In the coming weeks, we will focus on key elements to look for when preparing to poach at the net. Poaching means that you are intercepting a ball that is going toward your partner. When players at the net intercept a ball they can surprise their opponents and hit a winning shot. Successful net players are those who can read their opponents’ positions and make quick decisions to move early and intercept the ball. However, before diving into the specifics of poach setup and how to read your opponents’ position when getting ready to poach, it is essential to first discuss a fundamental aspect of poaching: volleying in the direction of your move.

Understanding Volleying in the Direction of Your Move

In one of the previous article, we covered the natural tendencies of strokes. Every stroke has a natural path it tends to follow: outside strokes tend to go cross court, while inside strokes tend to move down the line. While hitting along the natural direction of your stroke may seem like the easiest and most instinctive choice, this is not always the best strategic option. Hitting along your natural path might often feel comfortable, but there are times when doing so can lead to predictable shots that give your opponents an opportunity to take control of the rally.

This is particularly true at the net, where players have much less time to react than at the baseline. At the net, shot selection becomes even more crucial because you need to position yourself not only to hit the ball but also to be prepared for your opponent's next move. This is where volleying in the unnatural direction becomes a key skill.

Why Volley in the Unnatural Direction?

Since at the net you have much less time to react than at the baseline, your shot selection has to put you in position to cover your opponents’ reply to your attack. This is why volleying in the unnatural direction can be the smarter play. A volley in the direction opposite to your natural stroke pattern can reduce the chance of them counterattacking and maintain your offensive position on the court.

In the scenario illustrated in Diagram A, the net player at the bottom is going for a poach. The player stretches to the right to intercept the ball and attempts a volley. However, the player follows through with a cross court shot, which is the natural direction for that stroke and not in the direction of their move. By doing this, players inadvertently open up a large gap down the line for their opponent to exploit. This is a strategic mistake, as players leave themselves vulnerable to a return down the alley that they may not be able to cover in time. Since the player is moving to the right while their poach is going to the left, they are really hitting behind their back and are not ready to react quickly. Blue area shows an opening for the opposing baseline player.

The better shot choice in this situation would have been to volley in the direction of their move—along the unnatural inside-out line. In Diagram B, the same player shifts and volleys the ball down the line, rather than cross-court. This strategy “ shrinks” the court for the opponents and doesn’t give them much opening. The bottom net player is also in a better position to continue the offensive play and capitalize on their poach. In this case, the net player is moving to the right and their poach is also going to the right. The volley stayed in front of them allowing them to get ready for their opponent’s reply. Notice how much smaller is the blue area for the opposing team in this second scenario. Opposing net player has a much smaller opening than the baseline player had in Diagram A. (Keep in mind, the poach in this second case would have been effective even if the opposing net player was standing at the baseline. It’s the direction of your volley not only whether you are hitting it to the net player or the baseline player.)

In conclusion, while following the natural direction of your stroke may feel comfortable, it is not always the best choice strategically. By learning to volley along the unnatural direction you can gain a tactical advantage at the net, reduce the risk of giving up easy returns, and keep your opponent on the defensive. However, there are exceptions to this strategy that we will explore in future articles. For now, train yourself to volley in the direction of your move to get the most out of your poach.