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The returner keeps hitting the same cross-court drive. Do you poach?
A repeated pattern is a poach. Move as they commit, finish through the middle, partner covers your line.
You are the server's partner at the net. The returner has driven cross-court to the server three points in a row. Do you cut across and intercept the next one?
A repeated pattern is a poach. Move as they commit, finish through the middle, partner covers your line.
Why
When a returner hits the same cross-court drive point after point, the server's partner can intercept it: start moving as the returner's racket comes forward to the ball, take it on the forehand volley through the middle, and let the server cover the space you left. The timing matters: move too early and the returner sees you and goes down the line; move too late and the ball is past. A successful poach also does more than win one point: the returner now has to think, and a returner who thinks hits worse returns.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Stay on your side for now and let the server handle it. Poaching is for when your volleys are reliable and your partner knows to cover.
Intermediate
Agree the poach beforehand with a signal. The server needs to know you are going, so they can cover the line the moment you leave it.
Advanced
Fake the poach once, too. A half-step toward the middle and back sends the returner down the line into your waiting partner, and their comfort is gone either way.
Common questions
You are the server's partner at the net. The returner has driven cross-court to the server three points in a row. Do you cut across and intercept the next one?
Yes: go as they commit; the server covers your line. A repeated pattern is a poach. Move as they commit, finish through the middle, partner covers your line. When a returner hits the same cross-court drive point after point, the server's partner can intercept it: start moving as the returner's racket comes forward to the ball, take it on the forehand volley through the middle, and let the server cover the space you left. The timing matters: move too early and the returner sees you and goes down the line; move too late and the ball is past. A successful poach also does more than win one point: the returner now has to think, and a returner who thinks hits worse returns.
Why not no: stay on your side, the server can handle it?
The server can, but three of the same ball means the returner is comfortable. Take that comfort away.
What should a beginner do here?
Stay on your side for now and let the server handle it. Poaching is for when your volleys are reliable and your partner knows to cover.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Fake the poach once, too. A half-step toward the middle and back sends the returner down the line into your waiting partner, and their comfort is gone either way.
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