Introduction to Pickleball & Serving Fundamentals
Lesson Objectives:
• Understand the basic court layout, rules, and scoring system.
• Develop a consistent and effective serve technique.
Technique Refinement:
Continue to fine-tune core shots (serves, returns, dinks, drops, volleys, resets) with advanced drills emphasizing consistency, accuracy, and shot selection
Tactical Development:
Introduce and practice winning strategies, including:
• Targeting opponents’ backhands and feet.
• Dinking with purpose-varying placement and depth, using triangle dinking to keep opponents guessing.
• Mastering the third shot drop and fourth shot volley to control the net
Strategic Play:
• Court positioning, stacking, and partner communication.
• Baiting opponents and squeezing the middle.
• Recognizing and exploiting opponents’ weaknesses.
• Game-like scenarios focusing on applying tactics under pressure.
Dinking and the Soft Game
• Objective: Master dinking technique and control at the non-volley zone (NVZ).
Volleys at the Net
• Objective: Develop proper volley technique and reaction skills at the NVZ.
Resetting in the Transition Zone
• Objective: Learn to reset hard shots and regain control while moving from baseline to NVZ.
Transition Zone Movement and Footwork
• Objective: Improve movement, balance, and shot selection in the transition zone.
Speed-Ups at the Net
• Objective: Recognize and
execute speed-up shots at the kitchen line.
Counters and Defending Speed-Ups
• Objective: Learn to counterattack and defend against aggressive speed-ups.
Integration and Game Play
• Objective: Combine all skills in realistic game scenarios.
Return of Serve
Objectives:
• Learn the purpose and technique of the return of serve.
• Practice returning serves deep and with good court positioning.
Third Shot (Drop or Drive)
Objectives:
• Introduce the third shot drop and third shot drive.
• Practice hitting a soft third shot drop into the kitchen and understand when to use each option