Poaching is an
aggressive strategy in doubles where the tennis player at net attempts to
volley a shot hit to their partner on the baseline
There are four critical
elements to poaching: positioning, stance, timing, and direction. Let’s take a
look at each of them.
- Positioning-most players stand too close to both the net and the alley to poach successfully. For best results, stand right in the middle of the service box. In this position you are right in front of the returner, who will immediately consider you more of a threat. You are also in position to intercept any return not hit perfectly cross court.
- Stance-lower your center of
gravity by widening your feet and bending your knees. In this stance you
will be more balanced and able to push off to go in direction, right or
left.
- Timing-take off for your poach either just before or right as the returner is hitting the ball. This way you are making your move when the returner is concentrating on hitting the ball so they won’t notice you (or even better, notice you and make an error on the return).
- Direction-always move diagonally
toward the net. Players often just move sideways(usually because they are
already too close to the net). By moving forward as well, your momentum
helps you punch the volley, helping to resist the urge to take the racket
back for power.
There are several times
when poaching is very advantageous:
(1)
The returner is hitting weak returns crosscourt.
(2) Every return is being hit crosscourt with few attempts to pass down the line.
(3) The server is missing a lot of first volleys, or is having trouble getting to net.
(4) To pressure the returner to hit a ball down the line if this is not their strength.
(2) Every return is being hit crosscourt with few attempts to pass down the line.
(3) The server is missing a lot of first volleys, or is having trouble getting to net.
(4) To pressure the returner to hit a ball down the line if this is not their strength.
The
mechanics of poaching are very simple. The poacher cuts in front of the server
to hit a the return that is coming back crosscourt. The intention of poaching
is to put the ball away. In essence, the poacher is cutting off the crosscourt
return before it has time to get back to the server.
Poaching is very useful if
the returner is hitting every return crosscourt. By poaching you force the
returner to at least think about returning down the line, which they may be uncomfortable
doing. This can lead to more errors off the return. It also takes some of the
pressure off your partner's (ie: the server) first volley.
This
video demonstrates a poach. Notice how the net player on the server's side cuts
across the court and knocks off a weak return.