Private lesson
$85 / hourJust you and Hannah. 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.
Never played? Start here
Beginner pickleball lessons in New York City.
Your first lesson is an hour with Hannah at CityPickle Times Square and CityPickle at Wollman Rink, a paddle in your hand inside two minutes and real points played before the hour is up. No experience, no equipment and no fitness needed.
Most people who book a first lesson say 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 Hannah on a 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 ($45 per player an hour).
Questions first? Text or call 804-370-3925, or send Hannah a message.
Your first hour
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, you and Hannah 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, explained as you go. You leave knowing how a game works and what to practice 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, Hannah's spares are better than the one you would buy first anyway.
Two ways to start
Private, or with a friend.
Group lesson
$45 / playerBring a partner, a friend or the family, from 2 to 8 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.
Prices are per lesson, paid at the court by cash, Venmo or card. Nothing is charged online.
Where
Real courts in Manhattan, or yours.
Hannah teaches at CityPickle Times Square and CityPickle at Wollman Rink. Pick the spot when you book, or give the address of your own court and she comes to you.
- CityPickle Times Square: Seven indoor courts in Midtown, open all year (map)
- CityPickle at Wollman Rink: 14 outdoor courts in Central Park, spring through fall (map)
- Your own court, anywhere in New York. A small travel fee may apply depending on distance.
Photos, hours and directions for each court are on the lessons page.
Questions beginners ask
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, not 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 do not bother trying to learn them from a video beforehand. The kitchen rule and the serving order take about five minutes to understand on a court and much longer to understand reading about them. Your first lesson covers both.
What actually happens in the first ten minutes?
You get a paddle, you and Hannah 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.
What does a first lesson cost?
A private lesson is $85 an hour, which is the one most beginners start with. A group lesson with a friend or two is $45 per player an hour. Nothing is paid online; you pay at the lesson.
Where do lessons happen?
CityPickle Times Square and CityPickle at Wollman Rink, or your own court if you have one. Pick the spot when you book.
Do I need my own paddle?
No. Hannah brings spare paddles and all the balls. Wear court shoes and bring water.
How does booking work?
Pick a lesson, choose any open time on the calendar and send the request. Hannah confirms by text or email, usually within a few hours. Nothing is charged online.
Something else? Ask Hannah.
Ready for your first lesson?
Pick a court and a time that suits you and Hannah confirms it, usually within a few hours. Nothing is charged when you book, and it is free to move or cancel up to 24 hours before.