Pickleball

Pickleball Clinics & Classes

2025 SPRING / SUMMER CLINIC & CLASS SCHEDULE 

Class Day Schedule Time Fees
Level 1 : Learn to Play (4 Week Series)
Tuesday
4/22 – 5/13
9 – 10 AM
$80
Level 1 : Learn to Play (4 Week Series)
Tuesday
4/22 – 5/13
6 – 7 PM
$80
Level 2 : Drills, Skills, Play (4 Week Series)
Thursday
4/24 – 5/15
9 – 10 AM
$80
Level 2 : Drills, Skills, Play (4 Week Series)
Thursday
4/24 – 5/15
6 – 7 PM
$80
Drill & Play – Beginner (Single Class)
Monday
4/21 , 4/28 , 5/5 , 5/12 , 5/19
5:30 – 7PM
$15/class
Drill & Play – Intermediate (Single Class)
Wednesday
4/23 , 4/30 , 5/7 , 5/14 , 5/21
5:30 – 7PM
$15/class
Pickleball 101 (Single Class)
Tuesday
4/22 , 4/29 , 5/6 , 5/13
10 – 11 AM
$15/class
Pickleball 101 (Single Class)
Thursday
4/25 , 5/1 , 5/8 , 5/15
5 – 6 PM
$15
3.5 Level : Drill & Strategy (Single Class)
Tuesday
4/22 , 4/29 , 5/6 , 5/13
5 – 6 PM
$20
Play With a Pro (Single Class)
Thursday
4/25 , 5/1 , 5/8 , 5/15
5 – 6 PM
$25
pickleball

Classes & Clinic Details

Pickleball 101

Pickleball 101 will take you through all the basic concepts, from how to grip the paddle and strike the ball, through court positioning and scoring. Students will also learn how to manage the New Albany Pickleball Complex signup boards so you can hit the ground running.

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Drill & Play (Advanced Beginner 3.0+)

The program focuses on proper technique and mechanics. This 90-minute session will be divided into a 30-minute drilling session followed by organized Rec Play.  This is a great follow-up to anyone that has completed the Level 2 program or is at an advanced beginner level, 3.0+. Games will be played in 8-minute increments, allowing for mixing and partnering with other students in the class.  Additionally, the rules, scoring, and court etiquette will be reinforced throughout each session.

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Level 1 : Learn to Play

This four-week class is the perfect follow-up to our popular Intro to Pickleball. The clinics run for four consecutive weeks for one hour each. You will reinforce your techniques, boost your confidence, and build your Pickleball community. With small class sizes and the same instructor for the four-week entire class, your game will be ready for more advanced open play.

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3.5 Level: Drill & Strategies (Int. 3.25+ Skill Level)

Want to take your game to the next level? Feel like you’re stuck and not improving? Want to get to the 4.0 level and beyond? This class is for you!

This program is targeted at the player looking to move beyond mechanics and engage in the more cerebral aspects of the game. Elements like shot selection, set up vs attack, slow down vs speed up, patterns, stacking, communications, court awareness and movement will be stressed and practiced. A combination of drills and simulated gameplay will reinforce certain focus elements for each season.

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Level 2 : Drills, Skills & Play

This class is the perfect progression from Level 1: Learn to Play. Designed for those who have grasped the basics and are eager to elevate their skills, this four-week program will immerse you more deeply in shoot techniques, game-play strategies, proper shot selection, and intensive drills.

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Play With a Pro

Play with and against a professional instructor for an hour to test your game.
Concentrated drills and game playing to develop your strengths and introduction of advanced shots. Heavy concentration footwork, court positioning, strategies and patterns to win more points. Small class size – 3 students and 1 Pro. Grab a couple of friends and sign up.

Register

Meet Your instructor!

Mitchell Mink

PPR Certified Pickleball Instructor

“I was fortunate throughout my life to participate in numerous Sports, from Basketball, Baseball, Football, Golf, Rugby, and everything in between. Sports have provided me with a keen sense of self and the ability to work with others on a common cause throughout my professional and personal life.

