Poaching

For those of us that play a lot of doubles, poaching is a winning strategy.  If you don’t poach, you miss the true advantage in doubles, which is the intimidation factor that the net person has on the opponent’s shot selection.  By allowing your opponent to get comfortable with a crosscourt rally duel with your partner, you play a game of hoping they miss.  You should be playing a game of how do I win.

Let’s start with a definition of poaching.  Poaching is anytime that you cross over to intercept a ball heading in the direction of your partner.  This can be anytime during a point.  It can be during a serve, during a return, or during a rally.  Think of poaching as doing something to surprise your opponents by changing the expected pattern of play.

Poaching is part of a strategy that starts with being active on the court.  By that I mean that your feet are always moving and you shift position as the ball moves.  This lets your opponents see you as a distraction and takes their concentration off the ball.  The success in poaching is much more than the classic cutting off a return of serve.  As I mentioned above, it should be considered throughout the point.  Look for every opportunity to surprise the opponent.  As you execute cutting off balls, it reinforcing in their mind the possibility that you may do it again at any time.  This will force them to narrow their hitting zone and produce more errors.  It will also force them in selecting shots that they may be less comfortable with hitting.

To get started, practice feigning a move to cross.  All this requires is a shift of head and shoulders.  Then add a single side step to your feign.  You’d be surprised how often that is enough to throw off your opponent.  Next, pay attention to your opponent’s racket preparation for the return.  Look to see if you can see a pattern in the preparation for a certain shot.  So far, you haven’t put yourself out on a limb.  Now when you have a feel for their return timing and direction, it’s time to make your move.

Like I said poaching is part of a strategy and that need to be communicated with your partner.  You may choose to have a preset signal that lets your partner know that you’re going to poach, you may discuss it before the point, or you may poach opportunistically during the point.  In all cases, your partner must know their role at the time you poach.  You don’t want to leave an open court for your opponent.  Preset patterns are the place to start.

Poach on a serve and your partner covers the side you vacated.  In this case, make sure to stay on the side you moved to.  Start your move as the opponent starts their forward swing.  At this point they’re committed.

The same can be said for poaching on a return of serve.  Once your partner hits a successful return, look to cut off the opponents shot.  It may be a volley, half-volley, or groundstroke.