Mia Ford
All doubles players need to know about the I-formation. The I-formation changes the look of the court and creates opportunities to dictate play by limiting the other team’s ability to take control of the point. I recommend this as a first serve only, as second serves usually have less pace and are more easily attacked. However, if you’ve got a decent second serve, then go for it!
My partner and I love messing with our opponents. When we’re in a “messing-with-our-opponents” mood, we’ll use the i-formation in our very first service game. We don’t always do it right off the bat like that, but sooner is better. It’s a great way to show opponents that we’ve got balls and aren’t afraid to use ’em!
Are you and your partner ready to add some zing to your service games? Then bring on the I-formation!
What is the I-formation?
The I-formation is a serve tactic that changes up the look of the court to confuse the opponents about where to return the ball.
The server stands near the center point of the baseline to serve, while the server’s partner crouches low, right over the center of the service line. The crouching posture allows the server a clear view of the court and the best possible down-the-T serve. After the ball passes over the server’s partner, that player quickly gets up and cuts diagonally forward either to the ad or deuce side (which is discussed by both members of the serving team PRIOR to the serve), while the server covers the opposite side of the court. If you’ve watched the pros on TV, no doubt you’ve seen them communicate this movement with hand signals, but quickly (and quietly) talking to each other between serves works just fine, too.
Scenarios in which you should use the I-formation:
This is an aggressive tactic meant to intimidate the opponent into hitting a poor return.
- Rattle a team that constantly kills their returns. It’s good to use the I-formation when your opponents are returning crosscourt really well. Psychologically, it’s a way to change the look of the court and create some indecision in their return game.
- Do it just because you can. Throw in the I-formation every now and again to keep that little bit of indecision and doubt in the returner’s mind. If they’re worried about you and what you may or may not do, they aren’t focusing on their own game.
Where to place your serve:
Because you leave so much of the court open, you risk being passed with a winning shot. Therefore, it is important to be very aggressive with your serve, both in placement and pace.
- Aim your serve at the T. Serve hard down the T because it takes away the angle of the return and makes it very difficult for the receiver to change the direction of the ball for a down-the-line return. Then your partner at the net will get up quickly and move to one side and hopefully be able to poach with a volley winner. If, however, the returner gets it past the net player, the server should be ready.
- Aim your serve at the body. If your serve has a good pace and you’re pretty accurate with your serve placement, aim for the body and jam your opponent. If they get it back, it will more than likely be a weak floater that your partner at the net can put away. And if it comes back as a defensive lob, your partner will be there for a short one, and you will have time to prepare for a deep one.
How to respond:
Now, what if they use the I-formation on you? How do you respond? How can you take back control of the point?
- Aim for the net player by going up the middle. The net player literally just vacated this spot after the serve, right? As long as you get it over the net using your topspin (to keep the ball in), you should be good. If the net player does manage to get it back, the shot will be weak, so be ready to hit it back right at them. They will already be flustered from your first shot and won’t have time to prepare for the next one.
- Go down the line (on the deuce side). Not everyone is consistent enough with their serve to nail it down the T. If you’re a righty and get that “accidental” serve to your forehand, punish the server with a solid forehand down the line. The opponent at net was counting on your return being more up the middle so they could poach and won’t be as prepared to move to the left for a backhand volley. Now, the server will have to hustle to try and get the ball with their backhand, so their return will be weaker and more defensive. DON’T use this shot if you have difficulty changing the direction of the ball. Practice this shot with a ball machine until you are proficient, as it is a great weapon to have against the I-formation.
- Throw up a lob. The offensive lob is a great shot that (usually) gets by the opponent at the net. Aim deep to the back corner of the server’s backhand, keeping it low and using tons of topspin. More than likely, you’ll get a short lob return that you can move in and take with an overhead winner. WARNING: Hitting too short or low can make you sitting ducks for an overhead.
- Receive serve with both players back. If the opponent at net is a poaching beast, then your partner at net should move back almost to no-man’s land. That way, if your shot is poached, your partner will have an additional second or two to respond if needed. This response formation is also more successful for lower-level teams.
The I-formation is a great weapon to have in your arsenal. It changes the look of the court and creates indecision in your opponent’s return game. Communicate with your partner where you’re planning on serving so that they know which way to move. Also, make sure the player at the net crouches low during the serve.
Should your opponents use this against you, simply surprise them with a different look of your own. Practice these techniques with your partner, and you will win your serve more often!
One thing to note, however, is that this serve is not for the net players who have difficulty crouching low at the net (bad back or knees, etc.) In that case, perhaps the Australian formation would be a better choice.
Have you used the I-formation before, and if so, was it successful? Have you had it done to you, and if so, what worked (or didn’t)? We really wanna know, so tell us in the comments below!