By Head Coach Tony Roig

For most players, pickleball camp is a big step along their journey. In this article, I share with you six tips to get the most out of your camp.

Tip 1 – Prepare

If the pickleball camp you chose offers pre-camp materials, review them ahead of camp. If there are pre-camp exercises, use them.

Preparing will get your body and mind primed to get the most out of camp. There’s a reason we include pre-camp materials and exercises at our camps – they work.

Tip 2 – Go With an Open Mind

It’s likely you already have certain ideas about the game. Some are likely right, but others may not be.

Here’s an easy one. If you’re like most players, you have heard that you should “move with your partner.” This phrase has become one of the most misunderstood pickleball “axioms,” sending players chasing the wrong path in their quest to understand court movement.

If you did your homework, then you picked a camp led by a coach who understands the game and from whom you wish to learn more about pickleball. As a coach, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a camper’s “aha” moment at camp. The only way you will have yours is by keeping an open mind. So go to camp with the open mind needed to receive your coach’s instruction.

Tip 3 – Ask Questions

It’s unlikely you would be at camp if you already knew everything about pickleball. And I bet you will hear at least one thing at camp that makes you scratch your head. You’re at camp to learn, and sometimes that learning involves a “Huh – what?” moment.

Don’t leave the question unasked. Ask your coach to explain the concept further – or clarify it – or give you an example. A seasoned coach will find the way to connect the dots for you. I, for one, have used golf, skiing, planetary movement, and baking in my coaching to get a point across. What matters in the end is that you leave the exchange with a more complete understanding of the point. 

Tip 4 – Take Notes

Fast forward to the last moment at camp. Hopefully there’s a smile on your face as you high-five your coaches and fellow campers after a great couple of days on court.

Now try to remember what the coach said during hour 3 on day 1 of camp. Almost impossible. You remember thinking at the time, “I gotta do that – this is THE THING that will help me most.” But now you cannot remember what it was – much less how to do it.

If only you had taken a note about it while it was fresh in your mind.

You have choices here. You can take notes on paper (at our camps you get a workbook where you can take notes) or on your phone’s notes app. Whatever you do, take some notes – particularly about the nuggets that really connect with you at camp. You’ll be glad you did.

Tip 5 – Put in the Work

Camp can be an awesome source of new knowledge about the game. You leave camp with a better sense of what matters – and what does not. You have a better feel for the shots and how to hit them.

But camp is not a magic portal. You do not walk in one side of camp as a 3.4 level player and then walk out the other side as a 4.0 player. Not how camp (or life) works.

I describe camp as the beginning of another leg of your pickleball journey. Coming out of camp, you are ready to embark on that leg. You have the guidance you needed. Now it’s up to you to put in the work and turn that guidance into action.

Here are some extra tips on how to put in the work:

1. For mechanical work (your shots):
1. You will want to work on mechanics during practice sessions. You do not get enough repetitions or control during play time to get meaningful shot work in.
2. Ghost/mirror and wall drills work great.
3. Focus on quality over quantity. No sense repeating the wrong mechanic 1,000 times.
2. For strategic work:
1. You will work on strategy mostly during play
2. Focus first on your return side play – there is more value for you there. If you do not know what I mean by return side play, I would recommend trying out our online coaching to learn this key distinction in the game. Without this piece of the puzzle, the rest doesn’t really make sense (TonyRoigPickleball.com).
3. Pick one thing at a time and implement that. Resist the temptation to do it all at once. The everything approach is ineffective and leads to frustration.

Tip 6 – Enjoy the Process

You’re going to camp. It’s like your 10 years old again. Embrace the joy of getting to train in the sport you love with other players who are there on the same journey with you.

If you’re attending one of the TRP camps I lead, I look forward to seeing you. If you’re attending a different camp, I wish you an amazing experience. Whatever the case, I wish you an ever-stronger relationship with the sport you and I love.

Be well

Tony

These tips are straight from the mouth (keyboard) of the head coach of the Tony Roig Pickleball camps and the host of the weekly Pickleball Therapy podcast. The tips are distilled from having helped thousands of pickleball players get the most out of their learning experience.

Written by human hands for human minds. No AI used (unless you count Spell Check ☺).