| The Australian formation can be used by a doubles | | | | the incoming server with a powerful cross court |
| team when serving. Instead of the servers partner | | | | backhand return and never plays down the line. Using |
| standing in the opposite court to the server, he stands | | | | the Australian formation, the servers partner is now in |
| in the the same court as the server. This strategy can | | | | the path of the cross court return and will have a good |
| be effective against a player who has a strong cross | | | | chance of handling it. The receiver is forced to play a |
| court shot. | | | | weaker stroke down the line to the incoming servers |
| In the Australian formation the left or right court is left | | | | strong forehand volley. Receiver does have the |
| open on purpose while the other court is strongly | | | | alternative of playing a cross court lob, but servers |
| guarded by the net man. This formation is designed to | | | | partner should be covering this by standing a little |
| lure a specific shot and discourage the strong shot. | | | | further from the net than normal. |
| Because the server and his partner are positioned in | | | | #2 On the ad side of the court which is the left side, |
| the same court, server must stand as close as | | | | show the Australian formation used against a |
| possible to the center mark so that he can move into | | | | left-handed receiver who has a weak slice stroke only |
| the empty court. The servers partner takes up a net | | | | on the backhand. The server serves to the backhand |
| position that is further back than normal and a little | | | | and follows into the net expecting to force an easy |
| closer to the center line. This positioning allows the net | | | | volley at the net on the forehand, or an easy volley for |
| man to counter cross court returns while covering for | | | | his partner. The returns which servers partner must |
| a lob. We are going to discuss two different formation | | | | beware of are the lob and the dink shot, or slice, |
| being used in different situations: | | | | angled wide to the backhand. |
| #1 The receiver is right handed and has been beating | | | | |