Private Pickleball Lessons & Coaches in Hillside, NY

I'm a passionate pickleball coach with a deep understanding of the game's intricacies and a proven track record of helping players of all levels improve their skills and reach their full potential. I've been coaching for over five years, and my coaching philosophy focuses on building a strong foundation, developing strategic thinking, and fostering a love for the sport.

"My lesson with Emmy was quite informative, especially since he analyzed my faults and focused on the basics like paddle control, follow through, and stance. Still, I need to keep working on integrating these habits into my play, though. I am not happy that AI or your website just summarized my previous feedback and said I could clear it all or edit it. Well, I listed just about every individual task that Emmy helped me with and it was summarized out in his review. Don’t have the time to list it all again. Whatever. As my 5 stars stated, Emmy’s lesson was awesome for me.

On the court, strategy trumps all. As a tournament winner with 8 years of experience coaching pickleball, I help players elevate their strategic game to achieve peak performance. Let's unlock your potential and make pickleball your winning game! I have 32 yrs of teaching experience along with coaching many team sports as well as swimming, tennis and triathlon. I have also won many tennis tournaments and recently won at NY Senior Games in Pickleball. I look forward to working with you.

I am a pickleball player, former health and fitness coach, and currently working in a private practice as an associate clinical mental health therapist. Pickleball is a sport I value for its creativity, physical challenge, and its ability to both quiet and challenge the mind. In my coaching, I go beyond advanced pickleball technique by integrating the mental side of the game. I represented the Czech Republic at the 2025 Pickleball World Cup Championship in Fort Lauderdale and designed a pickleball-based therapy program for teens with anxiety and depression—helping players build confidence, focus, and resilience both on and off the court.

"Wonderful and welcoming coach! We had such a great time learning the fundamentals as complete beginners to the sport.

In less than a year, Amanda went from a novice pickleball player to a pickleball pro – and you can too! Amanda has 1,100+ hours of coaching experience and has taught over 1,000 people how to play pickleball. She is PCI, RPO, RPPk/DUPR L2 and SafeSport certified and coaches at several pickleball venues in NYC (indoor and outdoor). Amanda’s sweet spot for teaching is beginners and advanced beginners who want to move up to intermediate and advanced play, including tennis players new to pickleball. With Amanda's guidance, you can expect not only valuable insights and quick tips to enhance your performance and win more points, but also to have a lot of fun in the process. If needed, sessions can also incorporate a focus on reviewing and mastering the fundamentals since a strong foundation is essential for long-term improvement in pickleball. To top it off, Amanda is also a great listener, so pickleball lessons will always be tailored to your goals and needs. Note: The court fee for Gotham Tues/Thur is $80/hr. Reach out with any questions! About Amanda: Outside of pickleball, Amanda is a former finance executive, with an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern), a BA in Art History from Barnard (Columbia), and her CFA. She’s also an aspiring song writer and author.

"I’ve had a few lessons with Amanda now and have felt myself get better after each one. Very focused and productive. She has a super sharp eye for what needs tweaking and gives super helpful in the moment feedback that clicks. She makes the game very approachable for beginners.

Passionate Pickleball player and coach. PPR certified and experienced in pickleball and soccer coaching instruction at league level. Specializing in coaching players of all ages and levels. Motivated by the gratitude of students and parents. Let's refine your game together!

"Will was very patient and a great instructor.

Helping beginners improve their skills and advance to intermediate levels. Build a winning strategy with high conviction shots.

Pickleball is meant to be a fun game! We'll have some fun, get better at the skills you want to, and I'll be able to provide additional instruction based on what I see in your game. I combine technical precision with patient, encouraging instruction. With 2 years of teaching experience, I deliver tailored lessons in footwork, shot selection and court awareness to help players progress confidently and enjoy the game. Let's have some fun!

With five years of pickleball instruction, I foster a supportive yet challenging environment for all skill levels. I’m dedicated to helping you unlock your potential and elevate your game with tailored strategies and techniques. Let's refine your skills and have fun!

"He was very professional in teaching and kept the entire 1h lesson with a lot of fun so that I never felt tired or bored. The beginner lessons from him were definitely worth it.

I am a dedicated Coach with a passion for developing players of all skill levels. I will focus on fundamentals such as serving, shot selection, footwork, and court positioning, while emphasizing strategy, sportsmanship, and game awareness. I am committed to creating a positive, engaging environment that helps athletes improve and enjoy the game.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE PICKLEBALL COACH I know what it takes to compete — and I coach from that experience, not just from a certification manual. I CAN DIAGNOSE FAST Most coaches give generic feedback. I identify what's actually wrong — quickly — and we make real progress in a single session. No wasted time, no vague cues. I UNDERSTAND men…er…WOMEN…er, people! That’s it, people. The dynamics, the mental pressures, the physical realities of being a (man, a woman, or a muppet) on court. 
I bring empathy and edge in equal measure. No mansplaining. Ever. EQ, off the charts, (HOW)ever! I COACH THE WHOLE PLAYER Technical, tactical, mental. I know when to push and when to have patience. I'll enhance your strengths, work on your weaknesses, and tailor everything to who you are as a player. EVERY PLAYER HAS A GOAL WORTH CHASING. My students range from 3.0 players discovering the sport to 4.5+ competitors chasing a rating or a tournament result. Mostly women — but not exclusively. What everyone shares is a goal, even if they haven't fully defined it yet. Sometimes the goal is simple: beat Suzy at league night. Sometimes it's bigger: find your inner athlete, feel confident on court, connect to something that's genuinely yours. Often the goal evolves — students come in wanting one thing and discover something they didn't know they were looking for. I'll meet you where you are and hold the highest vision for where you can go — while understanding that progress isn't always linear and some days are just harder than others.

"If you’re looking for a coach who is both easy to get along with and highly skilled, Chris is the one. He brings a contagious energy to the court, and it’s clear he clearly loves the game. I really appreciate how he adapts his teaching style, to my needs, using fun drills that keep me motivated while noticeably improving my game. It is a huge plus that he’s such a strong player himself; his demonstrations are always spot on!