How to Get the Most Out of Your Pickleball Coach

Frank Hines

Contributor

Last Edited

Oct 14 2024

What a Pickleball Coach SHOULD Do

Let’s start by explaining how to properly utilize a coach in pickleball:

First off, they should not just be an expensive drill partner.

If all you do with a coach is drill and there is no instruction, you’ve got the wrong person.

A coach should be someone who assesses you as a player. They begin by watching you hit a few balls or maybe they have even seen you play before.

Either way, they establish a baseline of the type of player you are.

There needs to be a conversation about what your goals are in pickleball.

Are you trying to go pro, do you just want to beat Susy and Bill on open play nights; what do you want to achieve as a pickleball player?

After the coach knows a little about your game and what you want out of the sport, then you can begin honing in on specific aspects of your game.

Not before, AFTER.

This is where drills come into play.

A good coach will target very specific parts of your game that need work to get you comfortable with that shot.

They will introduce variables once you’ve mastered the basics to make it more challenging, but most importantly, they will tell you what you are doing wrong and show you how to fix it.

Some of you reading this might think your coach gives you some tips, they are fine. But the truth is a coach needs to be direct.

They need to identify your weaknesses, explain ways to improve them, and then teach you ways to improve through drilling both on and off the court.

If that’s not happening, then I hate to break it to you, but you’re wasting your time and money.

Avoid These in a Pickleball Coach

Next let’s discuss some of the DON’TS when it comes to utilizing a coach:

A coach should not be your sole source of practice.

For starters, that’s an expensive practice session and it creates a false sense of confidence because you never experience different play styles in a controlled environment. You get comfortable and your progression stops.

Use what your coach works with you on in drilling with partners, during rec play, or just by yourself against a wall. Never be siloed in doing something one way.

You also do not want to over-use a coach.

What I mean by that is take one lesson and get a good baseline for what areas of your game need work. Ask your coach for some drills to practice ONE or TWO things at most. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Once you have a couple areas to work on, go work on them with a partner. For free.

How to Find a Great Pickleball Coach

Now that we have a good framework of what a good coach looks like, where do you find this mystery person?

Depending on where you live it can be challenging. Some areas are flush with high level coaches who are always available, while other areas might not have any.

A good place to start is your local club.

They will likely have a pro who can be a good resource especially at the beginner level.

As you advance, you will likely want more experienced coaching or to work with someone who is very good at improving specific areas of peoples games.

There are tons of resources online and networks of people dedicated just to coaching.

Some places have you record your gameplay and shoot that over to review and they get back to you with a comprehensive plan of how to get better at pickleball.

If the online route is not something you are interested in, most major cities have a large pool of coaches to choose from. If you can and are willing to travel, schedule some time to go to the nearest city to you and schedule a coaching session.

You will likely find a lot of great resources there and you will get different perspectives on your game and how to improve.

Having a coach is not for everyone. It shouldn’t be. Most people just play pickleball for fun and do not take it that seriously. If this is you, I do not recommend hiring a coach.

If you are at the intermediate level and really want to step up your game, coaching can be a great option but only if you are willing to put in the work.

A coach is not the secret to getting better at pickleball. They can help, but it’s up to you.

Frank Hines loves the game of pickleball and sharing that passion with as many people as possible. He found the game over two years ago and hasn't let up since. Follow Frank on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

More instruction