Slow Volleys
Hi Coach
Great session this morning!
1. What did I learn in today’s lesson?
Today’s session was slow volley practice. The focus was ready position, tracking the ball with my racquet, and slooooowwwwwing down. Mindfulness in pickleball???!? What?!?!??
2. Impressions and/or experience?
This was a practice session and so we started with the 30 minute structured warm-up. I love to start this way. Always a challenge and just so beneficial to be trying to do very specific things that start simple and progress in complexity. The middle 30minutes of slow volley practice was excellent for breaking the skill down and getting needed repetition. And then the 30 minutes of modified game play helps me to integrate the developing skill into game-like situations without getting completely out of control. Soooo satisfying to experience the improvement that occurs from the start of practice to the end.
3. Describe the quality of the lesson.
Excellent. I learn so much every time!! Even in repeating the same lessons Coach reads where I’m now at and we build from there.
4. How do these lessons influence my decision to be a member of this club?
The lessons are keeping me at Cedarbrae at the moment. I’m about to rejoin game play and curious as to how that will go. Fingers crossed the game play sessions also feel fun and positive and welcoming.
Response from Brent Johner
Hey Barb. Great to see you making progress again, today. Fingers crossed that your knee is nearly 100% and that you can rejoin play again soon.
Volley Lesson
1. What did you learn in today’s lesson?
In the Volley lesson I learned what I need to focus on in order to improve my volley skills; more specifically I learned what to do with my body position in order to have more control over my volleys and I was guided on my inner game with volleying.
2. Please describe your impressions and/or experience.
Brent is very organized and offers coaching in a staged way that helps to develop the skills needed for the specific idea we are focused on. I felt he met everyone where they were at and still kept the group together for all the drills and activities.
3. Please describe the quality of the lesson.
The quality of the lesson was excellent. We started with simply practices that evolved into activities requiring more attention and detail to volleying. Each person got individual attention without interrupting the flow of the lesson.
4. How do lessons influence your decision to be a member of our club?
The lessons make a big difference in my decision to be a member of the club. It is important to me to have lessons and a coach as I continue to play…. I want to see myself improve and the lessons make a big difference in that regard.
Response from Brent Johner
Susinn. I am so impressed with the strides you are making with your hand-eye coordination. As a coach, it is very rewarding to see an athlete tackle something so important with such determination and to show marked improvement over just eight weeks. I am proud of you.
What I learned in today’s lesson:
1. What I learned in today’s lesson:
How to strategically position body and paddle to effectively return ball.
How to judge if a ball is going out of bounds.
How to hold paddle so to to pop up ball.
2. Overall impression/experience:
I am enjoying the lessons with the smaller class size. This allows the coach the opportunity of working with each student individually.
3. Quality of lesson:
The lessons are informative, practical and educational. The coach is a great instructor.
4. How lessons influence decision to be a Cedarbrae member:
Were it not for these lessons being taught at Cedarbrae, I likely would not have joined the community association nor the pickleball club.
Response from Brent Johner
We are lucky to have you with us, Kathi. I hope you and Maurice enjoy playing here as much as you like our lessons.
Lessons and practices
I have participated in a few lesson’s and practice’s with Brent at Cedarbrae. These sessions have very enjoyable and helpful. Brent is very efficient, organized, knowledgeable and approachable. I plan on signing up for more!
Response from Brent Johner
Thank you Joan. I appreciate that you find me to be “very efficient, organized, knowledgeable and approachable.” I also appreciate that you “plan on signing up for more!” I am looking forward to working with you.
Very Productive Lesson
Very productive lesson, much better approach to helping players master the way to improve. Coach spent time with each player practicing and suggesting better alternatives.
Response from Brent Johner
Thank you, Margaret. I am pleased to hear that you consider our lesson on Sunday to be “very productive”. I will do my best to ensure that all lessons are equally productive.