Best Pickleball Coaches in Naples 2026: Todd Mann, Paul Williams, Denny Honer, & Sandi Honer Compared

Best Pickleball Coaches in Naples 2026: Todd Mann, Paul Williams, Denny Honer, & Sandi Honer Compared

Updated July 2026 - By the TeachMe.To Editorial Team

Naples occupies a rare position in Florida’s pickleball landscape. Lesson rates across the active local roster span $50 to $100 per session - a tighter band than most metro markets - yet the credential depth is unusually high for a market this size. One of the coaches booking lessons here, Todd Mann, is a US Open gold medalist. Another, Paul Williams, has accumulated 41 verified reviews at a 4.9 average rating, placing him among the most-reviewed pickleball coaches on TeachMe.To’s Naples roster. Regional comparison comes from Denny and Sandi Honer, co-founders of Performance Pickleball, who have built a personalized instruction model across the Panhandle.

What that means practically is that “who is best” is the wrong question. A beginner couple wanting to learn the rules before joining a social league has different needs than a 3.5-rated singles player chasing a specific shot repair. The right choice depends on which credential angle earns your trust, whether you want an instructor who comes to your preferred court or one anchored to a regional program, and what risk-reversal policy lets you try before you fully commit. The sections below work through each of those variables, coach by coach.

The 4 coaches and academies compared

Todd Mann - Student Favorite and US Open Gold Medalist

Todd Mann is one of the most decorated active pickleball coaches bookable through TeachMe.To’s Naples roster. His most cited credential - a gold medal at the US Open - is not marketing language; it is a competitive result that places him among a small group of coaches in Florida who have won at the sport’s highest-profile domestic event. That competitive pedigree informs how he structures lessons: students consistently describe sessions that blend rules, strategy, and live play rather than isolated drills alone.

Across 35 verified reviews on TeachMe.To, Todd holds a 4.8 average rating and a happy student score of 99 out of 100, and he carries the Student Favorite designation on the platform. His mobile model means he meets students at courts across the Naples area rather than requiring them to travel to a fixed facility, which matters in a market where court access varies.

Student reviews capture both the instructional quality and the tone of his sessions:

“Todd was incredibly patient, taking the time to break down the fundamentals of the game, and ensuring that I understood every step. He’s a natural teacher with a wealth of experience - I mean, the guy won a gold medal at the US Open! Definitely recommend.” - Roger G.

“Todd was great! He explained the rules in an easy to understand manner, provided strategies of the game and balanced the lesson well between hands-on play and instruction. He was very patient with the beginners and had a great sense of humor as well. We felt like we were playing with a friend!” - Darlene M.

“I loved working with Todd because he is a great coach who makes learning pickleball both fun and effective. The session was well-paced and clear, perfect for building confidence on the court. If you’re looking to improve your skills, I definitely recommend trying Todd’s lessons. They’re a great way to boost your game and enjoy the sport more!” - Nicole F.

The through-line across reviews is patience paired with competitive depth - a combination that appeals to both first-timers who need encouragement and intermediate players who want coaching grounded in real match experience.

Best for: Beginners who want a structured introduction to rules and strategy, couples or small groups booking their first few lessons together, and intermediate players who want a coach whose competitive credentials signal genuine technical authority.

Trade-off: At the $$$ price tier, Todd sits above the Naples market median. Students prioritizing the lowest per-session cost will find a more budget-aligned option in Paul Williams.

Paul Williams - High-Volume Student Favorite at an Accessible Price Point

Paul Williams has the highest review count of any pickleball coach on TeachMe.To’s Naples roster. With 41 verified reviews and a 4.9 average rating, he also holds a happy student score of 93 out of 100 and the Student Favorite designation on the platform. That combination - volume and rating sustained together - is a meaningful signal. It is relatively easy to earn a high average with a handful of reviews; maintaining a 4.9 across more than 40 students reflects consistent execution across a wide range of skill levels and learning styles.

