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Learn Pickleball with Nick

⭑5.0 (16)

💰$44 weekly lessons

Nick has been coaching for 6 months, playing pickleball for 4 years, including 2 years at a competitive level. He now plays club pickleball at the 4.0+ level! With experience coaching his high school team, as well as 7 years as a babysitter and experience as a swim instructor. Nick combines teaching expertise with patience, pickleball obsession and enthusiasm. He’s excited to guide you through the ins and outs of pickleball and help you develop a love for the game in whatever way you want through a personally tailored lesson!

Levels taught: Beginners, Intermediates, Experts

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Teaches: Kids, Teenagers, Adults, Seniors

🏅Tournament Winner

🎓4 years playing

🔥22 Lessons

⭐️Selkirk Junior Advocate, Pro AM Tournament competitor, High school coach, #1 HS player

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Reviews

Total reviews16

Average rating

5.0

James H.Verified ✓

Level: Intermediate•Lessons taken: 8

Verified ✓

I just had my first Pickleball lesson with Nick, and it was an amazing experience! Nick is a fantastic instructor – knowledgeable, patient, and full of positive energy. He took the time to explain the rules, techniques, and strategies in a way that was easy to understand for a beginner like me. What stood out most was how encouraging and engaging Nick was throughout the lesson. He provided personalized tips to improve my grip, stance, and swing, and I noticed progress in just one lesson. The balance between instruction and actual play, made the lesson in both educational and fun. Nick’s passion for Pickleball is contagious, and his enthusiasm made me feel confident and excited to keep learning. I can’t wait to book my next lesson and continue developing my skills. I highly recommend Nick to anyone looking to learn or improve their game!

Sam Perry

Lessons taken: 1

I recently had a lesson with Coach Nick, and it was an incredible experience! He is a highly experienced pickleball player and an even better coach. What made the lesson so enjoyable was how he incorporated fun games into the drills, making it easy to work on important skills without feeling overwhelmed. He used creative metaphors like ‘scooping ice cream’ to teach me techniques like drop shots, which really helped me understand the movements better. His patience and flexibility stood out—he adjusted the pace and focus of the lesson to suit my needs and learning style. Beyond being a great teacher, Coach Nick/Coach Coughlin is just a super cool person: fun, hardworking, and easy to connect with. If you’re looking to improve your pickleball game while actually enjoying the process, I can’t recommend him enough!

Sydney O.

Lessons taken: 1

Nick not only is good at teaching specific skills but he is very good at encouraging you when you’re down and to not get so much in your head when you mess up. He takes this sport very seriously and it shows through his coaching, he is also very good with people he can connect with anyone he encounters he will make an amazing coach and you can learn so much from him.

Adam F.

Lessons taken: 1

Nick Coughlin is an exceptional pickleball instructor with impressive playing skills and a natural ability to coach players of all levels. His approachable and encouraging personality makes learning both fun and effective, creating an enjoyable experience for everyone on the court.

Yan W

Lessons taken: 1

It was great working with Nick, he’s very thorough, extremely patient, and ready to adjust to the level of his students. We came as a group of PingPong players and was having a lot of fun playing games in less than an hour. Absolutely recommend Nick.

Availability

These are the times I've set as being available for lessons.

sundays

6 AM - 4 PM

mondays

3:30 PM - 11 PM

tuesdays

3:30 PM - 11 PM

wednesdays

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

thursdays

3:30 PM - 11 PM

fridays

3:30 PM - 11 PM

saturdays

6 AM - 11 PM

Beginner training plan

Your first lessonFirst, we will do the Grip & Stance Drill (Shadow Swinging), where we discuss basic rules, strategy, stance, and grip and then practice all of them without balls. Next, we'll move to the Target Practice Drill (Ball Control), hitting the ball to a partner and aiming to keep it to a line on the court or a human target. Finally, we'll practice the Net Bounce Drill (Forehand/Backhand), hitting the ball over the net after one bounce, alternating between forehand and backhand shots.

Lesson 11+In this stage, we’ll refine all aspects of your game. Strategy, court positioning, and shot selection will take center stage as you integrate these skills into recreational games with other players. We’ll also tailor drills to address individual weaknesses or specific areas you want to strengthen, with opportunities to work on advanced techniques.

