“When should I poach?” is a very common question that is asked of myself and the other pros all of the time. I believe that before you can know the right time to poach, you have to first realize what poaching really is. Once you understand what the poach is, you have to then factor in your opponent and your positioning. Once you can do all that you will be able to answer your own question, “when should I poach“?
What does poaching really mean in tennis? Before I can answer this question you must first recognize that it is not merely moving to the other side of the court during a point when you are at net. If you are following the ball when you are at the net and you merely reach out towards the middle to hit the ball, it is not a poach but rather a good net player’s point. Likewise, if I tell my partner I am going to switch sides after he serves, therefore, forcing the server to cover my side this also is not a poach. A poach is when the net player takes a risk by leaving their alley open and moving towards the middle of the court in the hopes of cutting off their opponent’s shot. The poach can be done with or without your partners knowledge of the poach. If your opponents read your poach, you will lose the point, but when it is done at the right time you can gain an easy and satisfying point.
Now that you understand what a poach is, recognizing your position and that of your opponent’s will be critical to executing a successful poach. The best time to poach is when your opponent is having to hit a more difficult shot than normal. This can mean they are on the run or simply the ball is pushing them back behind the baselline. If you try to poach when they are not in trouble, you can get burned down your alley. You must also factor in your postioning too. As long as you are not in a defensive position, such as at the service line, you should be able to poach effectively.
Now that you are armed with all of the knowledge about the poach it is time to try it. If your positon is good and your opponent’s is in enough trouble, you should start to sneak to the middle of the court before they strike the ball. Yes you are leaving your alley open but if you correctly factored in your position and that of your opponents, it should be a very successful poach and a very difficult shot for your opponents to return. Remember, you will lose some points from poaching but it’s okay to keep trying. It will drive your opponents crazy.