Get a free trial lesson with Charley

Reputation

Happy Student Score

Outstanding

Reliability

Always reliable ⭐ Shows up on time and ready to teach every lesson. You can count on them.

Average rating

5.0

26 ratings•12 reviews

Kelsey F.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 5•Verified ✓

Charley was incredibly helpful, patient, and a pleasure to work with! Wonderful teacher. Made it a very enjoyable lesson and I learned a lot.

Wei C.Verified ✓

Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 4•Verified ✓

Thanks for the lesson in such a hot noon, and patient debugging my serve!

Melissa C.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 3•Verified ✓

I came into my first lesson with no prior racket sport experience and wasn’t sure what to expect. Charley was clear in breaking down the fundamentals, (how to hold the paddle, where to hit the ball, and how to move around the court). After just one session, I felt more confident and comfortable being on the court. Would recommend Charley for any other beginners looking to get into pickleball!

Kathryn H.Verified ✓

Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 2•Verified ✓

Charley's lesson was amazing. I told him my goals and he quickly pinpointed specific things I need to correct and work on. When I’m back in town I’ll try another lesson soon to build on this foundation.

Siqi W.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 2•Verified ✓

Charley is a wonderful teacher! He quickly identified the things I need to work on and the session felt very helpful and productive.

Reni K.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 1•Verified ✓

The lesson had lots of great tips, which I found pretty helpful in understanding specific techniques. Charley's approach really helped me get a clearer sense of game strategy. I definitely recommend you check out Charley if you’re looking to improve your pickleball game.

Beginner training plan

Your first lessonBeginner Pickleball Lesson Plans Lesson 1: Introduction to Pickleball • Overview: Introduce the court layout, rules, basic strokes and equipment. • Skills: Teach forehand groundstrokes with proper stance and grip. • Drills: Practice forehand shots with a partner, focusing on consistency. • Wrap-Up: Recap key concepts and encourage at-home practice.

Lesson 11+Lesson 11+: Intermediate and Advanced Development Refining Technique • Third-Shot Drop and Drive: Perfect execution of both the third-shot drop and third-shot drive, focusing on when to use each based on opponent positioning. • Dinking Precision: Improve dink placement to control rallies and move opponents out of position. • Volley Control: Develop faster reflexes and control at the net, focusing on punch volleys and blocking hard shots. Building Strategy • Court Positioning: Teach optimal positioning during doubles, including stacking and proper movement with a partner. • Offensive and Defensive Transitions: Focus on transitioning effectively from baseline to net and vice versa during rallies. • Shot Selection: Learn to recognize opponent weaknesses and choose the right shots to exploit them. Advanced Drills • Targeted Drills: Use a ball-serving machine for repetition in specific areas, like returning hard drives or practicing drop shots. • Game Simulation: Play structured points and games

Lesson 4-10Lesson 4-10: Building Strategy and Refining Skills Lesson 4-5: • Focus: Introduce dinking and net play. • Drills: Practice controlled dinks and volleys near the net. Lesson 6-7: • Focus: Teach third-shot drops and transitioning to the net. • Drills: Practice third-shot drops and moving into position for net play. Lesson 8-9: • Focus: Develop court positioning, communication, and doubles strategy. • Drills: Simulate game situations, focusing on teamwork and tactics. Lesson 10: • Wrap-Up: Play full games to apply all skills learned, with real-time feedback. • Next Steps: Encourage continued practice and set goals for improvement.

How does it work?

Pickleball with Charley L.⭑ 5.0 (26 reviews)

How it works

Reputation

Happy Student Score

Outstanding

Reliability

Always reliable ⭐ Shows up on time and ready to teach every lesson. You can count on them.

Average rating

5.0

26 ratings•12 reviews

Kelsey F.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 5•Verified ✓

Charley was incredibly helpful, patient, and a pleasure to work with! Wonderful teacher. Made it a very enjoyable lesson and I learned a lot.

Wei C.Verified ✓

Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 4•Verified ✓

Thanks for the lesson in such a hot noon, and patient debugging my serve!

