Move on a diagonal toward the net for a successful poach.
Poaching in doubles is a great way to cause havoc with your opponents’ return game. A good doubles team sets up a poach before the point begins. This way you and your partner know what your roles are, and you’ll move in sync.
The problems with poaching usually lie not in the planning, but in the execution. Often I see players move in a line parallel to the net when they poach—or worse, backwards. In doing so, two problems arise that can cause a bad shot. First, the player who is poaching is still a good distance from the net, making it more difficult to put the ball away. The closer to the net you are, the more offensive you can be with the shot. Second, being far from the net gives the ball more time to drop to your shoes after crossing the net. The lower the ball, the tougher the volley.
The poach is an aggressive play, and when you commit to it, the ball should be put away for a winner. The best way to achieve this is by moving in a diagonal line toward the net. This gets you on top of the net and lets you cut the ball off sooner, giving you a better opportunity to put the volley away.