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Master Your Game with Expert In-Person Coaching

Premium Pickleball instruction for all skill levels in Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, and Noblesville. From beginner basics to high-level strategy.

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Elite One-on-One Lessons

Experience the most direct path to improvement. Private sessions are designed for players who want 100% of the coach’s attention. We focus on your specific mechanics, footwork, and strategy to eliminate bad habits and build a championship-caliber foundation.

Note: To maximize your investment, I often refer students to “The Lab” for foundational concepts so we can spend our court time on high-level execution.

Pricing Options:
  • Single Session: $160 (Based on availability)
  • Performance Commitment: $130 per lesson (10-lesson package)
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Private Slots Remaining

I intentionally keep a very small private roster so that every student gets the level of preparation and attention required for rapid progress.
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Dynamic Group Coaching

The best way for me to coach you is to see you play. Group lessons provide a live-game dynamic, allowing me to observe your decision-making and positioning in real-time. This feedback is the perfect bridge to your one-on-one training, giving us a clear roadmap for your development.

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Beginner Clinics & Local Partners

While we are currently taking a pause from hosting our own beginner clinics, we are committed to helping you find the right foundation. We expect to resume our signature clinics in a few months, but in the meantime, we have vetted the best local options to get you on the court today.

Recommended: IPC Beginner Program

For those ready to start their journey immediately, we highly recommend the introductory programs at Indianapolis Pickleball Club. Their staff and facility provide an excellent environment for mastering the basics before you join us for advanced performance coaching.

More Beginner Clinic Options

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The "Complete Player" Framework

While in-person lessons are available as standalone sessions, they are best utilized in conjunction with The Lab. By mastering the theory and drills online, we don’t have to waste expensive one-on-one time on basic explanations. We use the court for what matters most: feedback, correction, and live play.

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Meet Your Coach

Joshua Mackens

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The Coaching System That Took Me from 3.5 to 5.0 in 1 Year

When I started playing pickleball, I did what everyone does: I watched endless YouTube videos, took local lessons, even taking a virtual lesson from a Top 40 PPA Pro. But it wasn’t working. YouTube gave me random tips with no context—in the same video you’d see a 5.0 tip and then a 3.0 tip, with no idea how to bridge the gap between them. Local coaches were even more frustrating; they lacked the knowledge, structure and follow-through I needed—there was no blueprint for what to work on next or follow up and feedback to see if I was progressing.

I was tired of guessing. I wanted to get better, and I wanted to do it fast.

So, I stopped looking for a path and started building one. I began filming every session and cataloging my errors to find exactly where my game was breaking down. I studied pro film to see how the best in the world solved those same problems. Then, I created specific, level-appropriate drills to laser-target my weaknesses and worked that plan relentlessly.

The result? I went from a 3.5 to a 5.0 in just 1 year.

I created The Lab to bridge the gap I fell into. I’ve taken my hard won elite-level knowledge and distilled it into a system that actually translates to your game. You get the Lessons to understand the ‘why,’ the Practice to build the ‘how,’ and the Coaching in someone who has been in your shoes and knows exactly how to course-correct your progress in real-time.

No more guessing. No more stunted growth. Just the high-level knowledge, structured practice, and expert coaching you need to reach your full potential.

Students I Work Well With

I coach a wide range of skill levels. What matters most isn’t your rating—it’s how you approach improvement.

If the points below sound like you, we’ll work extremely well together. And if they don’t, that’s okay—truly.
I just might not be the best fit as your coach.

A great fit if you…

You want real improvement

You care about getting better in a measurable way—not just having a “good session.”

You’ll practice between lessons

If you don’t practice between sessions, progress slows a lot. My best students get 1–2 practice sessions in between lessons.

You’re consistent

Consistency is a requirement for momentum. We also have a strict cancellation policy.

You’re honest about what’s happening

If a mechanic/strategy felt uncomfortable, you’re nervous to try it in games, or you didn’t get the practice reps in—tell me. We’ll solve it faster when we’re working with the truth.

You ask “why” (in a productive way)

Questions are welcome. If you have a reason for doing something a certain way, we’ll test it—and if the results/data disagree, we pivot.

You want clear, honest coaching—no confusion

I’ll be direct and tell you what matters, what doesn’t, and what to do next.

This is usually not a good fit if you…

You cancel a lot / no-show

If a mechanic/strategy felt uncomfortable, you’re nervous to try it in games, or you didn’t get the practice reps in—tell me. We’ll solve it faster when we’re working with the truth.

You take lessons sporadically (like once a month)

That pace rarely creates meaningful change.

You don’t practice between lessons

You’ll still get value, but progress will be slow—and it’s not the most efficient use of your time or money.

You cancel a lot / no-show

If a mechanic/strategy felt uncomfortable, you’re nervous to try it in games, or you didn’t get the practice reps in—tell me. We’ll solve it faster when we’re working with the truth.

You take lessons sporadically (like once a month)

That pace rarely creates meaningful change.

You don’t practice between lessons

You’ll still get value, but progress will be slow—and it’s not the most efficient use of your time or money.

If you want maximum efficiency…

If you want maximum efficiency, The Lab + In-Person lessons is the system. Many students use The Lab to master the foundational concepts and drill structures on their own. This allows us to use our expensive court time for high-level execution, personal tweaks, and real-time correction rather than basic explanations.

Reviews

Read reviews from real pickleball players about The Lab and your Coach

Local Lessons for Every Player

Locations

Serving the greater Indianapolis area including Fishers, Carmel, and Noblesville.

Skill Levels

From 2.0 beginners to advanced players looking for professional refinement.

Flexibility

Prefer to stay off-screen? In-person only coaching is always an option.

FAQ

2.0 – 3.0 is actually so good it can get you to 3.5. Top spin course available, which is for everyone all the way up to 5.5 and builds foundational knowledge. Join at the accelrated level and the personal coaching you’ll get through that (weekly sessions, monthly pod coachings breaks down to $20 per session. That’s still a great deal. Join at the elite level and we’ll personally coach you through it and build the course while we do so. Or maybe even at advanced.

That’s where you get even more value out of your subscription because you’ll be the one getting coached the whole time! You can use this as a way to get one on one coaching without having to pay for the higher tier!

Eventually, every level will have its own coach. For the moment, Coach Josh is the coach for every level. Any interaction with a coach mentioned on this page, will be with him.

Absolutely not. You can just take the courses and learn how to play the game. However, if you want us to be honest with you: to truly get better at a rapid rate, you will need to practice. It’s the #1 reason people don’t get better. It may just be that you come back later and practice when you’re ready.

Ready to Step Up Your Game?

My schedule for private and group sessions fills up quickly.
Contact me today to discuss your goals and check current availability in your area.