Best Pickleball Coaches in Orlando 2026: Curtis McGee, Carlos Figueroa, Denny Honer, & Sandi Honer Compared

Best Pickleball Coaches in Orlando 2026: Curtis McGee, Carlos Figueroa, Denny Honer, & Sandi Honer Compared

Updated June 2026 - By the TeachMe.To Editorial Team

Orlando is quietly building one of Florida’s more interesting pickleball instruction ecosystems. The city’s warm year-round climate, expanding dedicated court infrastructure, and an influx of competitive players chasing DUPR ratings have attracted coaches with genuinely different backgrounds - from personal fitness trainers who fold conditioning into every session to former college athletes laser-focused on shot mechanics. Lesson rates across Orlando’s active coaching roster span $25 to $81 per session, a wider range than most mid-size Florida metros, and that spread reflects real differences in depth of experience, lesson format, and the amenities each coach brings to the court.

Choosing well here is less about finding “the best” coach in an absolute sense and more about matching three specific variables: the credential angle that fits your learning style (fitness-integrated versus game-analytics-oriented versus academy-founded), the location model that works for your schedule (mobile versus facility-based), and the risk-reversal policy that makes it safe to try someone new. The four coaches and academies in this comparison cover the meaningful spread of those variables. Two - Curtis McGee and Carlos Figueroa - teach directly through TeachMe.To with verified student reviews on file. Two - Denny and Sandi Honer of Performance Pickleball - represent a well-regarded academy model based in Florida’s Panhandle region.

The 4 coaches and academies compared

Curtis McGee - TeachMe.To Super Coach

Curtis McGee holds both the Super Coach and Student Favorite designations on TeachMe.To - two platform badges that require sustained performance across a high volume of verified sessions. With 38 reviews averaging a perfect 5.0 and a happy student score of 100/100, Curtis sits among the most-reviewed pickleball coaches on TeachMe.To’s Orlando roster. What distinguishes his approach is a dual emphasis on technical stroke mechanics and personal fitness conditioning. Students describe a coach who customizes drills to the individual’s current level and then layers in athletic development so that improvements carry over between lessons rather than fading by the next session.

His mobile format means he comes to your preferred court location in the Orlando area, removing the friction of finding a facility or driving to a fixed site. That logistical flexibility shows up consistently in reviews alongside praise for his ability to translate concepts into something that clicks immediately.

“Curtis is upbeat, engaging, and brings great energy to every lesson. I really enjoyed the drills and felt like I was able to improve quickly with his guidance. He has a strong ability to break down technique in a way that actually clicks, and I could see results even within a single session.” - Laura L.

“Coach McGee was great and very helpful! He was able to provide drills and instructions that suited my level of play and I was able to see almost instant results. I look forward to future sessions with him as he is a great coach.” - Christian S.

“Coach Curtis was phenomenal! His direction, knowledge of the game and teaching style made learning pickle ball easy to get the hang of. We look forward to many more lessons with him.” - Toby L.

Best for: Players at any level - beginner through competitive - who want a mobile coach that integrates fitness training with stroke development, and who value a high track record of verified five-star reviews before booking.

Trade-off: Because Curtis operates on a mobile model rather than out of a single dedicated facility, students looking for a fixed-address training center with on-site equipment storage and amenities will need to bring their own gear to each session.

Carlos Figueroa - Former College Athlete & DUPR-Focused Coach

Carlos Figueroa brings a former college athlete’s frame to pickleball coaching - two years of dedicated coaching experience built on a competitive athletic foundation. His stated philosophy centers on unlocking potential rather than rebuilding from scratch: he identifies the specific adjustments that generate the fastest measurable improvement for each individual player, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all technical overhaul. One student’s review captures this directly - Carlos spotted a forehand issue during a chance encounter at an indoor court facility on the east side of Orlando, made targeted adjustments on the spot, and the student immediately booked a five-lesson package.

