Catherine Parenteau’s Pro Tips to Shut Down the Poach

Next time you see an opponent cheating toward the middle, don't panic – you've got more options than you think

Getting poached is one of the most frustrating experiences on the pickleball court, especially when you feel like your opponents are reading your every move.

Thankfully, Catherine Parenteau recently shared some high-level insights on Selkirk TV to help you turn the tables and keep those aggressive net players honest.

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Stop the Bleeding Poaching happens when an opponent starts "cheating" toward the middle, anticipating your next shot. Parenteau notes that once you recognize this trend, you have several tactical options to shut it down.

It starts with awareness. If you notice a player consistently moving early, they are leaving a gap somewhere else on the court.

Go Where They Aren't The most obvious counter is to hit behind the poacher . If they are leaning hard into the middle, the space they just vacated is wide open for a down-the-line shot.

It is a tough shot to pull off consistently, but even attempting it once or twice makes the poacher think twice about leaving their post. You want to keep them guessing so they can't commit to the middle so early.

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