Poach Timing
Why this drill
A poach is a bet that pays off in proportion to its timing. Scripted poaches off a partner's serve teach the net player to read the weak return coming, commit fully, and finish — and teach the partner behind them to cover the vacated ground without drama.
Setup
Full doubles court, four players. Serving team designates the poacher for each rep. Agree on a simple signal behind the back — open hand for "I'm going," fist for "I'm staying" — shown to the partner before the serve.
The drill
Scripted phase: the serving team's net-side player signals a poach, the serve goes, and on any return that floats or sits up, the poacher cuts diagonally across, takes it out of the air, and puts it at the nearer opponent's feet; the server slides across behind them to cover. Ten serves per poacher; a rep scores if the poach is taken in front of the body and the server has crossed before the next ball. Returns too good to poach get called "stay!" — learning which balls to leave is half the drill. Then live games to 11 with signals mandatory on every serving point. Rotate all four players through the poaching role.
One thought to take on court
Commit or stay — the half-poach that hesitates loses both the ball and your side of the court.