Booking a first tennis or pickleball lesson can feel awkward, especially if it's been a while since you played — or if you've never picked up a racquet at all. Most students show up to their first session with the same questions: What do I bring? What if I'm terrible? How do I know if this coach is right for me? Here's exactly how a first lesson with Coach Tim works, start to finish, so you know what to expect and can show up confident.
Step 1 — Reach out and decide on the basics
Most students start with a call or text to (414) 232-6840or an email. Within a day or so, Coach Tim will respond and you'll work out a few essentials:
- Sport.Tennis or pickleball — or both, if you're trying to decide which to focus on.
- Where you'll play.Because Coach Tim is a mobile coach, you pick the court. Options include your home court, your HOA or community court, your club's court if you're a member, or a local public court. If you're new to the area and not sure which courts are accessible, Tim can suggest a few public courts in your city.
- Time. Coach Tim teaches mornings, afternoons, and early evenings. Florida summer heat makes 7-10am or 5-7pm the most comfortable for most adult students.
- Goal for the lesson.Whether you're a beginner, a returning player who hasn't played in 10 years, an experienced player looking for a tune-up, or a senior focused on injury prevention — telling Tim the goal up front shapes the whole first session.
Step 2 — What to bring to your first lesson
For a tennis lesson:
- A racquet.If you don't own one, Coach Tim can bring a loaner for the first session — just ask. If you're between racquets, hold off on buying until after Tim sees you play; the right racquet depends on your swing and arm.
- Tennis shoes.Real tennis shoes (not running shoes). Running shoes don't support the lateral movement of tennis and can cause ankle injuries even for slower players.
- Water. A lot more than you think, especially in Florida summer. Pre-hydrate before you get to the court.
- Sun protection. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. Most Florida courts have no shade.
For a pickleball lesson, swap the racquet for a paddle — but the same loaner offer applies if you don't own one yet. Same shoes (court shoes; not running shoes), same hydration.
Step 3 — The first 10 minutes on court
When Coach Tim arrives at the court, the first ten minutes are usually:
- Quick conversation.Tim asks about your tennis or pickleball history, any injuries or physical considerations, what you want to get out of lessons, and how often you can realistically practice. This isn't small talk — it shapes what he teaches you.
- Equipment check.Tim looks at your racquet (or paddle), string tension, and grip size if it's tennis. For senior players especially, the wrong racquet specs can cause problems no amount of technique work fixes. If something needs adjustment, he'll tell you what to change before the next lesson.
- Warm-up. Lessons start with mini-tennis or short-court rallies — a gentle way to loosen up and let Tim see how you move and contact the ball.
Step 4 — The main session
The middle of the lesson varies a lot depending on what you said you wanted, but a first lesson with Coach Tim usually has a few common elements:
- Diagnosis before instruction.Tim watches you hit for a few minutes before changing anything. The goal is to identify the one or two adjustments that'll make the biggest difference for your game right now — not to overhaul everything in your first hour.
- One or two focused changes, not ten. Bad coaches give beginners ten things to think about. Tim picks one or two and works on them. You leave with something specific you can practice.
- Explanation, not just correction. Tim tells you whya stroke change matters — not just "do this instead." The why is what helps you make the change stick when you're practicing alone.
- Live play near the end. Most first sessions end with a few minutes of actual point play (tennis) or game play (pickleball), so you finish with a real sense of how the technique adjustment feels in motion.
Step 5 — Wrapping up
The last 5 minutes usually cover:
- What to practice between now and next time.Tim gives you one or two specific things to work on. If you don't have anyone to practice with, he might suggest a wall, a ball machine, or shadow swings — whatever fits your situation.
- Frequency conversation.Some students need one lesson every week or two to make consistent progress. Others come monthly for tune-ups. Tim's honest about what cadence will actually move your game forward versus what would be overkill.
- Booking the next session.If it was a good fit, you'll usually book the next lesson on the spot or within a day or two.
How to know if it's working
A good first lesson should leave you with:
- One or two specific things to practice — not a vague feeling of improvement
- Understanding of why those changes matter
- A small visible improvementby the end of the session — even if it's just consistency on one shot, not power or perfection
- Confidence that Coach Tim sees your game— meaning his observations match what you've felt was off, even if you couldn't name it
If you leave your first lesson without specific takeaways, or feeling like the coach didn't really see what was going on — that's a sign to try someone else. Coaching is partly chemistry. Most students know within one session whether they've found the right coach for them.
How fast will you actually improve?
Honest answer: it depends on your starting point, how often you practice between lessons, and what "improvement" means to you. Some rough benchmarks:
- Brand new beginner: 6-10 lessons to feel comfortable rallying consistently. 20-30 lessons to feel like you can play a real social match.
- Returning player after years away: 3-5 lessons to get the rust off. Most of the technique is still in your body; the lessons accelerate the muscle memory coming back.
- Intermediate player working on a specific weakness: 2-4 focused lessons on one issue (the backhand, the serve, the volley) plus practice in between usually moves the needle.
- Senior player adjusting for longevity: 4-8 lessons to install the footwork, grip, and play-style adjustments that protect your body. After that, an occasional tune-up is usually enough.
The single biggest factor isn't how often you take lessons — it's what you do between them. Two lessons a month plus three play sessions of practice will beat four lessons a month with no practice every time.
Ready to book?
Call or text Coach Tim at (414) 232-6840to set up your first lesson. Tell him your sport, your general experience level, where you'd like to play, and one sentence on what you want to get out of lessons. He'll take it from there.