In transition to Defense in water polo is what wins games. There are many defensive plays that are ran according to how good the opposing team is. If the hole set on the opposing team is good then a few defenses can be ran. Front and lane defense is when everyone guards there man in the passing lanes and the hole set is fronted to prevent passes. By running this defense it makes the opposing team have to work for a safe pass or the defense will steal the ball. another defense that can be ran is the piston. In this defense the two flat defense swim back and forth from their man and to the hole set to prevent a pass to the hole. This leaves one person up at a flat open at all times. The M-drop is another defense that double teams the hole set which forces the point to shoot if ran correctly. Making the offense shoot from the two flats or point is the goal of these defenses, because it is harder to make a shot.
