Weighing the Pros and Cons of Teacher vs. Clinic Learning

As a pickleball instructor, I’m often asked about the pros and cons of taking a clinic vs. a private lesson. So I thought I’d jot down my thoughts and explain my view. I know other instructors will have their own opinions, but here are some points to consider.

Advantages of learning how to play pickleball with a teacher:

  • Personalized instruction: A teacher can provide personalized instruction tailored to your skill level and learning style.
  • Immediate feedback: A teacher can provide immediate feedback on your technique and help you make corrections.
  • Structured learning: A teacher can provide a structured learning environment that can help you progress more quickly.

Disadvantages of learning how to play pickleball with a teacher:

  • Cost: Hiring a teacher can be more expensive than other options.
  • Scheduling: Scheduling lessons with a teacher can be more difficult than attending a clinic.

Advantages of learning how to play pickleball with a clinic:

  • Cost-effective: Clinics are often less expensive than hiring a teacher.
  • Social interaction: Clinics provide an opportunity to meet and play with other players.
  • Variety: Clinics often cover a variety of topics and skills.

Disadvantages of learning how to play pickleball with a clinic:

  • Less personalized instruction: Clinics are often less personalized than hiring a teacher.
  • Limited feedback: With a large group, it can be difficult to receive individual feedback on your technique.
  • Limited time: Clinics are often limited to a specific time frame, which may not be enough time to cover all the skills you want to learn.

Here are the costs associated with learning pickleball through a teacher or clinic:

Learning through a teacher:

  • Private lessons: On average, private lessons cost around $50-$70 per hour.
  • Group lessons: On average, group lessons cost around $30-$40 per hour.

Learning through a clinic:

  • Clinics: The cost of clinics varies depending on the location and the number of students. For example, clinics can range from $22-$70.
  • Ball machine clinics: Ball machine clinics are more specific and can cost around $25-$40 per person.
  • Intermediate clinics: Intermediate clinics can be free for members or cost around $10 for non-members.

It’s important to note that the costs associated with learning pickleball through a teacher or clinic can vary depending on the location, the instructor, and the number of students.

There are other considerations of course, which I’m not going to cover in this post. In the end, it’s up to each individual to determine which is best, a private lesson or a clinic.

The information in this blog post comes from my research and experience playing pickleball and can be found in my books — HOW TO GET STARTED PLAYING PICKLEBALL and HOW TO IMPROVE FROM BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE IN PICKLEBALL — both available on Amazon. I hope you learn something from this post that you can take onto the courts to help you improve your game.