Use Hand Signals at the Net to Pre-Call the Poach
The Situation
You and your partner never know in advance who will poach, so you both go for the same ball or neither does.
What To Do
Before the point, the net player signals behind their back whether they will poach or hold, agree two simple signs (open hand to poach, fist to stay) and have your partner cover accordingly.
Why It Works
Pre-agreed signals turn the poach from a gamble into a plan: the moment one player commits to crossing, the other already knows to cover behind them, so the court is never left open and there is no 'yours/mine' collision. Borrowed from doubles tennis, it is a clear edge against pairs who improvise. The communication happens before the ball is live, when you have time to coordinate, exactly when most amateur pairs say nothing at all.
Court Positioning
Net player signalling behind the back (open hand = poach). Partner reads it and prepares to rotate across to cover the vacated side. The exchange is marked before the serve.
Court View
Bird's-eye view: attacking net position
Skill Level
Simplify Completely in a Tiebreak
The set has reached a tiebreak and you feel the pressure rising.
Use the First Game to Read Your Opponents
The match has just started.
Say One Thing to Your Partner After Every Point
You and your partner play mostly in silence and keep making the same positioning mistakes.