Beginner training plan
Your first lessonGoal: Understand the player’s current skill level and introduce key pickleball concepts
- Warm up
- Assessment
- Basic forehand and backhand shots
- Serve technique and consistency
- Movement and footwork
- Reaction time at the net (volleys)
- Proper paddle grip and stance
- Basic dinking (soft shots at the net)
- Serving basics
- Court positioning
Lesson 11+Goal: Fine-tune technique, develop mental strategy, and prepare for competitive play.
- Fine-tuning spin and placement
- Reading opponents and adjusting strategy
- Mastering the “soft game” (dinking and resets)
- Playing against different styles of opponents
- Match Play: Full games with coaching feedback
- Tactical Adjustments: Learn how to recognize weaknesses and adapt during a match
Lesson 4-10Goal: Improve confidence, introduce advanced techniques, and develop court awareness
- 3rd Shot Drop & Drive: Developing touch for softer drops
- Defensive Lobs & Overheads: Understanding how to use and defend lobs
- Doubles Strategy: Communication, stacking, shot selection
- Situational Play: Practicing specific game scenarios (e.g., handling fast shots, defending from the baseline)
- Conditioning & Reaction Drills: Quick feet exercises, reaction time drills
- Regular Game Play: Focus on shot placement over power
Lesson 2-3Goal: Improve control, accuracy, and movement on the court
- Serving: Repetition for consistency, aiming for deep serves
- Return of Serve: Controlling depth and positioning
- Dinking Drill: Accuracy and patience at the net
- Volleys & Blocks: Reaction training at the non-volley zone (NVZ)
- Footwork & Positioning: Understanding the “transition zone” and moving efficiently
- Mini-Match Play: Introduce basic strategy (staying out of "no man's land")
