Pickleball with Mario Talatala
Background checked
💰$38 weekly lessons
I bring an aggressive style of play to the game. Either by attacking or creating opportunities to end the point. I brought this mindset from a tennis background and incorporated this strategy to my Pickleball game since I started. I focus on helping players of all levels improve their technique, strategy, and confidence on the court. I am super passionate about helping players of all levels elevate their game. Through engaging drills and personalized instruction, I foster a fun learning environment that empowers you to reach your full potential on the court.
👋
Teaches: Kids, Teenagers, Adults, Seniors
🌱
Levels: Beginners, Intermediates
📍
Lives in: Keller, Texas
😊
Happy Student Score: Not available
🎓
Years Playing: 3 years
🔥
Given: 3 lessons
Accomplishments
🏓4.5 DUPR
🏅Experienced Player
Certifications & Badges
📝PPR Certified
Reviews
Total reviews3
Average rating
5.0
Lourdes
Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 1
I had the pleasure of taking an hour pickleball lesson with Mario and thoroughly appreciated how he broke down the drill we were doing and the why behind it. We then put it into practice in a game and you totally can see how we benefited from our lesson. He observed and pointed out where we could tweak our position or why we lost the point. Highly recommend taking a lesson and look forward to my next lesson!
Amanda
Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 1
I recently took a pickleball lesson with Mario, and it was a fantastic experience! Mario is not only knowledgeable about the game, but also incredibly patient and encouraging. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, he tailors the lesson to your level and learning style.
Jamie
Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 1
Mario is a great coach - kind and patient and focuses on exactly what you need to improve your game using fundamentals and extremely fun drills! Highly recommended for any level of player or even better a group of players!
Locations
These are the locations I've set as being able to provide lessons:7 courts available
Backyard Regulation Pickleball Court
513 Woodland Trail, Keller, TX 76248, United States
927.2 miles awayOutdoors
Ultimate Backyard Escape
1000 Bourland Rd, Keller, TX 76248, USA
926.1 miles awayOutdoors
The Bakers Acres
400 Anita Avenue, Keller, TX, USA
926.8 miles awayOutdoors
Backyard Oasis - Swim & Pickleball
4133 Roberts Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051, USA
922.2 miles awayOutdoors
Bear Creek Park
400 Bear Creek Park Rd, Keller, TX 76248, USA
927.2 miles awayOutdoors
Dove Park
1509 Hood Ln, Grapevine, TX 76051, USA
919.1 miles awayOutdoors
Northfield Park (tennis court)
Northfield Park, North Richland Hills, TX 76180
926.4 miles awayOutdoors
Want a lesson at your home or a different location? We can help.
Availability
These are the times I've set as being available for lessons.sundays
8 AM - 8 PM
mondays
7 AM - 8 PM
tuesdays
7 AM - 8 PM
wednesdays
7 AM - 8 PM
thursdays
7 AM - 8 PM
fridays
7 AM - 8 PM
saturdays
7 AM - 8 PM
Beginner training plan
Your first lesson**Goal:** Understand the basic rules, court layout, equipment, and experience first hits.
### Objectives:
* Learn the purpose of pickleball and what makes it unique.
* Understand the parts of the court (baseline, NVZ/kitchen, service area).
* Basic equipment overview (paddle, ball, shoes).
* Learn grip: “Shake hands” grip.
* Introduce ready position and basic footwork.
* Forehand and backhand groundstrokes (gentle hitting back and forth).
* Demonstrate underhand serve (not perfect yet—just exposure).
* Play a cooperative rally (goal: 5–10 hits).
### Drills:
* Drop and hit (self-feed forehands/backhands).
* Partner rally: slow and controlled.
* Target serve attempts into diagonal box.
Lesson 11+## 🟥 **Lesson 11+: Intermediate Growth & Strategy**
**Goal:** Transition to more competitive play and develop strategic thinking.
### Objectives:
* Master shot selection based on situation.
* Mix up pace and spin intentionally.
* Learn how to create and attack weak shots.
* Read opponent positioning and tendencies.
* Strategic use of lob, drive, and reset shots.
* Transition seamlessly between offensive and defensive play.
* Mental skills: staying calm, controlling tempo, partner support.
### Drills:
* Pattern drills: drop → dink → attack.
* Speed-up/slow-down transition games.
* Lob and overhead defense practice.
* Play-focused sessions with video or feedback.
* Game scenario drills (e.g., 10–10 game point pressure).
### Optional:
* Intro to stacking in doubles.
* Advanced positioning like Erne or ATP shot awareness.
---
## 🔁 General Tips:
* Use 10–15 min warm-up per session.
* Start each new drill slow, then increase pace/intensity.
* End most sessions with fun game play to apply skills.
* Provide individual feedback when possible.
Lesson 4-10##🟨 **Lessons 4–10: Game Play Fundamentals**
**Goal:** Develop consistency, movement, communication, and game awareness.
### Lesson Focus Areas (progressed across lessons):
1. **Dinking & Kitchen Play**
* Cross-court dinks
* Dink patience drills
* Reset drills (transitioning from midcourt to NVZ)
2. **Serving & Return Variations**
* Deep serves and returns
* Targeting weaker side
* Adding spin
3. **Volleys & Net Play**
* Block volleys
* Punch volleys
* Reaction drills
4. **Transition Zone Play**
* Moving from baseline to kitchen safely
* Drop shots into NVZ
* 3rd shot drop & drive: when to use each
5. **Positioning & Communication**
* Doubles formations
* Poaching basics
* Switch calls and teamwork drills
6. **Game Situations & Mini Games**
* Play “half-court games” (only crosscourt allowed)
* “Dink only” point games
* Full games with scoring
Lesson 2-3## 🟨 **Lessons 2–3: Foundation Building**
**Goal:** Develop control with groundstrokes, learn serving rules, and start understanding doubles positioning.
### Objectives:
* Reinforce grip, stance, and ready position.
