Beginner Pickleball Lessons in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County
Your first lesson is an hour on a public court with me, a paddle in your hand within two minutes, and real points played before the hour is up. No experience, no equipment and no fitness needed.
- From $85first private lesson, one hour
- Paddleprovided, keep using it as long as you like
- 0rules you need to know beforehand
- PPRcertified coach, 5.0+ player
Most people who book a first lesson tell me the same two things: they have never held a paddle, and they would rather not learn in front of strangers. Both are fine. A private lesson is just you and me on a quiet court, and by the end of it you will be rallying, serving and keeping score. If you would rather learn alongside someone, bring a friend and book a group lesson (From $45 / player). Questions first? Text or call 707-540-1336 and we will work it out in two minutes.
What actually happens in a first lesson
Built to get you playing, not to test you. There is no drill you can fail.
Minutes 0 to 10: hit the ball
You get a paddle, we stand a few feet apart and hit the ball back and forth. You find out it moves slower than you expected and that you can already do this.
Minutes 10 to 40: the four things that matter
Grip, the underhand serve, the return, and the kitchen rule. Each one takes a few minutes to understand on a court and much longer to understand from a video.
Minutes 40 to 60: play
Real points with real scoring, which I explain as we go. You leave knowing how a game works and what to practise next, and you can book again or not.
Wear court or running shoes with a non-marking sole and bring water. That is the whole kit list. If you own a paddle bring it; if not, mine are better than the one you would buy first anyway.
Private or with a friend
Private Lesson From $85
Just you and me. The quietest way to start, and the quickest, because every minute is about your game. Most beginners choose this for their first lesson and decide about groups after.
Book a private lessonGroup Lesson From $45 / player
Bring a partner, a friend or the family, from two to eight of you, all starting together. Cheaper each, and nobody is the only one learning. You will all be playing points against each other by the end.
Book a group lessonQuiet public courts, and I come to you
I teach on public courts around Sonoma County and choose ones that are quiet at the time you book. These are the ones I use most; say "whichever is nearest" and I will pick. The court is part of the lesson: nothing to reserve, and any drop-in fee is included.
- Finley Community Park, Santa Rosa
- Sunrise Park, Rohnert Park
- Howarth Memorial Park, Santa Rosa
- Hiram Lewis Park, Windsor
Lessons by town: Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Sebastopol, Cotati, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Sonoma and more.
Before your first lesson
Do I need to be athletic?
No. The court is a quarter the size of a tennis court and most points are won by putting the ball somewhere awkward rather than by outrunning anyone. If you can walk for an hour you can play, and a first lesson moves at that pace.
What if I am terrible?
Everyone is, for about twenty minutes. A first lesson is built to get you rallying rather than drilling technique on your own, because rallying badly is how you stop being bad. Nobody on the next court is watching as closely as you think.
Do I need to know the rules or scoring first?
No, and I would not bother trying to learn them from a video beforehand. The kitchen rule and the serving sequence take about five minutes to understand on a court and considerably longer to understand reading about them. Your first lesson covers both.
Do I need my own paddle?
No. I bring spares to every lesson and you are welcome to use one for as long as you like. Try a few before you spend anything - a lesson is a good place to work out what weight suits you.
What actually happens in the first ten minutes?
You get a paddle, we stand a few feet apart and hit the ball back and forth, and you find out it moves slower than you expected. There is no fitness test and no drill you can fail. You will have played real points before the hour is up.
How do I book my first lesson?
Pick a lesson type, choose a court near you and select an open time. It shows up in your account right away and I confirm by text or email, usually within a few hours. If you would rather talk it through first, text or call 707-540-1336 and we will sort it out in five minutes.
What should I bring?
Court shoes with a non-marking sole, water, and a paddle if you own one. If you do not, I bring spares to every lesson. Wear something you can move in and bring a hat for summer mornings.
How much do pickleball lessons cost?
A private lesson is $85 for an hour, $120 for 90 minutes or $150 for two hours. A group lesson, for two to eight of you, is $45 a player for an hour, $65 for 90 minutes or $80 for two hours. Online video analysis starts at $45. Court fees are included in all of it.
More on the questions page.
Ready for your first lesson?
Pick a court and a time that suits you and I will confirm it, usually within a few hours. Nothing is charged when you book, and if the lesson was not worth it, you do not pay for it.