Poaching in doubles

What a poach is

In doubles, each partner usually covers their own half of the court. A poach is when one player leaves their lane, moves across toward the middle or into the partner's side, and takes a ball the partner would normally hit. Usually it is a volley at the kitchen line, struck early and with purpose.

Done well, a poach takes time away from your opponents and ends rallies. Done badly, it leaves a hole on your side and confuses your partner. The difference is almost always in the timing and the communication, not the shot itself.

Why poach at all

• Take time away. A ball volleyed early in the middle gives opponents less time to react than one your partner plays a step later.
• Use your stronger shot. If you have the better forehand volley, crossing to hit a middle ball with it is a smart trade.
• Punish predictable patterns. Teams that hit the same cross-court dink or the same return of the third shot are inviting a poach.
• Create pressure. Even one successful poach makes opponents look at the middle before every shot. That hesitation causes errors.

When to poach

The best poaches come from a read, not a gamble. Look for these cues:

• The ball is high enough to attack. A ball at chest height or above, or a dink that floats up, is the classic poach ball. Do not poach balls that are below the net; you will just pop them up.
• The opponent is off balance or stretched. A player reaching wide or hitting late usually sends the ball cross-court through the middle.
• Your partner just hit a good shot. When your partner's dink or drop forces a weak reply, the return often comes back through the middle. Be ready to step across.
• The opponent's paddle face shows the direction. An open face facing cross-court tells you where the ball is going. Learn to watch the paddle, not just the ball.
• The ball is coming through the middle anyway. Middle balls belong to the player with the forehand in the middle, or to whoever is better placed. A poach in this case is just a confident "mine."

Avoid poaching when you are behind the kitchen line in the transition zone, when the ball is low and fast, or when you would have to lunge. A poach should feel like stepping into a ball, not chasing it.

How to poach well

Move late, move decisively

If you leave too early, the opponent sees you and simply hits behind you down your line. Wait until the opponent is committed to the shot, then move. A quick lateral shuffle or crossover step toward the middle is enough. Once you go, go all the way. Half a poach is the worst option.

Hit through the opening

The point of a poach is to finish or to force a weak reply. Good targets are:

• The feet of the nearest opponent, especially the one who just hit.
• The gap between the opponents, which they have to sort out.
• The opponent's paddle-side hip or shoulder, where it is hard to get the paddle in front.

Keep the swing compact. A punch volley with a firm wrist is more reliable than a big swing. See the volley.

Recover afterward

After the poach you are out of position. If the ball comes back, you are probably still the best player to cover the middle and your side, so stay on your new side and let your partner shift.

The partner's job: switch and cover

A poach only works if the partner reacts. When your partner crosses, slide the other way and cover the side they left. The simplest rule is: if your partner poaches across, you switch. Say "switch" or "I've got your side" out loud.

If you are the player being poached on, do not drift toward the ball to watch. Move away, cover the open lane, and get ready for the next ball down the line. See communication.

Planned poaches and signals

Some teams agree on poaches in advance, especially on the serving side:

• Poach on the third shot or fifth shot. If your partner's third-shot drop lands well and both opponents are at the line, the server's partner may plan to cross on the next ball.
• Hand signals. The player at the net holds a hand behind their back: a closed fist for "staying," an open hand for "poaching." Signals must come from your partner only.
• "Fake and stay." A small fake toward the middle without crossing can tempt an opponent to go down the line, where you are ready.

Planned poaches work best in competitive play where you know your partner well. In open play with someone new, keep it simple: poach only clear high balls and say "mine" loudly.

Common mistakes

• Poaching too early. The opponent sees you coming and hits behind you.
• Poaching low balls. You pop up the ball and give the opponents the attack.
• Not finishing. A poach that floats back to the middle loses the advantage you created.
• Partner frozen. Your partner stays in place, and now both of you are on one side.
• Poaching every ball. Constant poaching frustrates your partner and leaves your side open. Poach when the read is clear.

Drills

1. Cross-court dink to poach. Two players dink cross-court. A third player stands at the kitchen on the straight side. When a dink floats up, the third player poaches and puts it away at the feet of the opposite player. Rotate every five poaches.
2. Switch reaction. A coach feeds balls into the middle. One player poaches, and the partner must shuffle across and call "switch" before the feed of the next ball. The second ball goes down the open line to test the cover.
3. Paddle-face read. One player at the kitchen dinks with an obvious open or closed face. The poacher calls the direction out loud before the ball is hit, then moves. Over time, call it later and later.
4. Live game rule. Play a game where only poached volleys that win the rally count as two points. It rewards smart poaching and punishes reckless ones.

A simple poaching checklist

• Is the ball above the net?
• Is the opponent committed to the shot?
• Can I step into it rather than lunge?
• Does my partner know I am going?
• Do I know where I am hitting it?

If you can answer yes to all five, go.