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​Hey Reader,​

Today I want to share some powerful strategies from a Dynamite Doubles group call we did with coach Helle Sparre on one of the most game-changing skills in doubles pickleball: poaching.

Why Poaching Is a Strategic Game-Changer

Poaching isn't just about intercepting balls - it's about fundamentally shifting the tactical landscape of every point. Here's why mastering this skill can significantly increase your win rate:

The Surprise Factor: When you poach, you're taking a ball that wasn't intended for you. This element of surprise catches opponents mid-swing when they've already committed to a target. They have no time to adjust, often resulting in errors or weak shots.

Reduced Reaction Time: By intercepting balls before they reach your partner, you're hitting from a position opponents didn't expect. This gives them less time to read your shot and get into defensive position.

Angle Advantage: When you poach, you can hit shots at angles your partner couldn't achieve from their deeper position. You're cutting off the court geometry and creating openings that wouldn't exist otherwise.

Psychological Pressure: Once you establish yourself as an active poacher, opponents must consider where you are on every shot. This often leads to:

• Overthinking shot selection
• Attempting lower-percentage shots to avoid you
• Unforced errors from the added pressure
• Hesitation that disrupts their rhythm

Living Rent-Free in Their Heads: As Helle puts it, successful poachers become the opponent's primary concern. They'll start aiming away from you, opening up other areas of the court for your team to take advantage of.

What Is Poaching and How It Works

Poaching means intercepting a ball that "doesn't belong to you" - taking something that was intended for your partner. It's about positioning, timing, and surprise.

The key insight: If you're the Blocker (closest to the kitchen), you should be actively involved in every point, not just standing there waiting for the ball to come to you.

The Strategic Decision Matrix: When to Poach

DO poach when (high-percentage opportunities):

• Your partner hits a great shot that forces opponents to hit up on the ball
• The ball is aimed at your partner's feet (they'll likely pop it up)
• Opponents are in trouble and hitting defensive shots cross-court
• You can eliminate the down-the-line passing shot
• The opponent's body language shows they're avoiding you

DON'T poach when (protect against counter-attacks):

• The ball could come hard at you
• Opponents can hit aggressively down your line
• Your partner hit a weak shot that gives opponents easy options
• You're not confident you can finish the point

The Tactical Timing and Execution

The strategic advantage comes from perfect timing:

• Wait until opponents commit and put their head down
• The longer you hold your position before moving, the better the surprise
• Move with explosion and speed on a diagonal path
• Always aim to hit the ball in front of yourself, never behind

Faking: Your Psychological Weapon

Faking creates strategic confusion in your opponents' decision-making process:

The Strategic Value of Fakes:

• Forces opponents to consider multiple options simultaneously
• Disrupts their preferred shot patterns
• Creates hesitation that leads to errors
• Makes your actual poaches more effective through unpredictability

Tactical Faking Guidelines:

• For every successful poach, consider faking one on the next opportunity
• For every missed poach, fake twice before trying again
• Make your move early while opponents are still preparing
• Use a head fake and one step to draw them to hit where you appear to be going

Strategic Targeting: Where to Aim Your Poach

Always hit in front of yourself for tactical advantage:

• Aim at the opponent's feet, not behind them (forces them to hit up)
• Target the player with the least time to react
• Stay in front of the ball you hit to maintain pressure
• Don't just poach and retreat - commit to finishing the point

This positioning gives you the best angles and keeps pressure on your opponents rather than allowing them to reset.

The Compound Effect: How Poaching Wins Points

Immediate Point Winners: Direct putaways from unexpected angles

Forced Errors: Opponents miss shots they would normally make due to surprise and pressure

Weak Returns: Rushed shots that give you or your partner easy follow-up opportunities

Strategic Positioning: Catching opponents in poor court position, creating gaps to exploit

Mental Fatigue: Constant vigilance against your poaching wears down opponents' focus over time

Partnership Strategy and Court Coverage

Creating Team Synergy:

• Celebrate attempts: "Great try, you'll get it next time"
• Understand that poaching surprises everyone initially, including your partner
• No signals needed - decisions should be instinctive based on ball quality
• The person hitting the ball decides whether to continue or switch positions

Strategic Communication:

• Use "stay" calls when you poach and want to continue on that side
• Protect your partner when they're in vulnerable positions
• Take calculated risks that your partner understands

Your Strategic Implementation Plan

Week 1: Foundation Building

1. Identify your role on every shot: Am I the Blocker or Workhorse right now?
2. Practice faking when opponents have easy shots - start disrupting their comfort

Week 2: Active Implementation
3. Look for one poaching opportunity per game where opponents must hit up
4. Aim precisely at opponents' feet when you do poach
5. Stay committed - finish the point when you poach

Week 3: Advanced Psychology
6. Study opponent reactions to your movement and fakes
7. Vary your timing to maintain unpredictability
8. Use successful poaches to set up future fakes

The Mental Game Revolution

As the Blocker, you're not just defending your small area - you're the "Terminator." Your job is to make opponents think about you on every shot. Even when you don't touch the ball, your presence and movement should influence their decisions and create strategic advantages.

The Key Mindset Shift: Stop being passive and start being a strategic disruptor. Every movement you make should serve a purpose - either to win the point directly or to create better opportunities for your team.

Be willing to fail strategically. Missing a few poaches while learning is far better than never applying pressure. The opponents who never have to worry about an active front player will control the pace and placement of every point.

Players who master poaching and faking don't just win more individual points - they change the entire dynamic of matches. They force opponents out of their comfort zones and into lower-percentage strategies.

The strategic advantage compounds over time: opponents become more tentative, make more errors, and lose confidence in their shot selection. You're not just playing better pickleball - you're playing smarter pickleball.

Keep practicing, stay strategically aggressive when you're the blocker, and remember - controlling your opponents' decision-making process is just as important as executing your own shots.

See you on the courts!

Trey

P.S. If you'd like to go even deep into this and many, many other great strategies to have you be the partner everyone wants to play with, join us over in Dynamite Doubles! It's the best investment you'll every make in your game, bar none!

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