Fix your starting position. Many recreational players stand glued to the alley, terrified of being passed down the line. Will Boucek of Tennis Tribe recommends this fix: start a small step inside the alley — closer to the middle — and stand roughly two and a half to three racquet lengths back from the net. Too close and you lose reaction time. Too far and your poaching threat disappears entirely. The dead center of the service box is ideal: it gives you room to read the play and move forward with control rather than lunging sideways when the moment arrives.

Split step before every single move. Before you go anywhere, split step. This small, two-footed hop as your opponent makes contact keeps you balanced and ready to explode in either direction. Without it, you're flat-footed and a half-second behind before you've even started moving.

Racquet head up! Keep your racquet head up, at roughly shoulder height, the entire time you're at net. A low racquet head means a longer, slower swing path to get to the ball. A racquet head held up above the net is also a visual reminder to your opponents that you are a threat!

Move diagonally. Moving diagonally, forward and across, lets you meet the ball earlier and higher, which means more control and more angle options. Moving straight sideways forces you to chase a ball that's drifting away from you, which is how poaches turn into weak, reaching volleys instead of clean put-aways. Your first step should be a crossover step toward the ball, not a shuffle.

Know when to go. Good mechanics mean nothing if you're poaching at the wrong moments. The instant your opponent starts her forward swing is the trigger to go, not before, and not after. Move too early, and she'll see it and go down the line. Move too late, and you're lunging for a weak volley instead of controlling the point.
Situations that are consistently high-percentage:

Does your dream social calendar include tennis, padel, mahjong, chic dinners, and the occasional weekend escape?! If so, you’ll love Racks & Raquets! Based in South Florida, Racks & Raquets curates beautifully designed events, retreats, and experiences that celebrate the art of play—bringing together people who love good games, good company, and a well-lived life. Follow along on Instagram!

This week’s USTA excuses…🤷‍♀️

😂Which Slam Tournament are you? What your favorite major says about you!

Wimbledon…in the middle of Iowa?! One man’s “court of dreams.”

🕵️‍♀️TRIVIA ANSWER: David Attenborough. Yes, that David Attenborough! Decades before Planet Earth, he was the BBC's color television controller in 1967, when he noticed that white tennis balls were nearly impossible to track on the new color broadcasts, especially near the white court lines. His observations led the International Tennis Federation to study the problem, and in 1972 they officially approved a new shade: "optic yellow."