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2. Movement: Diagonally Towards the Net

In the first photo below (foreground) I am beginning to move across to intercept the return of the player in the deuce court. I begin my movement just as the ball has bounced and my opponent's eyes are focused down towards the ball. At this moment he can no longer look to see if I am poaching, and this sightless moment is exactly when I should start to cross. If I start any sooner my opponent will detect my movement in his peripheral vision and pass me down my unguarded alley. Also take note of my initial movement - across the court and closer to the net. This "closing on the diagonal" is key to being right on top of the net and intercepting the return.

In the photo below, the ball has just left the opponent's racquet and is headed towards the middle of net. I see the sitting duck and I am now in the full poaching mode. The key position to note is the initial setup of my racquet and the shift of weight onto my right foot. Club players cannot practice this initial move often enough. From the balanced and centered ready position, I have simply made a subtle turn of my shoulders and hips, and have unweighted my left leg. Stay tuned!

In the next photo I continue across the court, and at the same time move even closer to the net. Again, notice the racquet and foot. I have placed the strings exactly in the flight path of the ball and my left leg is more unweighted. Study this position - a classic position of all the great volleyers: racquet face up and in the way of the ball, weight entirely shifted to the right side, and hips turned just enough so I can easily and quickly move diagonally to the ball.

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