What a lesson with me is like
My lessons are focused, fun, and always tailored to you. We start with a quick check-in to talk about your goals, any pain points, and what you’d like to get out of our time. From there, I design drills and live-play scenarios that match your current level and push you just enough to improve without feeling overwhelmed. I use real-time feedback, clear explanations, and plenty of encouragement to help you understand why we’re doing something—not just how. You’ll leave each session with clear takeaways, actionable steps, and the confidence that you’re truly getting better.
Your first lesson
Your first lesson is all about discovery and connection. I’ll take time to assess where your game is at—no pressure, no judgment. We’ll start with a warm-up and some simple rallying or drills so I can observe your technique, movement, and habits. From there, I’ll give you a few key adjustments and we’ll build on them with drills that make sense for your level. Whether you’re brand new or experienced, you’ll leave your first session feeling seen, supported, and excited to grow. You’ll know exactly what to work on and why it matters for your improvement.
Lesson 11: Playing With a Purpose
• Focus: Every shot has a job—developing intentionality.
• Train decision-making: soft vs hard, crosscourt vs down the line, when to lob, when to speed up.
• Emphasize reading opponents and anticipating patterns.
• Drill: Purposeful rallies where each shot must serve a strategic purpose.
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Lesson 12: Advanced Shot Variety & Deception
• Focus: Adding unpredictability to your game.
• Teach disguised shots: inside-out dinks, body fakes, hold-and-flick techniques.
• Add spin variation and deceptive pace to shots.
• Game play scenarios to practice “keeping opponents guessing.”
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Lesson 13: Partner Chemistry & Communication
• Focus: Becoming a smarter doubles player.
• Cover verbal and non-verbal communication, stacking strategies, and partner roles.
• Play rotations with real-time coaching to build on-court synergy.
• Teach how to play with stronger or weaker partners effectively.
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Lesson 14: Match Simulation & Real-Time Adjustments
• Focus: Simulating competitive matches with coach feedback.
• Play points with score, time limits, or situational rules (e.g., down 8–10).
• Pause moments to discuss shot selection, spacing, mental approach.
• Goal: Train “in-match awareness” and adaptive thinking.
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Lesson 15: Tournament Preparation
• Focus: Peak performance in a tournament setting.
• Cover pre-game warmups, routines, timeouts, and energy management.
• Simulate full match conditions with pressure (refs, spectators, limited coaching).
• Talk through bracket strategy and staying mentally consistent across multiple matches.
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Lesson 16 and Beyond: Custom Development Plan
• At this point, the student is a high-functioning, competitive player.
• Lessons become highly customized based on goals: e.g., entering tournaments, getting to 4.0+, becoming a teaching partner, or mastering specific shots.
• Introduce player-specific data (video breakdowns, DUPR tracking, tactical journaling).
• Optional: review film together to break down habits, missed opportunities, and elite-level tendencies.
Lesson 4: Consistency & Control
• Focus: Fine-tuning strokes (dinks, volleys, drops) for control and accuracy.
• Emphasis on footwork, paddle angle, and resetting under pressure.
• Begin rally-based drills to build consistency in longer points.
• Introduce “reset mentality” when out of position.
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Lesson 5: Movement & Positioning
• Focus: Court awareness—how to move efficiently and stay in sync with a partner.
• Teach transitional zones, split steps, and the importance of neutral positioning.
• Simulated game scenarios to reinforce proper spacing and balance.
• Begin applying pressure to expose and correct positioning habits.
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Lesson 6: Serve, Return, and 3rd Shot Mastery
• Focus: Making your serve and return purposeful, not just “getting it in.”
• Practice aggressive, deep returns and spin/control on the serve.
• Deep dive into 3rd shot drops vs drives—when and why to use each.
• Drill: Serve > Return > 3rd > transition to kitchen.
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Lesson 7: Offensive Strategy
• Focus: Learning how to build and finish a point.
• Teaching “pattern creation” (stacking, target zones, manipulating opponents).
• Practice punch volleys, attackable dinks, and high-percentage finishing shots.
• Game play with coaching to reinforce aggressive decision-making.
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Lesson 8: Defense & Resetting
• Focus: Staying calm and smart under pressure.
• Teach how to reset from the transition zone and neutralize attackers.
• Introduce paddle positioning, soft hands, and breathing through chaos.
• Drill: Fast hands vs reset rallies / “win by slowing down.”
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Lesson 9: Mental Game & Pressure Play
• Focus: Developing confidence, discipline, and awareness during tight games.
• Use mini-matches and scoreboard drills to simulate pressure.
• Teach how to mentally reset after errors or tough points.
• Discuss tournament mindset: pacing, routines, and focus.
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Lesson 10: Full Integration & Game Play Coaching
• Focus: Tying it all together—play smarter, not just harder.
• Live point play with real-time feedback.
• Shadow a full match scenario: serve, return, kitchen work, and strategy.
• Review strengths, improvements, and future goals (e.g., next DUPR level, entering rec tournaments, etc.).
Your second lesson
By lesson two, we’re building momentum. Based on what we discovered in your first session, we’ll focus on refining key areas of your game—whether that’s dinking with more control, improving your serve and return, or learning better court positioning. You’ll start to feel the connection between technique and strategy. Expect targeted drills, plenty of repetition, and real-game scenarios so you can apply what you’ve learned. I’ll also introduce a few higher-level concepts based on your goals, so you’re always being challenged in the right way.
