Tip: Shadow Ball

A successful poach can win a point in doubles, but you can also win a lot of points by acting as if you’re going to poach even if you don’t intend to. Quickly moving your shoulders, while keeping your feet in the ready position, can attract attention and disrupt the returner’s motion, possibly causing an error or making him hit the return right to you. The key is the shoulder fake. To improve yours, find a partner and take turns guarding each other as basketball players do. Alternate fakes and actual movements, trying to get free from your partner.