Melissa C.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 3•Verified ✓

Kathryn H.Verified ✓

Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 2•Verified ✓

Siqi W.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 2•Verified ✓

Charley is a wonderful teacher! He quickly identified the things I need to work on and the session felt very helpful and productive.

Reni K.Verified ✓

Level: Beginner•Lessons taken: 1•Verified ✓

Advanced training plan

Your first lessonLesson 1: Assessing and Refining Advanced Fundamentals Objective: Assess player skills and refine key advanced techniques. 1. Warm-Up • Partner rally focusing on consistency, control, and shot variation. • Include forehand, backhand, and volleys as part of the warm-up. 2. Skill Assessment • Evaluate players’ proficiency with third-shot drops, drives, dinks, volleys, and serves. • Provide personalized feedback on mechanics, footwork, and strategy. 3. Skill: Advanced Dinking • Practice dinking with depth and spin to create opportunities for attack. • Introduce offensive dinking to set up aggressive shots. 4. Activity: Dink-to-Attack Transition • Run drills where players alternate between soft dinks and aggressive shots based on ball height and placement. 5. Wrap-Up • Summarize individual focus areas for improvement. • Encourage practice of dinks and third-shot techniques under pressure.

Lesson 11+Lessons 11 onwards: Video analysis: Focus on getting to the kitchen from transition zone, consistent and attacking dinks at the kitchen, and trick shots

Lesson 4-10Lessons 4-10: Refining Skills and Advanced Strategy Lesson 4-5: Net Play and Volleys • Focus on punch volleys, resetting hard shots, and maintaining control at the net. • Introduce strategy for maintaining dominance at the kitchen line. • Run drills for quick exchanges and volley-to-volley battles. Lesson 6-7: Court Positioning and Team Dynamics • Teach doubles communication and stacking strategies. • Practice shot placement to exploit gaps in opponents’ positioning. • Simulate fast-paced doubles rallies to build teamwork. Lesson 8-9: Advanced Shot Selection • Focus on executing lobs, drop volleys, and offensive spins effectively. • Practice situational drills to improve decision-making during points. Lesson 10: Competitive Play and Feedback • Play full games to apply all skills and strategies. • Provide real-time feedback during games, emphasizing positioning, shot selection, and teamwork. • Identify focus areas for continued development. These lessons are designed to progressively build skills and strategies while allowing flexibility to adapt to each player’s needs.

Lesson 2-3Lessons 2-3: Offensive and Defensive Strategies Objective: Develop strategic play through advanced shot placement and tactical drills. Lesson 2 1. Warm-Up • Serve and return drills focusing on shot depth, spin, and placement. 2. Skill: Third-Shot Drop and Drive Mix • Teach players how to vary between a third-shot drop and a drive to keep opponents guessing. • Practice hitting consistent drops and well-placed drives. 3. Activity: Third-Shot Scenarios • Simulate game situations where one player hits a serve, and the returner alternates between drops and drives to take control of the rally. 4. Skill: Blocking and Resetting Hard Shots • Focus on defensive techniques to handle fast-paced shots at the kitchen line. • Practice soft resets and controlled blocks to neutralize aggressive opponents. Lesson 3 1. Warm-Up • Cross-court dinking drills to refine accuracy and control. 2. Skill: Transitioning to the Net • Teach efficient movement from baseline to kitchen, focusing on footwork and split-stepping. • Practice transitioning with third-shot drops and drives. 3. Activity: Defensive to Offensive Transition • Simulate defensive scenarios where players must move forward while maintaining control

Youth players

Working with kidsWhen teaching kids, I adapt my lessons to be fun and engaging, using games and activities that make learning enjoyable. I focus on building a strong foundation in the basics while incorporating age-appropriate drills and exercises that keep their interest and energy levels high. Patience and encouragement are key, as I strive to create a positive and supportive environment where young players feel confident and excited to learn.

Working with teenagers When teaching teenagers, I adapt my lessons to balance skill development with the social and competitive aspects that appeal to this age group. l incorporate advanced drills and techniques while fostering a supportive and collaborative environment that encourages teamwork and peer learning. By focusing on both physical fitness and strategic thinking, I help teens develop their skills and confidence, preparing them for competitive play and personal growth in the sport.