Carlos also has documented DUPR-rated outcomes. One student credited him with raising her rating to 3.4 through work on shot aggression and court positioning. For players who track their DUPR and want coaching that connects to that metric, that kind of outcome-oriented framing matters. He holds 8 reviews averaging a perfect 5.0 on TeachMe.To. His price tier sits at the higher end of the local market ($$$$), reflecting his college-athlete pedigree and the premium his students place on targeted, measurable results.

“Coach Carlos saw me with the ball machine at the court and he offered to drill with me and I agreed, he literally saw how I was hitting the forehand and he adjusted some minor things and now my forehand is a lot better… he didn’t wanted to fix me from the ground up he just adjusted to my game, great coach.” - Michael Rodriguez

“He helped me get my DUPR rating up to 3.4 he showed me how to be more aggressive with my shots.” - Dinah Mendez

“I’ve been playing pickleball for more than 3 years… now he is helping me with some of my shots and how to stay behind after I served.” - Beverly Porter

Best for: Intermediate to advanced players who are actively tracking their DUPR rating and want a former college athlete’s analytical eye applied to specific shot patterns and tactical decisions, without being asked to rebuild their entire game from zero.

Trade-off: With 8 reviews on file compared to Curtis McGee’s 38, the public track record on TeachMe.To is shorter - though every recorded review is a perfect 5.0. Players who weight review volume heavily as a trust signal may want to note that difference.

Denny Honer - Co-Founder, Performance Pickleball

Denny Honer is a co-founder of Performance Pickleball, an academy operating in Florida’s Panhandle region with locations in Destin and Fort Walton Beach. The Performance Pickleball model is built around customized instruction that accounts for each student’s individual physical abilities and natural strengths - a methodology that recognizes players come to the sport with different athletic backgrounds and that a program designed around your physical profile will produce faster, more sustainable improvement than a generic curriculum.

As a co-founder of an established regional academy, Denny brings organizational depth and the consistency of a structured coaching environment to his students.

Best for: Players based in or visiting the Destin and Fort Walton Beach corridor who prefer a co-founder-led academy setting with instruction tailored to individual physical profiles.

Trade-off: Performance Pickleball is based in the Panhandle region, not in Orlando or Central Florida. For players in the greater Orlando area, the geographic distance makes regular sessions impractical without travel. First-lesson policy details are not publicly specified in available sources.

Sandi Honer - Co-Founder, Performance Pickleball

Sandi Honer co-founded Performance Pickleball alongside Denny Honer, serving the same Panhandle-region student base across Destin and Fort Walton Beach. Like Denny, her instruction philosophy centers on customizing lessons to align with each student’s individual physical abilities and strengths - a collaborative academy model where both co-founders contribute to building the overall coaching experience.

The co-founder pairing at Performance Pickleball means students at that academy benefit from two experienced instructors who share a unified pedagogical approach, which can be particularly valuable for students who attend group sessions or clinics where multiple instructors are present.

Best for: Panhandle-area players who want co-founder-led academy instruction with a consistent philosophy across all sessions, and who may benefit from a dual-instructor environment.

Trade-off: Like Denny Honer, Sandi and Performance Pickleball are located in the Panhandle region - not in Central Florida. Orlando-based players would face a significant drive. No public first-lesson policy details are available in current sources.

How to decide

Every coach on this list can genuinely improve your game. The decision comes down to where you are, what stage of play you’re at, and what kind of accountability structure keeps you progressing.

• You want the highest-volume verified track record in Orlando and a coach who blends fitness conditioning with stroke work, coming to your court: the profile points to Curtis McGee. His 38 five-star reviews and 100/100 happy student score on TeachMe.To are the strongest public signal of consistency on the local roster.

• You are an intermediate or advanced player actively tracking your DUPR, want a former college athlete’s analytical eye on your specific shot mechanics, and are comfortable with a premium rate for targeted, outcome-oriented adjustments: the profile points to Carlos Figueroa. His documented work helping students raise their DUPR ratings sets him apart for competitive players.

• You are based in or traveling through the Destin or Fort Walton Beach area and want a structured academy environment with customized instruction built around your physical profile: the profile points to Denny Honer and Performance Pickleball.