Lesson 4-10We will engage in the Transition Zone Drill, where we begin at the baseline and rally toward the net, stopping in the transition zone to practice controlled shots before advancing to the kitchen. We will then practice the Dinking Triangle Drill, setting up three cones in the kitchen and dinking in a triangular pattern with a partner. Following that, we'll focus on the Speed-Up & Reset Drill, practicing quick, aggressive shots from the kitchen line, followed by a soft reset to regain control. We'll also alternate between practicing lobs and overhead smashes with the Lob & Overhead Drill, using a partner or coach feeding balls. Additionally, we'll engage in the Serve & Return Deep Drill, practicing deep serves aiming for the back corners of the service box, and then have a partner return the serve deep toward the baseline, focusing on placing the ball in specific zones. Next, we'll do the Volley Battle Drill, standing at the kitchen line with a partner and volleying the ball back and forth without letting it bounce, aiming for controlled, consistent shots. Finally, we'll simulate a full game with the Game Simulation Drill, playing out full points starting with a serve and focusing on executing different skills from the lessons, such as volleys, dinks, and resets.

Lesson 2-3We will start with the Serve Spot Drill, practicing serves from different spots on the baseline and aiming to land the ball in various areas of the opposite service box. Then, we'll move to the Return Depth Drill, where a partner or coach serves to you, and you return the ball deep toward the baseline, aiming for a specific zone. Finally, we'll challenge ourselves with the Consistency Challenge Drill, rallying back and forth with a partner and aiming for a set number of consecutive shots over the net without errors.

Advanced training plan

Your first lessonWe will start by engaging in games like 7-11, Skinny Singles, and Tug of War. We will concentrate on drives, 3rd shot drops, and flicks.

Lesson 11+We will participate in local tournaments and strive to elevate your DUPR as much as possible. We will analyze and review match footage to identify areas for improvement. We will build strategies for maintaining composure and mental toughness during competitive matches. We will implement advanced shot variations, such as deceptive plays and misdirection shots, and develop advanced doubles strategies, including synchronized movements and poaching with your partner.

Lesson 4-10We will develop techniques to secure the net as the serving team and push back an advancing team. We will emphasize the transition game and work on topspin dinks, ATPs, drops, and ernes. We will master advanced serving techniques, focusing on placement and spin. We will incorporate firefights to improve reaction time and quick reflexes. We will also practice defensive lobs to reset the point when under pressure.

Lesson 2-3We will then focus on advanced net play techniques, including speed-ups, blocks, overheads, dinks, and lobs. We will dive into stacking and court coverage strategies. We will participate in Full Court Singles and Skinny Singles, and practice reset shots to manage control during intense rallies. We will enhance consistency and accuracy with cross-court dinks.

Youth players

Working with kidsFor kids, I’ll keep the lessons high-energy, fun, and sneaky productive. I’ll offer softer balls as an option while keeping it intense and fun! Most of the drills will feel like games — like “King of the Court” to work on rallying, “Beat the Coach” to practice consistency, and “Serve & Score” where they try to earn points by hitting targets. I’ll always demonstrate first so they can see the right form before trying, breaking everything down into simple steps. I’ll keep the pace quick to hold their attention, giving constant positive reinforcement — hyping up every effort with things like “Love that hustle!” or “You’re getting better every shot!” Even when they’re working on footwork, grips, and swing mechanics, they’ll feel like they’re just playing — building muscle memory, discipline, and confidence without even realizing it.

Working with teenagers For teenagers, I’ll focus on sharpening skills while building confidence. We’ll start with quick goal-setting and warm-ups like “Dink Battles” to lock in touch. I’ll run technical drills like “Third Shot Drop Challenges” and “Two-Touch Volleys” while breaking down strategy along the way. I’ll show them videos of teenage pros to motivate them and help them visualize what they could become. I’ll push them to stay focused and reset after mistakes, reminding them that consistency beats perfection. Every lesson will be about more than just pickleball — it’ll be about building a mindset they can carry into everything they do.

What you need to bringPlease come in attire suitable for sports that you’re okay with sweating in! For example: tennis shoes, pickleball, basketball shoes or any athletic shoes designed to support lateral movement and with grip for court play! If it is cold, bundle up! Bring a light athletic winter hat, layers of light jackets, athletic pants and sports gloves that maintain your dexterity and motor skills while keeping you warm. If it is warm out, make sure you bring sunscreen, sunglasses and clothes that will keep you cool. If you have your own paddle, bring it! If you don’t I can give you a paddle to borrow from a variety of options and perhaps even give you the opportunity to purchase a paddle!

What I can bringI can bring up to 40 pickleballs, 8 pickleball paddles and 30 cones for drilling/footwork. What I will bring: positivity, expertise, a specifically tailored lesson, patience, and pickleball experience.

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!

Pickleball with Nick Coughlin⭑ 5.0 (16 reviews)

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Cancellation Policy