in the flooded feilds we hunt we usually put them in a great big u shape.
but now we put them into seperate family groups of 5 or 6 and that seems
to work better than the flotilla of ducks with the landing spot in front of the blind. Now we get a lot of pintail out of our blind. and of course when we aren't there the other ppl on our club say that they are just hammering our blind
small groups of birds. 3, 4, 5..... Spread 'em out and leave lots of holes in the spread. Large places for incoming birds to land. U's and V's might work, but they don't look natural.
If you use a spinner, put that where you'd like to shoot. 99% of the time, they'll land right next to it.
I agree with plate spread out little pods, If you are hunting a resting area or somewhere where the ducks sit take a look and see how they are positioned and try and imitate it. I hunt a creek were the ducks lay up next to, so sometimes I will line the decoys along the edge.
we just find a place ducks want to be and through out 12 to 15 dekes
in pairs and small groups we take 8 to10 greenheads 4 or so hens
with a pole mounted and floater mojos and more time than not we whackem but keep in mind if the duck really want to be there decoys
just help put them were you want them IN YOUR FACE