Hereās what you can expect from yourĀ first pickleball lesson, especially if it's a beginner-friendly session:
š¹Ā 1. Warm Welcome & Introduction
Youāll meet your instructor and any other participants.
Expect a quick overview of the lesson plan and goals.
š¹Ā 2. Basic Rules & Court Layout
Learn the court zones: baseline, kitchen (non-volley zone), service areas.
Explanation of scoring, serves, and how a point is won.
š¹Ā 3. Grip & Paddle Basics
How to hold the paddle properly (e.g. continental grip).
Proper stance and foot positioning for balance.
š¹Ā 4. Essential Shots Practice
Serving: Underhand serve technique and rules.
Dinking: Soft shots near the net.
Volleying: Hitting the ball in the air.
Groundstrokes: Forehand and backhand from the baseline.
š¹Ā 5. Movement & Footwork
Learn how to move efficiently around the court.
Drills to improve positioning and reaction time.
š¹Ā 6. Mini Games or Rallies
Light gameplay to apply skills in real-time.
Focus is on learning, not competition.
š¹Ā 7. Q&A and Feedback
Time to ask questions and get personalized pointers.
Instructor may offer tips to practice on your own.
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Ā Tips to Get the Most Out of It
Wear court shoes and comfortable athletic clothing.
Bring water and a positive attitude.
Don't stress about mistakesāit's all part of learning!
š„ Lesson 11 ā Applying Advanced Strategy in Live Play
Goal: Blend all learned skills into intentional, strategic match play with live coaching.
šÆ Focus Areas:
Tactical play: Reading opponents, exploiting weaknesses
Shot selection under pressure: When to dink, drop, drive, or lob
Court control: Holding the kitchen line, transitioning smoothly
Mental game: Staying calm, adapting strategies mid-rally
š Warm-Up (10ā15 min)
Progressive rally:
Serve ā return ā drop ā dink
Build into a live rally
Emphasis: footwork, paddle prep, controlled tempo
š§ Coaching Drills (20ā25 min)
Scenario play:
Youāre down 6ā8, side out ā whatās the smart play?
Opponents are bangers ā how do you reset?
Targeted drills:
Exploit opponent's backhand
Drive ā drop ā crash the net
š® Live Game Play (20ā30 min)
Round robin or rotating teams
Coach pauses and corrects mid-play if needed
Keep score to simulate tournament pressure
š Post-Play Review (5ā10 min)
What went well?
What to work on next (e.g. consistency, faster reactions, better resets)?
Homework: practice specific shot (e.g. 100 dinks/day)
Mastering the Third Shot Drop
Goal: Introduce and refine the third shot drop, a critical transition play.
What it is: Soft shot from baseline that lands in the kitchen
Technique: Paddle angle, lift from legs, arc and depth control
Drills:
Drop shot feeding drills
Partner rally: third shot drop then approach the net
Game focus: Start points with serve ā third shot drop practice
š Lesson 5 ā Resetting & Defensive Skills
Goal: Learn how to regain control during fast exchanges.
Skills:
Resetting hard shots from midcourt
Blocking at the net (paddle angle & soft hands)
Backswing control
Drills:
Block vs. drive
Midcourt reset feeds
Pressure drills at the kitchen line
š§ Lesson 6 ā Shot Variety & Placement
Goal: Move beyond basics into strategic shot selection.
Introduce: Topspin drives, lobs, purposeful placement
Concepts: Hitting to opponentās feet, behind movement
Drills:
Target zones on court
Deep serve + drop/dink combo
Lob retrieval and counter
š£ļø Lesson 7 ā Doubles Team Dynamics
Goal: Focus on partner communication and court coverage.
Concepts:
Moving as a unit ("tethered" movement)
Calling shots and positioning
Drills:
Shadow footwork
Doubles mini-games
āForehand takes middleā rule practice
š§± Lesson 8 ā Building Rallies & Strategy
Goal: Combine strokes into smooth rallies and point construction.
Drills:
Serve ā return ā drop ā dink ā volley progression
Controlled rally play
Concepts:
Patience in dink rallies
Forcing errors vs. going for winners
š Lesson 9 ā Pressure Situations & Mini Tournaments
Goal: Build mental toughness and play under pressure.
Games:
King/Queen of the Court
First to 5 points scenarios
Focus:
Composure, focus, smart shot decisions
Adjusting strategy mid-game
š Lesson 10 ā Skill Assessment & Game Play
Goal: Review skills, celebrate progress, and play full games.
Warm-up drills: all core shots
Challenge: full rally with third shot drop requirement
Play:
Doubles round robin or mini-tourney
Coach feedback on decision-making, shot quality, teamwork
Optional: performance review, what's next (e.g. intermediate ladder, local rec league)
Lessons 2 and 3 typically build on the basics from Lesson 1 and begin introducing strategy, consistency, and movement skills. Here's what you or your student can expect:
š¾Ā Lesson 2 ā Sharpening the Fundamentals
Focus Areas:
Refining technique:Ā More reps on serves, returns, dinks, and volleys
Footwork drills:Ā Moving to and from the kitchen, sidestepping, split steps
Consistency:Ā Developing a rally mindset ā keep the ball in play
Transition game:Ā Learn to move from the baseline to the net effectively
Intro to soft game:Ā More focus on controlled dinks and drop shots
Common Drills:
Serve + return with movement to net
Crosscourt dink rallies
Drop shot to kitchen practice
Mini games with rules emphasis (e.g., double bounce rule)
š§ Ā Lesson 3 ā Strategy and Court Awareness
Focus Areas:
Shot selection:Ā When to dink, drive, or drop
Court positioning in doubles:Ā Working with a partner, communication
Building points:Ā Setting up shots, not just reacting
Defensive skills:Ā Resetting, blocking, and handling fast balls
Common Drills:
Third shot drop development
Partner movement at the net
Live rally drills with feedback
Serve + transition into soft game