Pickleball Poaching

In pickleball, poaching refers to when one player moves into their partner’s side of the court to intercept and take a shot, usually to gain an offensive advantage. This is most common in doubles play, where a stronger or more aggressive player might "poach" to put away a weak return or take control of the rally.

Reasons For Poaching:

• To Attack Weak Shots – If an opponent hits a soft or high ball, poaching allows a player to smash or put it away.

• To Keep the Opponents Guessing – Moving unpredictably can disrupt the opponents' rhythm.

• To Help a Weaker Partner – If one player is more skilled, they might poach to take tougher shots.

When to Poach:

• When you see a weak return from the opponents.

• If your partner is out of position or struggling.

• During a stacking strategy where one player dominates at the net.

How to Poach Effectively:

• Communicate with your partner to avoid confusion.

• Time it right so you don’t leave your side open.

• Use a fake poach (pretending to move) to force errors.