ADULT PICKLEBALL LESSONS

• Ages 18+
• 4 Lessons per class
• Class Times
  • Pickleball 101: Monday Morning at 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
  • Pickleball 101: Monday Evening at 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  • Pickleball 102: Thursday Morning at 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
  • Pickleball 102: Thursday Evening at 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
• Pickleball 101 (Beginner Class) – Learn the fundamentals of pickleball in this four-week beginner course. Players will be introduced to rules, paddle grip, serving, and essential shots like dinks, drops, and volleys. Each session includes skill-building drills and guided gameplay to prepare you for recreational play.
• Pickleball 102 (Intermediate Class) – For advanced beginners to intermediate players. Focus on strategy, shot placement, communication, and advanced techniques like the third shot drop and net play. Sessions combine instruction and gameplay to strengthen skills and teamwork.

 4-Week Beginner Pickleball Program

1 hour per session • 4 sessions

Week 1 — Fundamentals & Getting Comfortable

Goal: Learn the basics and develop confidence.

• 0–10 min: Welcome, introductions & pickleball basics
  • Court layout and scoring
  • Paddle grip and ready position
  • Basic safety
• 10–20 min: Forehand & backhand
  • Proper swing
  • Contact point
  • Controlled shots
• 20–35 min: Dinking introduction
  • What is a dink?
  • Soft hands and control
  • Dink back and forth
• 35–50 min: Serving & returning
  • Underhand serve
  • Serve placement
  • Return of serve
• 50–60 min: Fun mini-game
  • Play points while you coach from the sidelines

Homework: Practice 10 minutes of serving and 10 minutes of dinking.

Week 2 — Serve, Return & Getting to the Kitchen

Goal: Understand where to be on the court.

• 0–10 min: Review Week 1
• 10–20 min: Serve & return drills
  • Deep serves
  • Deep returns
  • Consistency before power
• 20–35 min: Moving to the kitchen
  • Why the kitchen line matters
  • Moving forward together
  • Stop at the kitchen line
• 35–50 min: Dinking drills
  • Cross-court dinking
  • Keeping the ball low
  • Moving your opponent
• 50–60 min: Controlled games
  • Focus on serve, return and getting to the kitchen

Key phrase: “Serve deep, return deep, get to the kitchen.”

Week 3 — Volleys, Third Shot & Court Positioning

Goal: Start playing strategically instead of simply hitting the ball.

• 0–10 min: Review & warm-up
• 10–20 min: Volley fundamentals
  • Ready position
  • Short punch
  • Soft hands
  • Blocking hard shots
• 20–35 min: Third-shot introduction
  • Drop vs. drive
  • When to use each
  • Getting from the baseline to the kitchen
• 35–45 min: Partner positioning
  • Stay together
  • Move side-to-side
  • Avoid leaving the middle open
• 45–60 min: Point-play drills
  • Start every point with a serve
  • Players earn points for good positioning and patience

Key phrase: “Don’t rush the kitchen—earn your way there.”

Week 4 — Putting It All Together

Goal: Build confidence and prepare them to play recreational games.

• 0–10 min: Quick review/warm-up
• 10–20 min: Skills challenge
  • 5 serves in
  • 5 returns in
  • Dinking challenge
  • Volley challenge
• 20–30 min: Common beginner mistakes
  • Hitting too hard
  • Standing too far back
  • Moving independently from your partner
  • Trying to hit winners too early
• 30–50 min: Beginner games
  • Coach/referee as needed
  • Stop play occasionally for teaching moments
• 50–60 min: Graduation challenge
  • Short competitive games
  • Celebrate progress
  • Questions & next steps

Intermediate Pickleball – 4-Week Program

Program Overview

This 4-week Intermediate Pickleball Program is designed for players who already understand the fundamentals of pickleball and are ready to improve their consistency, strategy, positioning, and decision-making.

The program includes 4 one-hour sessions, with each week building on the previous week.

Four-Week Progression

Week 1: Consistency
Week 2: Control
Week 3: Strategy
Week 4: Competition

Teaching Theme:
Learn smarter shots → make better decisions → improve positioning → play with confidence.

WEEK 1: Consistency & Shot Selection

Goal: Make better decisions and reduce unforced errors.

0–10 min: Warm-up & skill review
10–20 min: Dinking

• Cross-court
• Straight ahead
• Changing direction

20–30 min: Third-shot drops vs. drives

• Understanding when to use each shot

30–45 min: Transition-zone drills

• Moving effectively from the baseline to the kitchen

45–60 min: Point play

• Emphasis on patience
• Shot selection
• Limiting unforced errors

Focus: Build consistency and make smarter shot choices.

WEEK 2: Kitchen Game & Soft Game

Goal: Learn to control the point at the kitchen.

0–10 min: Warm-up & dinking
10–20 min: Advanced dinking

• Cross-court
• Changing direction
• Creating openings

20–30 min: Speed-ups & resets

30–45 min: Kitchen-line battles

• Hands battles
• Blocks
• Counters

45–60 min: Games starting at the kitchen

Focus: Control the pace rather than always increasing it.

WEEK 3: Strategy, Positioning & Teamwork

Goal: Learn to play as a team and recognize opponents’ weaknesses.

0–10 min: Warm-up & reaction volleys

10–20 min: Partner positioning

• Move together
• Protect the middle
• Cover your partner

20–30 min: Attack the right ball

• Identify high balls
• Attack the weaker player
• Create openings

30–45 min: Serve + third-shot strategy
45–60 min: Situational games

Focus: Win with positioning and decisions, not just power.

WEEK 4: Competitive Play & Putting It All Together

Goal: Apply everything learned throughout the program under pressure.

0–10 min: Fast-paced warm-up

10–20 min: Skills challenge

• Dinks
• Drops
• Resets
• Volleys

20–30 min: Pressure drills

• Playing from behind
• Protecting a lead
• End-of-game situations

30–55 min: Competitive games

• Coach observes play
• Individual feedback throughout games

55–60 min: Review & individual improvement goals

Focus: Put the skills, strategy, positioning, and decision-making from the previous three weeks into competitive play.

Terry McLeod

Terry is a retired 70-year-old pickleball player, coach, teacher, and mentor with a passion for helping others discover and enjoy the game. A dedicated student of pickleball for the past 10 years, Terry believes learning never stops and brings that enthusiasm to every lesson. His patient, encouraging coaching style helps players of all ages and skill levels build confidence, improve their game, and, most importantly, have fun.

A lifelong Hagerstown resident, Terry also works part-time at the Hagerstown Field House, where he teaches pickleball and enjoys staying active in the local community. When he’s not on the courts, you’ll find him traveling with his fiancée, Teri, spending time with their family—including eight grandchildren—or enjoying the company of their two Great Pyrenees, Gus and Willow, three cats, and a flock of backyard chickens.

Whether you’re picking up a paddle for the first time or looking to take your game to the next level, Terry looks forward to helping you improve your skills, grow your love for pickleball, and enjoy every minute on the court.

Learn. Laugh. Improve. Play with Confidence.