Beginner training plan
Your first lessonGame and gear basics, grip, some specific shots.
Lesson 11+While it seems I should want to keep a student as long as possible, that isn't my goal. I do have weekly students, and there are always things to work on. However, my goal is not teach you what to do as much as how to think. That way, you figure out what to do and ways to improve that are appropriate for you. Then, I'm happy to have you back for adjustments and sticking points.
Lesson 4-10After the high frequency focus, later lessons will focus on some lower frequency shots, as well as strategy beyond the basics.
Lesson 2-3I often direct students here, but prefer this direction to be student driven through questions. Why do I have trouble keeping my serve in? Or Why is my backhand so difficult?
Advanced training plan
Your first lessonWith advanced players, we skip most of the basics, but often there is something to review. Something as simple as footwork to fix a shot, or finding the source of a third shot issue is actually the serve. We talk through those results issues, work backward to find the cause(s), and plug those leaks, so to speak.
Lesson 11+At this point, hopefully the growth mindset has taken hold. It sounds simple, but it's by no means a given. Mixing a competitive mindset with a growth mindset of patience took me getting hurt bad enough to spend the better part of a year to START figuring it out. Ironically, we are then back to the beginning. If the switch fully flips, we are no longer working on our mindset to improve at pickleball. We are working on pickleball as a test of our mindset. Then, it's a razor thin balance of perspective and performance. That performance, to be clear, is not the score. It's your decision making, behavior, and setting/hitting targets/goals. For today, and for next year.
