Teaching beginners……start at the beginning

Reposted July 23, 2024

There are many different theories and methods for teaching beginners the game of pickleball.  Many clubs offer beginner lessons and skills clinics.  More and more players and professionals are offering their knowledge for a fee, every one sharing a different philosophy.

I too, have my own philosophy on how best to teach beginners and I’ve created this simple curriculum to start with the basics.

First, lets define WHO would benefit from this simple curriculum.

• Beginners –  a beginner is someone who has NEVER played pickleball before.  They are a clean slate, waiting to be taught the very basics of the game.
• Novices – a novice is someone who might have come to open play once or twice, but is not comfortable playing with others yet.  Perhaps they can hit the ball, but they don’t know anything about court position, and they don’t understand scoring yet.

If you have played pickleball in an organized game and have an understanding of the rules, court position and scoring, this would not be for you.

If you’re thinking about teaching beginners, this is a great method to use.

My philosophy of teaching is that you have to start beginners at the beginning, and teach the basics first.  The progression of adding skills in the order they are needed in a game situation will best prepare them to understand and learn how to play the game.

Of course, start your session with a few words about safety (proper footwear, balls entering the court, running backwards, etc), and explain all the court lines (sideline, baseline, center line, NVZ line).  Mention the importance of stretching and warming up, and decide whether that will be part of your lesson.   While important, if you are pinched for time on the court, you might briefly share some ideas on warm ups in the first session, but then encourage students to do this prior to starting their lessons.

Step 1 – THE SERVE

A game can’t start without a good serve, so we start by teaching how to serve.

• My philosophy – I’ve seen many lessons start with two beginners trying to dink the ball over the net to each other.   They have no feel for the ball on their paddle, and so balls are going into the net, or being hit wildly awry.   In my opinion, dinking shouldn’t be taught until much later, after the player has a better feel for hitting the ball on the paddle.  In addition, if you are going to put people at the NVZ (kitchen) line, you need to teach them the NVZ rules.  At this stage, it will only fill their heads with information they don’t need yet.
• Getting a feel for the ball on the paddle is an important first step in the learning process.  Starting by teaching the serve allows the beginner to hit the ball with a full swing, yet gives them a target to aim toward.  This will help them learn to adjust to striking the ball harder or softer, in order to hit the ball over the net and into the proper service court.

Start by sharing the rules of a proper serve.  There are two types of serves.  One is the Volley Serve and the other, the Drop Serve.

With the Volley Serve, the server makes a slight toss and strikes the ball before it hits the ground.  The requirements of the Volley Serve are:

• The paddle arm must be moving in an upward motion when the ball is struck (avoid saying “underhand” as some people legally use a backhand stroke)
• Paddle head must be below the waist when it strikes the ball
• Paddle head must be below the wrist when it strikes the ball
• The server’s feet must be inside an extension of the sideline when ball is struck
• The server’s feet must be behind the baseline when serving the ball
• Serves are always made to the service court diagonally across the net from where they are serving from
• Explain that the ball MUST cross the NVZ line completely.  While all other lines surrounding the service court are considered good, a served ball may NOT land on the NVZ line.
• DEMONSTRATE – a few serves from the right and then the left sides

The Drop Serve allows the server to drop the ball and then hit it after the bounce.  The ball can be dropped from any height but no momentum, up or down can be used.  In other words, the server cannot throw the ball up or down, or otherwise add any force when dropping it.  Simply put, the server will hold the ball with their palm facing down, and open their fingers to release the ball.

Other than the rule governing how to drop the ball, there are no other rules for the mechanics of the Drop Serve.  You still must be aware of your foot placement behind the NVZ line and inside the imaginary extension of the center and side lines.

This is a great addition to help players who struggle with serving.

Demonstrate the drop serve to your students. Remember, if using the drop serve, the student must DROP the ball.  No propulsion downward or toss upwards is allowed.

Lets start teaching!  Here’s a few drills.

DRILL – Serve and Catch

• put four players on the court at the baselines, one at each service court.
• give a ball to two players on the same side
• players will practice serving to the opposite service court
  • Let the players decide which serve they would like to use, or try them both
  • Receivers will catch the ball  (Stress that they need to CATCH the ball!  At this point in beginner play, you will have chaos if they hit the ball back!  The drill is to learn to SERVE.  Returning the ball will come next!)
• After they catch the ball, the same player will serve it back.  Again, receivers will catch the ball
• Repeat 5-10 times (depending on time) then have players change to the opposite service court and repeat.
• NOTE: if you are outside and there is wind, also change ends and repeat so players are able to hit both with and into the wind

You have now allowed players to not only learn how to properly serve the ball, but also to get the feel for hitting the ball with a full swing.

Step 2 – RETURN OF SERVE

A game of pickleball progresses with the return of serve, so it makes sense that this would be the next step in the learning process.

Explain to your students:

• The ball must bounce before you can hit the return (this is the beginning of explaining the two bounce rule)
• The best returns are hit deep to your opponents baseline
  • no need to explain why at this point, just tell them so they will attempt to hit their returns deep

DRILL – Serve – Return – Catch

• place four players on the court, same as in previous drill – all at the baselines
• give a ball to two players – one in the right service court, and one in the left service court on the opposite end
• players will serve to the correct service court
• receiver will let the ball bounce once, then hit it back over the net.
  • NOTE: explain to the receivers that their return can be to any spot on the opposite court. Remind them to try to hit returns deep.
• players on serving side will catch the ball
  • Again, in order to preserve the integrity of the drill, you must stress that they catch the ball after it is returned!!
• Repeat with the same servers 5 times, then change servers
• Repeat until all four players have served and returned

Step 3 – TWO BOUNCE RULE

Next, we want to continue the progression of a rally by allowing the players to hit a third shot.  Therefore, it is time to explain the two bounce rule. Players have already learned that they must let the ball bounce before returning a serve.  Simply add that they also have to let the ball bounce before they hit the third shot.

• NOTE: Don’t tell them how or where to hit the third shot.  Simply let them hit it.

DRILL – Serve (bounce one)- return (bounce two) – third shot – allow to continue until they fault

• This drill is very simple.  Serve the ball, one bounce, return the ball (deep), two bounce, third shot.
• Allow the players to continue hitting shots as if in a rally, as many times as they can before faulting.
• As you are coaching, you might verbally call out “One Bounce” before they hit the return, then “Two Bounce” before they hit the third shot.  This will create a pattern in their minds.
• As they continue their rallies, if they go into the kitchen, stop play.  Simply explain that it is not allowed, but that they will learn that rule in a future lesson.

Wrap Up

By now, your beginners have learned how to start a game (serve) should understand the two bounce rule and proceed with a rally.  There’s still lots to learn, but that’s enough for a first lesson.

Although we discussed court position, as they are having fun rallying after the third shot,  begin to casually share some court position advice.  For example, I will tell the non-receiving player to come to the kitchen line when their partner is the service receiver.   After a rally or two, I will stop them and ask if they realize why I have put them in that position?  Sometimes they have already figured out that they don’t have to let the ball bounce by the time it comes to them because the two bounce rule will already have been fulfilled.  Often you can see the light bulb go on in their heads, as it starts to make sense!  That’s when we know our beginning lessons have been successful.

FOLLOW CRAZY PICKLEBALL LADY!  Get an email immediately each time I make a new post!  Provide your email address and click FOLLOW at the top of the right column.  Then, share Crazy Pickleball Lady with your pickleball friends by clicking on the Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn icons below.

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.