Learn Pickleball with Eric
💰$88 weekly lessons
Hi, I’m Eric Stolte — a PPR-certified pickleball coach with over two years of experience, and a lifelong athlete passionate about movement and performance. I fell in love with pickleball because it’s fun, fast-paced, and one of the best ways to build community while staying active. I’m also a certified personal trainer with a background in biomechanics, so I pay close attention to how you move — helping you build better habits, prevent injury, and develop strong, efficient technique. Whether you’re brand new to the sport, working on consistency, or looking to gain a competitive edge, I’ll meet you where you are. Each session includes a dynamic warm-up, targeted drills, and personalized coaching focused on your goals — from dinks and drops to footwork and strategy. Let’s help you move well, play smart, and stay in the game for years to come.
Levels taught: Beginners, Intermediates
Teaches: Adults, Seniors
🏅Experienced Player
📝PPR Certified
🔥New to TeachMe.To
As a player, I'm rated:
🏓 4.2DUPR
New to TeachMe.To
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Locations
These are the locations I've set as being able to provide lessons:3 courts available
Bethesda OneLife
4400 Montgomery Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
322.7 miles awayOutdoors
Norwood Park (tennis court)
4764 Chevy Chase Dr, Bethesda, MD 20815
322.6 miles awayOutdoors
Chevy Chase Recreation Association (tennis court)
8922 Spring Valley Rd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
322.8 miles awayOutdoors
Availability
These are the times I've set as being available for lessons.sundays
8 AM - 8 PM
mondays
8 AM - 8 PM
tuesdays
8 AM - 8 PM
wednesdays
8 AM - 8 PM
thursdays
8 AM - 8 PM
fridays
8 AM - 8 PM
saturdays
8 AM - 8 PM
Beginner training plan
Your first lessonIn our first session, we begin by getting comfortable with the paddle through a simple yet essential drill—bouncing the ball on the paddle face. This helps develop hand-eye coordination and introduces players to the paddle’s “sweet spot.”
Next, we move to controlled dinking against a wall, focusing on developing soft touch and proper mechanics using shoulder-driven movement. Once players are familiar with this foundational skill, we introduce the concept and rules of the Non-Volley Zone aka the Kitchen.
We then progress to cooperative dinking with a partner to reinforce contact out in front, positioning, and consistency. From there, we introduce the fundamentals of serving, followed by rally practice. The session concludes with a game simulation to apply what we’ve learned, covering basic rules, court positioning, and how to keep score.
Lesson 11+This progression is designed to help you build a solid foundation, have fun, and play confidently at the 3.0 to 3.5 level. By the end of these sessions, you’ll have the skills to enjoy recreational games and start competing with consistency.
If your goal is to advance to the 4.0 level, the next phase of your development will focus on mastering soft game tactics—specifically, consistent dinking and resetting the ball from mid-court under pressure. These nuanced skills are what separate solid intermediate players from advanced competitors.
Lesson 4-10Lesson 4: Introduction to Topspin
In this session, we introduce topspin—a critical skill for keeping the ball low and controlled. Players will learn the mechanics of generating topspin through paddle angle and swing path, laying the foundation for more advanced strokes.
Lesson 5: The Topspin Serve
Building on the previous lesson, we apply topspin to the serve. Players will learn how to add spin to create depth, bounce variation, and increased difficulty for their opponent, adding a strategic edge to their service game.
Lesson 6: Topspin Volleys at the Net
We bring topspin into the kitchen with offensive volley work. Players will practice topspin volleys that dip quickly into the opponent’s court, making them harder to return and allowing players to maintain pressure at the net.
Lesson 7: Backhand Return Mechanics
This session is focused on mastering the backhand return. Players will learn proper grip, body positioning, and follow-through to execute consistent and effective backhand returns that set up strong third shots.
Lesson 8: Backhand Roll Volleys
We take the backhand further by introducing roll volleys—a versatile shot used to generate spin and pace from the non-volley zone. Players will learn how to disguise and control this shot to create offensive opportunities.
Lesson 9: Mastering the Third Shot Drop
One of the most essential shots in pickleball, the third shot drop is the focus of this session. Players will learn how to transition from baseline to kitchen with a soft, precise drop that neutralizes opponents and sets up net play.
Lesson 10: 7–11 Drills & Match Simulation
Our final session focuses on integration and mastery through the 7–11 drill format, where players rally in structured sequences to reinforce shot selection and strategy. We’ll simulate real match play to tie everything together and solidify skills in a game-like setting.
Lesson 2-3Lesson 2: Deep Serve & Return Fundamentals
In our second session, we take a deeper dive into the importance of serving and returning deep. Players will learn how strategic depth on the serve and return can set up an advantageous third shot and help control the pace of play. We’ll focus on consistency, placement, and footwork to support effective court positioning right from the start of the point.
Lesson 3: Net Play & Volley Techniques
Our third session shifts the focus to volleys and net play. Players will learn how to confidently block fast-paced drives and execute punch volleys that apply pressure and maintain offensive positioning at the net. Emphasis is placed on proper ready position, paddle angle, and timing to become a more effective presence at the kitchen line.
What you need to bringProper Shoes, water,
What I can bringBalls, training tools, top spin pro, targets, paddles
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!
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Pickleball with Eric StolteNew to TeachMe.To