* Learn proper serve technique (underhand, crosscourt, behind baseline).
* Learn return of serve and 2-bounce rule.
* Learn the concept of the **Non-Volley Zone (kitchen)**.
* Begin dinking at the net (soft, short game).
* Introduction to scoring and doubles rotation.
### Drills:
* Serve and return targets.
* Forehand/backhand accuracy drills (cones/targets).
* Dink rallies across the net with a partner.
* “Kitchen line” movement drills—move forward after return of serve.
Advanced training plan
Your first lesson## 🟩 **Lesson 1: Assessment & Skill Reinforcement (First Intermediate/Advanced Lesson)**
**Goal:** Identify individual strengths/weaknesses and reinforce clean technique and smart shot selection.
### Objectives:
* Evaluate player performance through controlled drills and short games.
* Reinforce proper grips, paddle angles, footwork, and recovery.
* Assess shot consistency: serve, return, 3rd shot drop, dinks, volleys.
* Introduce concepts of “smart aggression” and shot patience.
* Introduce tempo control and transition timing.
### Drills:
* Serve + return + 3rd shot drop (cycle through all positions).
* Dink consistency challenge (100 dinks, crosscourt & straight).
* Paddle angle control (soft hands vs punch volleys).
* Mini-game assessment to observe decision-making.
Lesson 11+## 🟥 **Lesson 11+: Competitive Strategy & Match Play Optimization**
**Goal:** Develop tournament-ready play, advanced tactics, and mental toughness.
### Advanced Concepts:
* **Situational Play**:
* 10–10 drills: pressure serve/return.
* Up by 2 / down by 2 strategy adaptations.
* **Mental Game**:
* Handling momentum swings.
* Rebuilding confidence after mistakes.
* **Advanced Doubles Communication**:
* Non-verbal cues.
* Split-step timing and synergy.
* **Deception and Unpredictability**:
* No-look dinks, disguised lobs, off-speed shots.
* **Match Prep Routine**:
* Warm-up, partner discussion, mindset checklist.
### Drills:
* High-intensity point games (first to 5 rally wins).
* Strategy games (e.g., lob-only points, no-drive games).
* Simulated match play with coach feedback.
* "Blind switch" drills where partners must adapt mid-point.
* Challenge matches with video analysis.
Lesson 4-10## 🟧 **Lessons 4–10: Shot Selection, Pressure Play & Tactical Mastery**
**Goal:** Elevate strategic play, pressure handling, and controlled aggression.
### Lesson Focus Areas (Progressed Over Sessions):
1. **Speed-Up Initiation & Countering**
* When to attack from kitchen line.
* Counter-attacks and resets.
2. **Lobs, Overheads, and Recovery**
* Offensive and defensive lobs.
* Reading lobs early and recovering to kitchen.
3. **Advanced 3rd & 5th Shot Options**
* Drop, drive, or lob based on return.
* Mixing pace and spin.
4. **Poaching & Erne Positioning**
* Poaching timing and signals.
* Movement drills for Erne execution.
5. **Stacking & Switching**
* When and how to stack.
* Practice switching mid-point and after serve.
6. **Shot Pattern Recognition**
* Exploiting weak returns or poor positioning.
* Building point with patterns: dink-dink-lob or drop-reset-speed-up.
### Drills:
* Speed-up/counterattack rallies.
* Shadow poaching + point simulation.
* Overhead defense live drills.
* Pattern drills: drop → dink → speed-up.
* Stacking + live game rotation.
Lesson 2-3## 🟨 **Lessons 2–3: Consistency Under Pressure & Court Control**
**Goal:** Improve consistency in transition areas and at the kitchen; introduce basic team strategies.
### Focus Areas:
* **Third Shot Variations**: Drop, drive, and lob; read opponent positioning.
* **Transition Game**: From baseline to NVZ under pressure.
* **Dinking with Purpose**: Crosscourt control, redirection, and depth dinks.
* **Communication & Coverage**: Handling middle balls and partner cues.
### Drills:
* Crosscourt dink + speed-up + reset drill.
* 3rd shot drop + transition volley + kitchen rally.
* “Dead ball” recovery drill (one player plays a weak ball, partner recovers).
* Serve + return + live rally to kitchen.
Youth players
Working with kidsThis pickleball lesson for kids and young children focuses on fun, movement, and basic paddle skills. Children will learn how to safely hold a paddle, tap the ball with control, and rally with a partner using balloons or foam balls to build hand-eye coordination. The lesson introduces simple court boundaries through games like “Line Tag” and teaches underhand serving and soft hitting through target challenges. Using fun, age-appropriate activities and plenty of encouragement, kids begin to understand teamwork, sportsmanship, and the joy of active play on the court.
Working with teenagersThis pickleball lesson for teenagers focuses on building foundational skills while keeping the energy fun and engaging. Teens will learn proper grip, basic strokes (forehand, backhand, and volleys), and the rules of serving and scoring through partner drills and mini games. Emphasis is placed on movement, positioning, and communication during doubles play, helping teens understand court strategy and teamwork. The session includes fast-paced rallies, target challenges, and short matches to develop consistency, confidence, and friendly competition in a supportive environment.
What you need to bring- pickleball paddles
- water or gatorade
- snacks
- sunscreen
- eye protection
- pickleball or tennis shoes
* no running shoes, flip-flops, crocs or similar footwear please.
What I can bring- pickleball paddles
- pickleball balls
- target zones
- top spin pro
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!
MT
Pickleball with Mario T.New to TeachMe.To