returner's ability, and good agility. You'll often see the pros serve and volley out the the I-formation with the server covering the line. They typically are giving up any down the line return that lands in the doubles alley since there's no way for the server to get there on a S&V. However, that's a very low percentage return against a pro level serve.
To further complicate this, some people are lefthanded! The angles are different and the serve kicks in a different direction. You might do a separate session for one or two lefties as partners. Drive righties crazy.
Right! If the server is lefty then they might still play I on the Ad side, but only if the server has a strong backhand. Usually, it's best to keep forehands in the middle of the court. With left-handed returners, it's important to know before the point where the backhands are so the serving team can attack that area of the court. Great thoughts John! Maybe a future doubles video ;)
It's really helpful!! It took me a lot of practice to get comfortable playing these formations, but I definitely agree that giving a returner a different look makes them miss more. Also another option to consider when playing the Australian formation, is for the player at the net to cross over and poach when the server is serving to the ad side.
Do you think utilizing all these different serving formations are equally suitable for same sex doubles and mixed doubles or does one or the other favor same sex vs mixed? I ask because typically the guy is a stronger player and their return against a girl serving would be tougher .
I think the mentality doesn't change if one partner is weaker. It's always best to hide your weaknesses and play to your strengths as much as possible. However if the player has a very weak 2nd serve, and the returner is good, then conventional might be best so they can't hit down the line winners. Does that make sense??
Nice explanation! Maybe this would require a separate video, but sometimes when my partner's serve is really weak (like in 6.0 doubles) I'm tempted to just stay back instead of play the net at all. I see this in professional doubles also, sometimes only on the second serve. What do you think of that? I know doubles is won at the net, but when the opponent can do whatever they want with the return of serve, it can make the net player somewhat superfluous.
Thanks John! That makes sense. Honestly, I haven't watched a lot of 6.0 doubles... mostly 8.0 to 10.0, but a few thoughts. 1) I don't think it's a bad idea to stay back if you're getting beat at the net on 2nd serves. But definitely try to get to the net after the return if you can. 2) Also, have your partner try to improve their 1st serve percentage as much as possible. Even if it means hitting it a little weaker. 3) You can also practice some fast-paced volleys. If you can just get the volleys back, then it will reset the point and you'll have the advantage of being at the net. I've played 8.0 & 9.0 in the past with partners who have a weak 2nd serve, and I've found that if I can just get the volley back it will make the opponent (returner) start going crosscourt, or they'll try to hit a bigger shot at me and miss more than they make. This is a great idea for a future lesson though, I've had several people ask about this :)
![How To Win With A WEAK Doubles Partner [HINT: Take Risks!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/opMHEyUjmYI/mqdefault.jpg)
Tennis is awesome. :)
Do you ever combine Australien with serve&volley?
You can, but be careful. It requires a good serve, relative to the returner's ability, and good agility. You'll often see the pros serve and volley out the the I-formation with the server covering the line. They typically are giving up any down the line return that lands in the doubles alley since there's no way for the server to get there on a S&V. However, that's a very low percentage return against a pro level serve.
To further complicate this, some people are lefthanded! The angles are different and the serve kicks in a different direction. You might do a separate session for one or two lefties as partners. Drive righties crazy.
Right!
If the server is lefty then they might still play I on the Ad side, but only if the server has a strong backhand. Usually, it's best to keep forehands in the middle of the court.
With left-handed returners, it's important to know before the point where the backhands are so the serving team can attack that area of the court.
Great thoughts John! Maybe a future doubles video ;)
It's really helpful!! It took me a lot of practice to get comfortable playing these formations, but I definitely agree that giving a returner a different look makes them miss more. Also another option to consider when playing the Australian formation, is for the player at the net to cross over and poach when the server is serving to the ad side.
Agreed... that's usually a forehand volley for the net player so it's a great time to poach. Thanks Dasha!
Do you think utilizing all these different serving formations are equally suitable for same sex doubles and mixed doubles or does one or the other favor same sex vs mixed? I ask because typically the guy is a stronger player and their return against a girl serving would be tougher .
I think the mentality doesn't change if one partner is weaker. It's always best to hide your weaknesses and play to your strengths as much as possible. However if the player has a very weak 2nd serve, and the returner is good, then conventional might be best so they can't hit down the line winners.
Does that make sense??
Nice explanation! Maybe this would require a separate video, but sometimes when my partner's serve is really weak (like in 6.0 doubles) I'm tempted to just stay back instead of play the net at all. I see this in professional doubles also, sometimes only on the second serve. What do you think of that? I know doubles is won at the net, but when the opponent can do whatever they want with the return of serve, it can make the net player somewhat superfluous.
Thanks John!
That makes sense. Honestly, I haven't watched a lot of 6.0 doubles... mostly 8.0 to 10.0, but a few thoughts.
1) I don't think it's a bad idea to stay back if you're getting beat at the net on 2nd serves. But definitely try to get to the net after the return if you can.
2) Also, have your partner try to improve their 1st serve percentage as much as possible. Even if it means hitting it a little weaker.
3) You can also practice some fast-paced volleys. If you can just get the volleys back, then it will reset the point and you'll have the advantage of being at the net.
I've played 8.0 & 9.0 in the past with partners who have a weak 2nd serve, and I've found that if I can just get the volley back it will make the opponent (returner) start going crosscourt, or they'll try to hit a bigger shot at me and miss more than they make.
This is a great idea for a future lesson though, I've had several people ask about this :)