Pickleball poaching is when you cross in front of your partner to take a shot headed their way. This can happen in many game situations when your partner may be pushed back a bit and you slide in front of them and take the shot. It is most common when you are using your forehand and they may have been about to use a backhand shot. The shot is popped up a bit and can be put away easily by you by stepping in with a strong forehand. As you advance towards and beyond the 3.5 skill level you will use poaching effectively to maintain your advantage on defense.
In many cases, poaching just happens in a game by instinct as the point progresses. In some cases, it is premeditated. One situation where it is often premeditated is when you are at the net, defending against the third shot and your partner is back and moving towards the net after the return of serve.
Poaching the third shot is a surprise move and should catch your opponents off-guard if done well. This is a great play when defending against the third-shot drive or drop shot hit in the direction of your partner.
You may notice that your opponents are always driving the third shot at your partner because they are slow to get to the kitchen line. You decide ahead of the third shot to attempt a poach to cover for your partner.
By poaching, you have planned the poach and are looking to do it to compensate for an out of position or slower partner.
Poaching the Third Shot Scenario
In the illustration below the serve returner is slow to advance and the ball is driven back at them, their partner slides over and poaches the shot.
The serve is deep, and your partner hits the return from the baseline or maybe just behind it.
1. Your partner now must get to the kitchen line as quickly as they can. You know your opponent is likely going to drive it at them because they have a long distance to cover to get to the kitchen line.
2. Your opponent drives it at your partner. The third shot drive isn’t great and is floating a bit and moving relatively slow.
3. You anticipate the drive back at your partner. You slide over quickly in front of your partner to poach the drive, volleying it or smashing it back.
Be careful not to collide with your partner and take away their shot. If your partner will get to the line ahead of the drive, you shouldn’t attempt this.
Otherwise, you could irritate your partner when you lunge to their side of the court when they are already in position or will be there in time. Be aware, some players get very irritated when you poach their shot. They think you are trying to take over the court because of their weak play and don’t understand that this is part of playing at a more advanced level.
Pickleball poaching is a judgement call and with experience you will know when it is a good play.
Defensive Poach Switching
Switching is a critical part of pickleball. If you take over a spot on the court where your partner should be, they need to move where you were by “Switching”.
When poaching the third shot, you should switch if you move over into your partner’s court. If you only move a little, make the poach and slide back quickly.
Otherwise, shout out “Switch” to tell your partner you will stay, and they should move to cover the spot you left.
Poach Switching Scenario
In the illustration below the shot is poached and a switch is called out. The poaching player stays, and their partner moves over to cover where they were.
In the illustration:
1. Your opponent drives the 3rd shot at your partner.
2. You anticipate this and slide over quickly and poach the drive, volleying it or smashing it back. You are now in front of your partner and your spot is open. If your opponents can play your poached shot, they will try to put it in this open spot.
3. After you make the poach, yell “Switch” to tell your partner to move into your open spot. Your partner sees what you are doing, hears you and moves into the open position where you were.
Switching is a critical part of pickleball.
If you take over a spot on the court where your partner should be, they need to move where you were by “Switching”. Communication is crucial, always call out the “Switch”.
Sometimes partners will actually plan out the poach and switch. They do this by deciding ahead of time that the player at the net will attempt a poach on the third shot. The player advancing will then quickly move over to their side. This is a premeditated poach and switch.
Defensive Poach Mistake
Poaching the third shot is a timing move.
If you move before your opponent is set and swinging, they can adjust and drive it to the spot behind you that you just left. On a lofted, slow return shot, they have more time to align and adjust their shot. If they have good racquet skills, they can change quickly and hit the shot to any open spot at the last minute.
Watch carefully and start to move just as they are starting the forehand swing towards a spot. Once they have started their swing it will be difficult or impossible for them to change the direction of their shot.
With experience, you’ll improve at reading your opponents’ intentions. You’ll be able to predict where they’ll hit the ball based on their paddle and body angle. If the shot comes from your side of the court, moving too early can make it easy for them to exploit the open spot behind you. However, if the shot is played by a player on the opposite side of the court, it becomes much harder for them to target the space behind you.
Again, remember, if you move too quickly your opponent will see this and adjust.
Another approach is a poach-fake. Make a quick movement to the side to make it look you are about to poach and then move back. Your opponent will see this and may flinch as they try to adjust their shot. This can cause them to make a mistake as they adjust for the poach-fake.
Poach Mistake Scenario
In the illustration below the poach attempt is telegraphed and the player hitting the shot puts it behind the poacher at the last minute.
1. The serve is deep, and your partner hits the return from the baseline or maybe just behind it. Your partner’s return of serve is good, but they have a lot of distance to cover to get to the kitchen line. You sense your opponent is likely going to drive it at them because they haven’t gained the line.
2. You anticipate a drive return aimed at your partner and start to move over for an attempted poach.
3. Your opponent sees this and adjusts quickly to drive it down the line behind you. Timing is everything on a poach attempt, especially against experienced players. Don’t move too quickly on the poach or you will give it away and your opponent will see this and place their shot behind you.
Summary of Poaching in Pickleball
Be ready to poach a shot when the time is right. When positioned at the net at the start of a point, look to poach the third shot occasionally especially on a weak third shot or to make up for your partner not being able to advance quickly enough.
Poaching Instructional Video
Courtesy of “The Pickleball Guy”
Watch this video on Pickleball Poaching on Youtube.