PickleballZen

07/18/2026

UPDATE on my availability and 2026 price structure for lessons with me indoors at Performance Pickleball:

M&W from 12-6pm, T&TH from 2-6pm, and some Saturdays from 7am-noon.

I now offer early morning sessions MWF from 7-10am, to accommodate those who work!

All lessons/classes will depend on court availability at the venue. Sessions are coordinated through me and paid directly to Performance. Once you decide what sort of session(s) you/your group would like and when, I'll set it up with Performance then send out the link(s) to register.

1. Level-Up Course for 4
Three 90-minute sessions = $149/person
3 hours of instruction and 1.5 hours of game play over the course of 3 days (TWTH), this course teaches the skills players need to develop in order to level up from wherever they currently are. For newbies, this course is a great follow-up to my Intro to Pickleball class and lays a strong foundation for future success.

2. Hourly Individual & Group Lessons
1-player = $60
2-players = $50/person
3-4 players = $40/person.
If you are interested in a discounted lesson package for an individual or a group, please reach out directly to me to inquire.

3. Skills & Drills for 4-8 Players
1 hour = $30/person or
90 minutes = $35/person
In these sessions the group will learn targeted drills to build specific skills into their game. The group will play out points during the final 30 minutes to bring the skill(s) into an actual game.

4. Coached Game Play for 4 Players & Play+3 with a Coach
90 minutes of coached games = $45/person or
2 hours = $50/person
Prerequisite: Understand how to keep the score and have a basic knowledge of the rules.

All group classes (except lessons) require a minimum of 3 participants to run. Any class that does not meet this minimum will be cancelled with a full refund.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact me: [email protected].

01/03/2026

2026 Rule Changes you NEED to know!

Essential Pickleball Rules for 2026 (Including 7 NEW Changes)GET THE DUO PRO FOR $155! https://enhancepickleball.com/discount/RULES?redirect=%2Fcollections%2...

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🎆 Open for a great article to up your game in 2026.

12/17/2025

I always stress to my beginners the importance of their grip when it comes to mobility. Remember, gripping the paddle too tightly injects tension and limits mobility in the wrist causing the entire arm to stiffen. Space between the fingers allows for relaxation in the hand, softens the paddle’s impact against the ball, and allows for much better ball placement.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FwC4NQRGf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/20/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1RRTG1ikNX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/19/2025

Gearing up for one of the last Master the Basics weeks of 2025. Signup today!

Nov 10th at Regency - Standard Courts from 03:00pm to 04:30pm

10/13/2025

Returner, GET THEE TO THE LINE!!

🔥If You’re Not Running Up After Your Return, You’re Not Just Bad, You’re Selfish

Pickleball is a funny sport.
It’s simple enough for retirees to pick up in flip flops, yet brutal enough that it can expose every ounce of your athletic cowardice in 30 minutes or less.
Nowhere is that cowardice more obvious than when you hit a return of serve and just stand there.

Staying back after your return is one of the most selfish, boneheaded, partner punishing mistakes you can make.

The game is won at the kitchen line.
Every pro, every coach, every competitive player worth their paddle knows this.
You can d**k, lob, drive, and pray to the pickleball gods all you want, but if you’re camping out in “baseline Disneyland,” you’re basically mailing your partner a letter that says:

“Hey buddy, I don’t feel like giving us a chance to win. Good luck covering half the court while I sip Gatorade back here.”

The Net Is Power.
The closer you are to the kitchen, the less time your opponents have to react.

Your Partner Pays the Price.

When you hang back, your poor teammate has to defend the transition zone alone. They’re in no man’s land, eating drives at their shoelaces, while you’re basically watching Netflix at the baseline.
Congratulations, you just created a 2 on 1, and your partner is the “1.”

Laziness Is Not Strategy.

I know some of you will argue, “But I like to stay back and rip groundstrokes.”
That’s not a strategy, that’s a cover-up for insecurity or bad habits.
You’re not Novak Djokovic, and this isn’t tennis. Get your butt to the line.

The Partner’s Perspective

Imagine this: you’re paired up in rec play. You hit a perfect return, you sprint forward like a warrior, and then you glance sideways only to see your partner still glued to the baseline like they’re waiting for the Uber Eats delivery.

That’s not just bad play, that’s selfish. You’re forcing your partner to either:

Over commit and cover extra ground (hello, free winners for your opponents), or

Stay back with you (hello, guaranteed loss of the rally).

How to Fix This So You’re Not “That Guy”

Return Deep and Fast Forward.

The return doesn’t have to be sexy.
It just has to be deep enough to buy you time to run up.
Forget the highlight reel, play the percentages.

Split Step in Transition.

Don’t sprint like a lunatic and overshoot.
Move up quickly, then split step so you’re ready to react to the ball.
Controlled aggression beats panic every time.

Communicate.

If you’re working on this, tell your partner.
“Hey, I’m focusing on getting up fast after my return.
Cover me if I get jammed in transition.”
That’s called accountability and it beats silently dragging them into pickleball hell.

If you’re not running up after your return, you’re not just hurting yourself, you’re screwing your partner.
That’s unforgivable.
Pickleball is a team game.
Act like it.

Nobody respects the guy who makes his partner do all the work.

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08/02/2025

You may not know it, but pickleball is NOT the only thing I teach...

What if I told you that there is a fun accessible drawing technique that can empower you to overcome fears, blocks, & anxiety? What if drawing lines, circles, and other basic shapes could unlock the ability to manifest your goals?

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at the Alchemists (3080 Stony Point Rd.) I will be teaching a 2-hr. class designed to connect you with your inner child, to discover a new level of playfulness and joy, and to learn more about who you are. Not only will you leave with your own original piece of art and a renewed understanding of yourself, you will gain the skills to use this powerful drawing method on your own.

All supplies will be provided. No artistic talent required. Number of participants is limited.

Visit https://www.alchemistsrva.com/classes for more details and to register.