Pickleball lessons with
Coach Russ Lombardo
From$70.87 per lesson
•
Pickleball lessons with
Coach Russ Lombardo
From$70.87 per lesson
•SuperCoach
🏆
Russ is a SuperCoach ranked in the top 3% coaches based on reliability, responsiveness and student feedback, often exceeding expectations.
Coach Rating
5.0•45 reviews
SuperCoach
🏆
Russ is a SuperCoach ranked in the top 3% coaches based on reliability, responsiveness and student feedback, often exceeding expectations.
Coach Rating
5.0•45 reviews
About your pickleball coach
Ready to Elevate Your Pickleball Game? Whether you’re picking up a paddle for the first time or looking to sharpen your skills, I offer expert, personalized coaching designed to meet you where you are—and take you further. As a PCI-certified Pickleball coach with years of experience guiding players from beginners to advanced, I create custom lesson plans that focus on your unique goals and areas for improvement. Let’s unlock your potential and have fun doing it. Book your first session today and see the difference personalized coaching makes!
👋
Teaches: Kids, Teenagers, Adults, Seniors
🌱
Levels: Beginners, Intermediates, Experts
📍
Lives in: Durham, North Carolina
🎓
Years Playing: Not specified
🔥
Given: 166 lessons
Russ's availability
Find a location and time that works for you
Russ's availability
Find a location and time that works for you
Availability on all locations
Near Durham, North Carolina
No availability for this date
Didn't find a time or location that works with Russ?
We can suggest similar coaches or arrange a different spot (even at home)
We can suggest similar coaches or arrange a different spot (even at home)
Accomplishments
🏓4 UTR-P
🏆USA Pickleball Ambassador
🏅Sponsored Athlete
➕Selkirk Sponsored
Certifications & Badges
📝PCI Certified
🎓10+ Years Teaching
Reputation
SuperCoach
🏆
Russ is a SuperCoach ranked in the top 3% coaches based on reliability, responsiveness and student feedback, often exceeding expectations.
Reliability
Always reliable ⭐ Shows up on time and ready to teach every lesson. You can count on them.
Avg. time to confirm lessons1 hours
Average rating
5.0
80 ratings•45 reviews
Joanna P.Verified ✓
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 17
The lesson with Russ was quite helpful, especially in working on my pickleball skills at a comfortable pace. The focus on specific mechanics really helped me understand my game better, though I still see room for refinement. I appreciated the calm, clear manner in which he explained things, making the learning process feel natural. Still, I might try more lessons to build on what I covered. If you're looking for thoughtful instruction, I’d suggest giving Russ a try.
Amy B.Verified ✓
Lessons taken: 17
That lesson with Russ was quite helpful and pretty fun, honestly, I learned a lot and feel more confident on the court. If you’re looking for a balanced approach, he'd be a good pick.
Tracey H.Verified ✓
Lessons taken: 10
Lesson #1 was a lot of fun. We learned a lot about how the game is played and enjoyed some time playing as well. We are looking forward to the next lesson.
Tim S.Verified ✓
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 9
The lesson was quite helpful, especially in working on my serve accuracy, though I think I still need to improve my volley game. Russ explained some key strategies clearly and kept things pretty practical, which I appreciated. Still, I’m hoping future lessons will focus a bit more on footwork to really boost my overall play. If you're looking to get a balanced rundown of pickleball skills, you might want to give Russ a try.
Rachel M.Verified ✓
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 9
I really enjoyed gaining hands-on gameplay experience during the lesson with Russ. It helped me understand how to apply different techniques in real matches. For anyone wanting to improve their pickleball skills in a practical way, Russ’s lessons are a great choice. You’ll get plenty of chances to play and learn at the same time. Give it a try and see for yourself! 👋
Melissa B.Verified ✓
Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 9
One of the highlights of the lesson was Russ’ patience and encouragement, which made the experience enjoyable and lighthearted. His positive attitude kept things fun throughout. If you’re thinking about trying pickleball, Russ’ lessons are definitely worth a shot. You’ll enjoy the friendly vibe and supportive coaching style.
Beginner training plan
Your first lessonFirst we’ll learn the basics of the game including the rules, scoring, and essential equipment. We’ll also focus on fundamental skills like grip, stance, and basic strokes to get you started on the right foot.
Lesson 11+Finally we’ll put your skills to the test with guided game play, incorporating all the techniques and strategies you’ve learned. We’ll also introduce you to advanced shots like lobs and spins, and fine-tune your overall game performance to prepare you for competitive play.
Lesson 4-10Now we’ll focus on improving your shot accuracy and placement while learning key strategies for both singles and doubles play. We’ll work on your volleys, dinks, and game tactics to increase your confidence and effectiveness on the court.
Lesson 2-3Next we’ll build on your initial skills by refining your forehand and backhand strokes, and start practicing consistent serves. We’ll also introduce you to court positioning and basic footwork to enhance your game play.
Advanced training plan
Your first lessonWe’ll begin with identifying areas that you want to work on and improve. It could be improving your serve accuracy and speed, or working on court positioning, or dealing with bangers, or a variety of other techniques (skills) and tactics (strategies). Each lesson we’ll focus on targeted areas you want to work on and will include drills and game play.
Lesson 2-3We’ll continue building upon the skills and strategies from the previous lessons with a focus on areas where you want improvement.
What you need to bringAll you’ll need are comfortable athletic clothes, court or tennis shoes, and a water bottle for hydration. If you have a paddle, feel free to bring it; otherwise, I’ll provide one. Most importantly, bring your enthusiasm and a positive attitude to enjoy the game.
What I can bringAs a Selkirk Advocate I can provide a variety of paddles for you to demo and I can advise you on what would be the best fit for your needs. But feel free to bring your own paddle if you have one.
Frequently asked questions
Cancellation Policy
We totally understand that life can be unpredictable and plans might change. That's
why we've got your back with our flexible cancellation policy, designed to give you
peace of mind when booking private sports lessons with our awesome local instructors!
If you need to cancel your lesson, no worries! You can get a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of making your booking. We want to make the process as hassle-free as possible for you.
And if you simply want to reschedule your lesson, change the date and time, or adjust the number of students joining, we've got you covered there too. You can easily make these changes within 24 hours of booking, and up to 72 hours before your lesson starts.
Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!
If you need to cancel your lesson, no worries! You can get a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of making your booking. We want to make the process as hassle-free as possible for you.
And if you simply want to reschedule your lesson, change the date and time, or adjust the number of students joining, we've got you covered there too. You can easily make these changes within 24 hours of booking, and up to 72 hours before your lesson starts.
Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!
RL
Pickleball with Russ L.⭑ 5.0 (80 reviews)