A good poach can effectively change the momentum of any doubles match. It can deflate an opponent on the run and change the rhythm of play. Adding the ability to poach will help add a different element to your game as well as make you a more effective doubles player. Here are 3 keys to successfully executing a poach
Move Forward as Well as Laterally
Many players make the mistake of only moving side-to-side to reach the ball. Ultimately this is ineffective as the ball will continue to run away from you and you won’t be able to reach the ball. Instead you want to move forward as well as laterally to cut of the angle and reach the ball faster. The benchmark I like to use is when you are poaching move towards the center net strap.
Leave at the Correct Time
The biggest mistake players make when poaching is that they will leave too early. If you leave to early your opponent will still have ample time to notice this and change their target. If you are poaching off of an opponents ground stroke the time to leave is when they bring their eyes down to watch their contact point. At this point in their swing they are committed to their target. If you are poaching on the return, you can afford to leave earlier because of the speed of the serve; you should try to leave when the serve is bouncing in the service box.
When to Poach
There are a couple times where mixing in a poach would be a good idea. Generally speaking poaching works best when your opponent is in a position of duress. When your opponent is pulled wide or short, if your opponent was lobbed, basically anytime your opponent is off balance would be a good time to look to poach.
The last thing to keep in mind is that no matter how good and quick of a player you are you won’t be 100% successful at poaching. There are sometimes when you will make your move and your opponent will have guessed and hit it behind you. Don’t let that mess with your confidence. If you keep these 3 keys in mind you should find yourself being more successful and aggressive doubles player.
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