One of the most effective ways to help players improve in pickleball is using a progression-based approach to teaching. Instead of overwhelming players with multiple concepts at once, start with basic skills and build up gradually. This method ensures players develop solid fundamentals before advancing to more complex techniques.
Why Progressions Matter
Stronger Foundations – Mastering the basics first leads to more consistent and reliable game performance.
Better Skill Retention – Players are more likely to remember and apply skills when they build on previous learning step by step.
Increased Confidence – Progressions allow players to experience small wins throughout the lesson, boosting motivation and enjoyment.
How to Apply Progressions in Pickleball Coaching
A structured approach ensures that players learn effectively. Here’s an example of a progression for improving serving:
Proper Paddle Grip – Teach players to hold the paddle correctly for better control and consistency. Show them the serving motion and let them get used to the grip.
Serving Technique – Focus on a consistent setup, in front impact point, hitting sensation and balanced serving stance. Break down the serving technique and focus on the fundamentals before getting into anything extremely technical or specific to their technique, like topspin or weight shifting.
Serving Control – Once players understand the fundamentals, introduce the importance of controlling the serve before adding power and spin. Use targets to focus on hitting with intention instead of always to the middle of the box or not thinking of a target at all. Once the players are able to control their serve and placement, they can start increasing their aggression or power.
Serving Strategy – Teach players the importance of the serve and why serving deeper would be more beneficial than serving shorter or why serving to the backhand might be more effective than serving to the forehand. If players can remember why they are doing something, it will increase the chance of implementing the technique and strategy into a game.
For example, if the focus of the lesson is to serve deep, instead of just providing a target and telling them to “serve deep,” you could say, “By hitting a deep serve you will keep them back and put pressure on your opponents, making it harder for them to move in to take control over the net.” Now, when players think about serving, they are not choosing to serve deep because their coach told them to, but because they understand the importance and tactic behind a deep serve. Even more,you can show your players what happens when the server serves short compared to deep to further implement the importance and advantage gained from a deeper serve.
Keeping Progressions Simple and Effective
One Step at a Time – Avoid moving to the next step until players show comfort and control with the current skill. It may take a couple of lessons to allow techniques and strategies to sink in, so adjust the progression based on the players' understanding of the skills.
Use Drills That Reinforce Each Step – Structured drills that gradually increase in difficulty help players develop muscle memory and confidence.
Encourage Patience and Repetition – Remind players that skill development takes time, and each step builds toward long-term improvement. Players can get easily frustrated when learning new skills, so make sure the challenge is appropriate to their level and reminds them of their improvement and successes.
A Practical Example
If you’re coaching a group on improving their third-shot drop, rather than jumping straight into gameplay, use a structured progression:
Start with soft touch drills focusing on controlling ball height and letting players experience the difference between a pushing sensation and a hitting sensation.
Practice third-shot drops from different positions on the court to grasp the concept of controlling the ball with a softer touch.
Move into controlled cooperative rallies where players use only third-shot drops and work together in a game situation.
Incorporate defensive players to add realistic pressure in a rally scenario.
Final Thoughts
Effective coaching isn’t about rushing through skills—it’s about building mastery step by step. By using progressions, players will gain confidence, develop stronger fundamentals, and see steady improvement in their game.