Your third lesson
This is where things start to click. In lesson three, we dig deeper into strategy, decision-making, and consistency. You’ll notice improvements not just in your strokes, but in your confidence and awareness on the court. We’ll continue to polish mechanics, but also introduce pressure-based drills to simulate match situations. If you’re preparing for rec play or tournaments, this is where we really start to sharpen your competitive edge. I’ll also give you feedback on your progress so far and help you set the next goals in your development journey.
My lessons are focused, fun, and always tailored to you. We start with a quick check-in to talk about your goals, any pain points, and what you’d like to get out of our time. From there, I design drills and live-play scenarios that match your current level and push you just enough to improve without feeling overwhelmed. I use real-time feedback, clear explanations, and plenty of encouragement to help you understand why we’re doing something—not just how. You’ll leave each session with clear takeaways, actionable steps, and the confidence that you’re truly getting better.
Lesson 11: Deception & Elite Shot Making
• Goal: Add unpredictability without sacrificing consistency.
• Train holds, misdirections, off-speed roll shots, and spin deception.
• Add disguise to speedups and dinks to draw pops or hesitation.
• Drill: Reaction time and “read the hands” games.
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Lesson 12: Partner Dynamics & Tournament Tactics
• Goal: Play smarter with partners, especially in high-stakes play.
• Practice stacking, switching roles mid-rally, and running cover.
• Discuss partner communication, trust, and handling momentum swings.
• Simulate tournament day game prep and in-match mindset.
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Lesson 13: Competitive Simulation Day
• Goal: Simulate the pressure and rhythm of a real tournament.
• Full match play with rotation, coaching, and recovery strategies.
• Review video clips or coach notes post-session for learning reinforcement.
• Set measurable targets: e.g., net wins, forced errors, third shot success rate.
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Lesson 14: The Champion’s Mindset
• Goal: Train the body and mind to perform on demand.
• Practice routines for nerves, timeouts, bad line calls, and cold streaks.
• Teach mental reset tools, breath work, and staying solution-focused.
• Drill: Negative-score drills, timeout simulations, and momentum stops.
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Lesson 15: Style Refinement & Self-Scouting
• Goal: Own your game identity.
• Define whether you’re a grinder, aggressor, counter-puncher, or hybrid.
• Break down video (optional) to evaluate habits and player-specific blind spots.
• Create a “game plan template” for different opponents or match types.
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Lesson 16+: Elite Customization Track
• This is your coaching “lab.”
• Each lesson addresses a specific goal: tournament prep, breaking into 4.5+, overcoming a specific opponent, or mastering a weakness.
• Could include guest matchplay, weekly assignments, and DUPR tracking.
• Optional: build a highlight reel or film analysis plan to track progression.
Lesson 4: Precision & Shot Shaping
• Goal: Make every shot intentional and unattackable.
• Refine depth, spin, and placement of dinks, drives, and drops.
• Focus on disguising intent and reducing attackable errors.
• Drill: Target zones, dink exchanges under pressure, third shot shaping.
Lesson 4: Precision & Shot Shaping
• Goal: Make every shot intentional and unattackable.
• Refine depth, spin, and placement of dinks, drives, and drops.
• Focus on disguising intent and reducing attackable errors.
• Drill: Target zones, dink exchanges under pressure, third shot shaping.
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Lesson 5: Elite Movement & Transition Mastery
• Goal: Move like a top-level player—efficient and calculated.
• Break down split-step timing, shuffle spacing, and transitions into the kitchen.
• Add movement constraints to simulate fatigue or pressure.
• Drill: Serve > return > 3rd > 5th > defend > reset (live-feed progressions).
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Lesson 6: Serve, Return, and 3rd Shot Attack Options
• Goal: Maximize early point advantage.
• Master deep, aggressive returns; learn to vary spin/speed on serves.
• Explore drive-to-drop combos based on return type.
• Drill: Pattern drilling with live defenders and choice-based 3rd options.
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Lesson 7: High-Level Offensive Patterning
• Goal: Build points with intention and control.
• Teach how to manipulate opponents with angles, speedups, and redirection.
• Introduce dominant patterns and how to break an opponent’s rhythm.
• Drill: 2v1 offensive control games, finish-or-fade patterns.
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Lesson 8: Resetting & Advanced Defense
• Goal: Stay neutral or recover under fire.
• Master body positioning, paddle discipline, and the “calm reset.”
• Introduce multi-ball drills and random-feed chaos drills.
• Emphasize the importance of not forcing offense when out of position.
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Lesson 9: Pressure Testing & Pattern Recognition
• Goal: Train decision-making under game-like stress.
• Use scoreboard drills, punishment rounds, and time constraints.
• Introduce “chess match” thinking: anticipate, bait, and counter patterns.
• Drill: Live points with immediate feedback and pattern tracking.
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Lesson 10: Game Play with Tactical Interventions
• Goal: Sharpen instincts and reinforce strategic thinking mid-rally.
• Play live doubles with pause/replay coaching to highlight missed opportunities.
• Begin building a personal tactical framework—what works for their game style.
• Emphasize momentum shifts and quick strategic adjustments.
This part is just an assessment and video recording your game play to take the actions for the next lessons.