Doubles Strategy – Poaching

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The Poach

Poaching is a doubles strategy in which the net player moves toward his partners side of the court to cut off a return shot. The net player should always move diagonally forward on the poach to take the ball as close to the net as possible. The poaching net player aims at the opening between the receiver and the net player, or towards the net players feet. If both members of the receiving team are in the back court, the poach may be directed at either player, down the middle, or to the short angle.

The server will want to serve from a position closer to the T in the center of the court. This protects against the angle return, serve more down the middle. Focus on getting the first serve in, the poach is much more effective on the first serve. If the poaching players momentum carries him to the servers side of the court, the serving partner moves to cover the poachers original side.

Consider the Poach When

1. You are having trouble winning the point while serving to a particular side of the court.   The poach can break the receivers rhythm
2. The point is a big one, a poaching net player gives the receiver more things to think about.
3. The serve is deep, usually sets up a weak return.

Signals

When a doubles team decides to poach, the net player must signal what he plans to his partner. A closed fist means “to stay”, and an open fist means “to go”. The thumb points out which direction the serve should go.

The server should always indicate that they have seen the signal by verbally saying so. Once the server verbally acknowledges the signal then it becomes an all or nothing commitment.

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