Paul’s approach, as described across his reviews, centers on thorough positional explanation and kind correction. Students describe a coach who breaks down not just what to do but why each position affects the next move - a sequencing-aware style that tends to accelerate learning for beginners and early-intermediate players. His mobile format means sessions happen at courts across the Naples area at his students’ convenience.

His price tier ($) also places him at the most accessible end of the local market, making him a practical starting point for players uncertain about the investment.

Three student reviews illustrate the experience:

“I was a little intimidated to try pickleball, but Paul’s warm and welcoming personality immediately put me at ease. His lessons are always a blast, and I’ve made so much progress under his guidance.” - Stacy

“Coach Paul is very thorough! He ensures that you understand what you’re doing, how each position affects the next move and guides you kindly. Highly motivational!” - Lindsay P.

“Paul is very patient and he knows exactly what I need to work on.” - Gregg G.

Best for: First-time players who want to feel welcomed rather than overwhelmed, budget-conscious learners who want the confidence of a high-volume review record before committing, and students who prefer detailed positional coaching over a purely drill-based format.

Trade-off: Paul’s review record does not include explicit competitive credentials the way Todd’s does. Students specifically seeking a coach with a tournament competition background may weigh that differently.

Denny Honer - Performance Pickleball Co-Founder

Denny Honer co-founded Performance Pickleball alongside Sandi Honer, building an instruction program based in the Florida Panhandle with a presence in the Destin and Fort Walton Beach areas. The program’s stated philosophy centers on personalized instruction that accounts for each student’s individual physical abilities and strengths rather than applying a one-size-fits-all technical model - an approach that can be especially valuable for adult learners returning to racquet sports or managing physical limitations.

Performance Pickleball’s regional footprint gives Denny and Sandi a base of local court knowledge and community context that a mobile instructor working solo may not replicate. Co-founding a named academy also signals a long-term organizational commitment to the sport that goes beyond individual lesson delivery.

Best for: Players in the Panhandle region - particularly the Destin or Fort Walton Beach areas - who want personalized instruction tailored to their physical profile and prefer working with an established regional program rather than an independent coach.

Trade-off: Performance Pickleball operates primarily in the Panhandle, which is a significant distance from Naples. For players based in the Naples or Southwest Florida area, the geography alone makes Denny a difficult practical choice. First-lesson policy details are not publicly specified, so prospective students should inquire directly before booking.

Sandi Honer - Performance Pickleball Co-Founder

Sandi Honer co-founded Performance Pickleball with Denny Honer and brings the same institutional philosophy to her instruction: teaching built around the individual student’s physical capabilities and strengths rather than a rigid technical framework. Within a co-founded program, dual instruction leadership often means students can find a stylistic or scheduling match that suits them - a practical advantage when both co-founders share the same program values but may differ in personal coaching style or session availability.

Like Denny, Sandi operates out of the Panhandle region and has helped establish Performance Pickleball as a recognized name in the Destin and Fort Walton Beach instructional market.

Best for: Panhandle-area players who want access to a co-founded program with two credentialed instructors - useful for players whose scheduling is irregular or who want the option to sample different coaching voices within a single organizational framework.

Trade-off: The same geographic note applies: Sandi’s base is in the Florida Panhandle, not Southwest Florida. Naples-area players would face a substantial drive. As with Denny, the first-lesson policy is not publicly specified; direct outreach to Performance Pickleball is the right starting point.

How to decide

The four coaches above cover meaningfully different credential angles, price points, and geographic realities. Here is a straightforward way to match your situation to the right name:

• You are a complete beginner - or booking as a couple or small group - and you want rules, strategy, and live play woven into a single session with a coach whose competitive achievements set the ceiling for what you are learning. Book with Todd Mann.

• You want the highest-reviewed instructor on the local TeachMe.To roster at the most accessible price point, and you value a coaching style that walks you through the positional logic behind each shot, not just the mechanics. Start with Paul Williams.

• You are based in the Panhandle - Destin, Fort Walton Beach, or nearby - and you want personalized instruction from an established regional program that adapts to your physical strengths rather than imposing a standardized technical model. Reach out to Denny Honer at Performance Pickleball.

