Rafael Nadal

This (UDF) Unusual Doubles Receiving Formation puts the receiver and partner on the same side of the court.  The receiver (let’s say – deuce court) is in regular receiving position.  The receiver’s partner is positioned directly behind him so that both players are lined up in the deuce court.

Options:

1. If the serve is out wide to the deuce court, the front receiver will move to their right to return the serve. The partner behind them will move over and up toward the ad court to defend that part of the court. This helps put both players in motion.
2. If the serve is up the “T”, the front receiver will move to their left to return the serve and continue to move to the ad court following the return.  The partner behind them will move up to defend the now vacated deuce court.  This will put both players in motion.

Reasons for the receiving team to use this “I” Formation-Both Back:

1. The receiving team can create confusion for the serving team
2. The receiving team can put themselves in motion if they have become too stagnate with their receiving play.
3. The receiving team wants to intimidate the serving team and get inside their head regarding options instead of focusing on the ball.
4. To protect a weak playing net player against a strong serve and volley team or a team that attacks the net player on the first ball.
5. Helps the receiving team change momentum in a match, set or game.

How to play teams that play the “I” Receiving Formation-Both Back:

1. Make a decision as to where you want to serve and don’t change your mind.  Call time and make a plan with your net player.
2. Decide who you want to move to the ad court by serving wide to force that player to play deuce or up the “T” to force the back player to play the deuce court.
3. Serve at the receiver’s body to make the decision to move left or right by the receiving team more difficult to determine.
4. Following the serve, return shots deep down the middle.
5. Practice against this formation in practice match to recognize the options of the receiving team. Play it so you can feel how it is to be in that position.

What not to do:

1. Avoid getting sucked into their style of play. Call time out and make a game plan with your net player – have a plan.
2. Avoid trying to serve too hard and have to hit a lot of second serves or double fault.
3. Avoid returning too short on their return of serves so they might dominate play with their ground strokes.
4. Adjust your serving formation if they are bothering your service games.

Photo Credits: mirsasha

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"I" Formation

**This UDF works well at club level play, USTA league play, junior and high school matches as well as college matches..

This (UDF) Unusual Doubles Formation puts the server in the center of the court to serve like a singles player.  Their partner is standing directly behind them.  The serving team decides if the server will serve and move left or right following the serve.

Don’t be afraid – pick a target and go for it.

Reasons for the serving team to use this formation:

1. The serving team removes the net player from harms way against receivers that decide to “take out” the net player.
2. The net player on the serving team is a timid net player and would in reality prefer not to be at the net.
3. The serving team wants to intimidate the receiving team and get inside their head to make decisions instead of focusing on the ball.
4. This position puts the serving team in motion with the serve and can be very distracting to the receiving team.  Because they are in motion it is easy to move forward into the ball.
5. Helps the serving team if they have become too passive and are not moving enough to create high energy on points.
6. The server has a weak serve and the receiving team is being too aggressive with returns, pinning the serve deep with the return and moving to the net where they can nail the net player.
7. It allows the serving team to play their “strong side shot” just like the regular “I” formation can do.  The server moves to take the side they prefer to play following the serve.

How to play teams that play the “I” Formation Both Back on serves:

1. Make a decision as to where you want to return and don’t change your mind – deep down the middle is a good choice.
2. Lob or loop the return and move into ¾ court and control the point from there.  Move both players back to take the pressure off the return of server and take away the net player target.
3. On weak second serves, drop shop in the middle and move in to control the net against a serve team that must come up to get the short return with you and your partner at net.
4. Practice against this formation often as it is the most commonly used.  Play it so you can feel how it is to be in that position.  You may well discover some holes that you can hit to as a receiving team.
5. Returning short or short angles is a good option while deep hard returns may not be as effective.

What not to do against this formation:

1. Don’t return with out a plan.
2. Avoid trying to hit too hard and make unforced errors.
3. Avoid playing back to the stronger ground stroke player.
4. Do not look at the “I” Formation Both Back players and forget to focus on the ball.

Photo credits: Revanta

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