Good doubles play requires understanding situations during the point and knowing how to attack or defend them. Lets take some poaching situations.

These situations should signal you that the chances are good for a successful poach and you should commit to the attempt. All situations call for you being at or close to the net. First situation - your partner who is at the baseline returns crosscourt to your opponent at 3/4 deep or deeper. Second situation - your opponent is around the service line, but the ball is hit at his feet. The third situation - Your opponent has returned the serve every time crosscourt. To be effective you must recognize these situations and make your poach attempt just before the hit. There are many more poaching situations, but if you will practice and use these fundamental ones you will have more fun and make your opponent's life harder.