• You want the same Performance Pickleball academy experience with the benefit of both co-founders involved in your development, particularly valuable for clinics and group formats: the profile points to Sandi Honer.

Browse the full pickleball coaches in Orlando roster on TeachMe.To to compare additional options, or explore all pickleball coaches across Florida and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do pickleball lessons cost in Orlando?

Rates across Orlando’s active coaching roster span $25 to $81 per session, with the median landing around $63. Where a coach falls in that range reflects differences in experience depth, lesson format, and whether sessions include fitness conditioning alongside technical instruction. Both Curtis McGee and Carlos Figueroa are bookable through TeachMe.To and fall within the local market range.

What should I look for in a pickleball coach in Orlando?

The most useful signals are verified review volume, a stated lesson philosophy that matches your goals, and a clear first-lesson policy that reduces the risk of a mismatch. Beyond credentials, look for coaches who adapt to your current level rather than applying a fixed curriculum. Curtis McGee’s 38 verified reviews and Carlos Figueroa’s college-athlete background paired with DUPR-outcome focus are two different but legitimate anchors for that evaluation.

Where do pickleball coaches in Orlando teach?

Coaching locations vary by coach. Curtis McGee operates on a fully mobile model and comes to your preferred court location in the Orlando area. Carlos Figueroa teaches both on a mobile basis and at a dedicated indoor court facility on the east side of Orlando. The range of formats - mobile, facility-based, or both - means Orlando players generally have flexibility on location without being locked into one site.

Are there pickleball coaches in Orlando for kids and beginners?

Yes. Both Curtis McGee and Carlos Figueroa work with students across experience levels. Curtis has received reviews from students who describe learning the fundamentals from scratch and seeing results within a single session, which is consistent with beginner-friendly instruction. Carlos’s philosophy of adjusting to the player’s existing game - rather than rebuilding from the ground up - also suits beginners who want incremental, confidence-building progress.

Is there a free or risk-free first pickleball lesson in Orlando?

TeachMe.To provides a refund guarantee for lessons booked through the platform: your first lesson is refundable within 24 hours if it does not meet expectations. Both Curtis McGee and Carlos Figueroa are bookable under this policy. This is a meaningful structural difference from booking a coach directly outside a platform, where first-lesson refund terms vary and are not always specified upfront.

How do I book a pickleball lesson with Curtis McGee or Carlos Figueroa?

Both coaches are bookable directly through TeachMe.To. Visit Curtis McGee’s listing at teachme.to/listings/pickleball/pickleball-with-curtis-mcgee or Carlos Figueroa’s listing at teachme.to/listings/pickleball/pickleball-with-carlos-figueroa to view availability, select a session length, and confirm your booking. The TeachMe.To platform handles scheduling and the 24-hour refund guarantee applies automatically to first lessons.

Methodology

Coach data for Curtis McGee and Carlos Figueroa - including review counts, average ratings, happy student scores, Super Coach and Student Favorite designations, and price tiers - is drawn from TeachMe.To platform records as of June 2026. Competitor information for Denny Honer and Sandi Honer is sourced from publicly available descriptions of Performance Pickleball’s regional coaching model. Market price statistics (minimum $25, median $63, maximum $81) are computed from the active Orlando-area coaching roster on TeachMe.To at time of publication and represent the range of per-session rates listed by coaches operating in the metro.

Orlando’s pickleball instruction landscape rewards players who take the time to match coach to context rather than defaulting to the first name they find. Curtis McGee - 38 five-star reviews, 100/100 happy student score, Super Coach and Student Favorite - is the logical starting point for most Orlando players seeking a mobile, fitness-integrated coach with a deep public track record. Carlos Figueroa - former college athlete, 8 perfect reviews, documented DUPR-rated outcomes - is the sharper fit for competitive players who want precision adjustments tied to measurable rating improvement. Both lessons are fully refundable within 24 hours when booked through TeachMe.To, which means the cost of trying the wrong coach first is zero.