Few things feel better on the doubles court than anticipating an opponent’s return, moving across the net, and drilling a volley right between the legs of a helpless partner.

Poaching is the slam dunk strategy of doubles and when you incorporate it into your game, your team immediately becomes stronger in two ways. First, you gain the ability to end points in a quick and intimidating manner. Second, when you’re active at the net, you’ll forever keep your opponents off balance.

Baseline will show you six guidelines to help make you a menace at the net.

Here's No. 4:

What's next?

You’ve successfully poached and (hopefully) ended the point with an intimidating volley. If not, you then need to decide where to move next. If you’ve struck the ball while standing on your partner’s side of the court, stay on that side. If you’ve hit the ball on your side of the court, stay there. Sometimes the pace can be so quick that you can get confused and not know what to do.

If this happens, pick a side and quickly move there. Your partner can then react accordingly.

Greg is the Director of Tennis at the Four Seasons Racquet Club in Wilton, CT, and author of the Tennis Beyond Big Shots books.