I have been a New Albany resident since 1998. I have enjoyed coaching New Albany youth sports, Basketball, Football, Baseball, and Soccer. I was a member of the New Albany High School Football Staff from 2006 to 2015. Where we won 2 Regional Championships. Fortunately, I played Tennis at an early age and as a teenager was a member of a Junior Team that won the NJTL National championships.

I discovered pickleball in 2018. I loved playing so much that I started coaching and became a PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) Certified Coach in 2023. Since 2023, I have been teaching all levels ranging from complete beginners to the most advanced students on the nuances of Pickleball. My teaching style emphasizes stroke production and variety, court awareness and strategy, and taking students to the next level. I love how accessible pickleball is to people of all ages and ability levels, and how complete newcomers can start playing the game very quickly.”

Mitch Mink

What Skill Level Am I?

Beginner

A beginner is classified as a player who is new to the game or has only played a handful or times. Typically players are unfamiliar with basic mechanics related to paddle grip, ball striking, or shot preparation and are unaware of foundational rules such as court boundaries, kitchen restrictions, or scoring. Beginner clinics are designed to build a strong basis for skill development and to invite players to start playing actual games quickly. Techniques and concepts taught include: court safety, awareness, gripping the paddle, basic ball striking, preliminary footwork and scoring. 

Advanced Beginners have spent a small amount of time on the court and are familiar with basic concepts of game play, but skills are still underdeveloped. Advanced Beginner clinics are designed to continue building rudimentary skills. Techniques and concepts taught include: dinking fundamentals, serve and return concepts, and basic transition. 

At this level, 2.5 Level players understand the basic rules such as “two bounce”, scoring and positioning based on the score and function (serving or receiving). Mechanically, players can hit several dinks in a row, can serve and return accurately more than 50% of the time, can occasionally punch volley and “drop” 3rd shots into the kitchen. The game is primarily focused on ground strokes and midcourt volleys. Techniques and concepts taught include: “Kitchen” restrictions, continued shot mechanics, team movement and simple transition.  

Players at a 3.0 Level understand all the basic rules, scoring, and positioning. At this point, the focus is on consistency and shot selection. Players should recognize the importance of dinking with purpose. Quickness and agility are improving and becoming more important in continuing point rallies. Players should be able to drop 50% of the time from the transition area and 30% 40% of the time from the baseline, while suitably hitting better than 80% of serves and returns. Concepts like Serve & Stayand Return & Runshould be part of routine game play. Techniques and concepts taught include: court coverage, footwork, traffic lightshot selection, 3rd shot drops, improved serve/return, lobs, overheads, and team strategies

At a 3.5 Level, players understand all the basic rules, scoring, and positioning. Concepts like identifying correct server and receiver are second nature. Dinking and groundstrokes should consistently exceed 70% in terms of accuracy from either the forehand or backhand positions. 3rd shot drops should be attempted at least 50% of the time. Movement forward, up the court, is consistent with the quality of the shot. Serves and returns are dependably deep, and players are developing both offensive and defensive lobs. Hand speed, quickness and mobility are all well developed. Team strategies, like stackingare occasionally utilized in game play. Techniques and concepts taught include: sustaining dink rallies using purposeful shot selection, 3rd shot mastery (drive or drop) and transition execution, team strategies, focus on control, playing at multiple speeds (accelerating or taking pace off the ball), and advanced shots (rollovers and drive absorption).

4.0 Level players are expected to have full command of the rules and to have mastered most shot techniques. Focus is on full point construction using sound decision making in attempting various shots through serve, return, 3rd and 4th shot strategies, dinking, attacking, resetting, lobbing, and hitting overheads. Players demonstrate a high pickleball IQ and are physically capable of covering court space quickly in efforts to accurately control shots. Team strategies are stressed and advanced shots (ATPs, Ernes, etc.) are implemented. Techniques and concepts taught include: intense drilling, transition under fire, offensive mindedness with regard to drops and dinks, controlling the point, and using set up techniques to create opportunities