• You share the same Panhandle geography but want access to both co-founders and the scheduling flexibility that dual-instructor programs sometimes allow. Sandi Honer at Performance Pickleball is the parallel option worth exploring.

For a broader view of the local market, browse all pickleball coaches in Naples on TeachMe.To, or explore the full national roster of pickleball instructors if you travel frequently and want consistent coaching across cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do pickleball lessons cost in Naples?

Rates among active pickleball coaches in the Naples market span $50 to $100 per session, based on TeachMe.To’s current local roster. The spread reflects differences in credential depth, session format, and whether a coach offers individual versus group instruction. Todd Mann sits at the $$$ tier, while Paul Williams is priced at the $ tier - making Williams one of the most accessible options in the market without sacrificing review quality.

What should I look for in a pickleball coach?

The most useful filters are competitive or instructional credentials, verified student reviews (volume and average together, not one alone), and whether the coach’s format matches how you learn. A coach with a tournament background like Todd Mann signals technical depth; a coach with 41 reviews at a 4.9 average like Paul Williams signals reliable consistency across a wide range of students. Format matters too - mobile coaches who come to your preferred court remove a logistical barrier that fixed-location instruction does not.

Where do pickleball coaches in Naples teach?

Both TeachMe.To coaches - Todd Mann and Paul Williams - use a mobile model, traveling to courts across the Naples area to meet students at a location that works for them. This is distinct from programs like Performance Pickleball, which operate out of a defined regional base in the Panhandle. If you have a preferred court or want the flexibility to choose your session location, the mobile format of the TeachMe.To coaches is a practical advantage.

Are there pickleball coaches in Naples for kids or complete beginners?

Yes. Both Todd Mann and Paul Williams have documented experience working with beginners. Darlene M.’s review of Todd notes explicitly that he “was very patient with the beginners,” and multiple Paul Williams reviewers describe overcoming initial intimidation under his guidance. Families interested in junior instruction should confirm age-range preferences when booking, as lesson formats can vary.

Is there a free or risk-free first lesson available?

TeachMe.To offers a booking guarantee that covers lessons booked through the platform. Students who are not satisfied have a refund window available - making the financial risk of trying a new coach meaningfully lower than booking a standalone session with an independent instructor outside a managed marketplace. Neither Denny nor Sandi Honer’s first-lesson policy is publicly specified, so prospective Performance Pickleball students should ask before committing.

How do I book a pickleball lesson in Naples?

The simplest path is through TeachMe.To’s booking interface. Todd Mann’s listing is at teachme.to/listings/pickleball/pickleball-with-todd-mann and Paul Williams’ listing is at teachme.to/listings/pickleball/pickleball-with-paul-williams. Both support direct scheduling without a phone call or email exchange. For Performance Pickleball, direct outreach to Denny or Sandi Honer through their program is the appropriate channel, as neither is listed on TeachMe.To.

Methodology

Coach profiles for Todd Mann and Paul Williams are drawn from TeachMe.To platform records, including verified review counts, average ratings, happy student scores, and Student Favorite designations current as of July 2026. Competitor profiles for Denny and Sandi Honer are based on publicly available information about Performance Pickleball, as neither instructor maintains a TeachMe.To listing. Market price statistics - including the $50 to $100 per-session range - are computed from the active pickleball coach roster in the Naples metro area on TeachMe.To.

Naples has a narrower pickleball coaching market than larger Florida metros, which makes the depth of available talent even more notable. Todd Mann brings 35 verified reviews, a happy student score of 99 out of 100, and a US Open gold medal to every session he books. Paul Williams leads the Naples roster in review volume with 41 verified reviews and a 4.9 average rating - all at the market’s most accessible price tier. Both coaches are bookable directly through TeachMe.To, where lessons come with a refund window within 24 hours of booking if plans change. If you have been thinking about starting or seriously upgrading your pickleball game in Naples, both names are worth a look before the season fills their calendars.