Tanner Tomassi Breaks Down Poaching Basics: Professional pickleball player Tanner Tomassi shared a quick tutorial on Instagram, teaching players how to master poaching in under 60 seconds. The video explains the key steps to apply pressure effectively during a match.
Poaching Simplified
In the video, Tomassi breaks down the poaching process:
“Let’s pretend I serve, they return, and the 3rd shot is coming to my partner. As soon as I see that the return is coming to him, before it even fully approaches him, I’m gonna take 2 steps forward and look at him to see the decision that he decides to make.” – (Tanner Tomassi)
Tomassi highlights the importance of observing his partner’s shot:
“Let’s say, he decides to drive it, and off of his paddle, the split second that when he hits it, I’m making a decision in my brain. If it looks good, I’m going to approach the kitchen line to apply pressure to the opponents.” – (Tanner Tomassi)
Adjusting to the Situation
The professional also emphasizes adaptability.
“If in that split second his drive looks like it’s coming off high, I’m gonna step back to even with him.” – (Tanner Tomassi)
For players struggling to assess quickly, he suggests teamwork.
“Your partner can also say ‘good’ or ‘bad’ when they hit the ball.” – (Tanner Tomassi)
To make his point clear, Tomassi demonstrates scenarios in the video, adding humor to emphasize the stakes. “Good. Winner. Bad. Ridley, your drops suck,” he quipped, keeping the tone lighthearted while making his message memorable.
News in Brief: Tanner Tomassi Breaks Down Poaching Basics
Professional pickleball player Tanner Tomassi shared a quick Instagram tutorial explaining how to master poaching in under 60 seconds. He breaks down the process, emphasizing teamwork and adaptability. Tomassi advises stepping forward and observing a partner’s shot to decide whether to apply pressure at the kitchen line or retreat based on the ball’s trajectory.
He highlights communication as a key tool, suggesting partners call out shot quality. Demonstrating scenarios with humor, Tomassi makes the advice practical and memorable. His tutorial aims to help players enhance their doubles strategy, fostering teamwork and quick decision-making as pickleball continues to grow globally.
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