Tennis Doubles Poaching: To Go or Not To Go, That Is The Question

The server’s partner is the most overlooked effect on whether the server holds or not.  It is the attention that the net player commands that will put pressure on the returner that will earn you more free points than you thought were possible.  We all know the return of serve is one of the most difficult shots in tennis and the time that the highest number of errors are made, but with an active net player on the serving side, you can make it even more difficult.

First make sure you are starting out in the correct starting position when playing the net which is half way between the doubles line and center line, and half way between the net and the service line. The further you stand toward the alley, the less pressure you place on the return. In this starting point you are far enough out to be visible, yet close enough to go back and cover the alley as needed.

Poaching, in tennis, is defined as when one player cross over to other players half of the court to intercept an incoming ball.  It is almost always used when one partner is at the net and other partner is at the baseline, like the starting doubles position when you are serving. Once the ball is served, the net player starts to cross over and intercept the return of serve to try and end the point right there.

You must make a decision of whether or not poach before the point begins and make that decision to your partner.  Poaching should be done at  optimal times in the match or set. Usually the best times to poach are:

1. When you are up in a game. 40-Love and 40-15 so that you can establish that you may go at anytime to keep the returner off balance.
2. The first couple points of the match. Again establishing your ability to poach early keeps it in the back of your opponents head for the rest of the match. This is especially effective for the male when they are at the net in mixed doubles.
3. When a returner gets in a groove. Once a return of server gets in a groove with the cross court return, using a poach here and there will get them thinking and get in their head that they need to start changing up the pattern.  Getting an opponent to change something that is working well is always a good thing.
4. When a returner floats the ball. Some return of servers just do not have the pace on the return to get it past you.  When this happens you should stay very active and take the mind set that you are going to take everything.

If you are going to poach, make sure your partner keeps his/her serve down the “T” of the court or to the “C” serving section as discussed previously in the Identifying Doubles Positions -Server when talking about serve targeting. When your partner serves wide to the “A” section, it not only opens up your alley for a passing shot but also opens the cross court return angle.  Remember, it is always easier to hit the ball back to where it came from. 

When begining to make your move, there is a definate point which the returner’s head goes from up watching the ball come in to dropping down to watch contact with the racquet. After the returner’s head drops down is the time you should begin to poach. Your target for the put away volley is the half of the court with the closest player to you on it which is usually the returner’s partner. I refer to this as Close to Close.

If you are not going to go, make sure you throw in some fake poaches. Take one step with your inside foot toward the center and then recover back to the alley. The timing for a fake move should be little earlier than an actual poach. Again, there is a definite time when the return of serve player drops their head to watch the contact of the ball. You want to make your fake move before the head goes down so they can see you make your move.  This will begin to draw more balls to you in the offensive position and also force your opponent to change their mind in the middle of the swing leading to errors.

It is important to keep the poach in your mind throughout the match to continue to keep your opponents off balance. Even if you get passed down the line once or twice, the number of times it pays off, not only in put away volleys but forced errors, will far outweigh the points lost.