The Top 10 Pickleball Academies in the World
Pickleball. This easily accessible racket sport, which combines tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, was invented in America during the summer of 1965.
Starting as a children’s backyard game on Bainbridge Island, Washington State, this sport has soon grown into something a little more special. In fact, since the pandemic, it has exploded in popularity and is now one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. Hotels, schools, and sports facilities worldwide are taking up the sport, which is unsurprising due to its versatility and low barrier to entry.
Why Has Pickleball Become Popular?
The sport’s short learning curve, ability to accommodate players from a wide range of age and fitness levels, and low startup costs have all contributed to its surging popularity. Professional leagues for the sport are cropping up around the world. For example, the Singapore Pickleball Association has over 20 competitive teams in Singapore.
So, with so much appeal, adaptability, and social nature, this sport has made it as a favourite for corporate team-bonding activities. After all, many academies have already introduced this sport as a staple, expanding to accommodate the increasing number of pickleball fans and players.
Our Top 10 Pickleball Academies
Pickleball academies are quickly opening up worldwide to meet this increased demand for facilities and interest in the sport. In this article, we’ll go through the top ten pickleball academies in the world and what they offer fans of the sport. Let’s jump right in!
1. Play! Pickle
Play! Pickle is the premier pickleball academy in Singapore, with multiple venues across the city catering to over 2000 active players. The sport was introduced in the city in the 1990s but has taken off since the pandemic, and Play! Pickle is dedicated to teaching new and seasoned fans.
The academy offers private lessons for kids and adults looking to pick up a new hobby and improve their pickleball skills. Its coaches can accommodate players just starting out or those with years of experience, offering them tailored instructions to address their strengths and weaknesses. The academy also has group sessions and open play for players of all ages and regularly runs events in both indoor and outdoor courts.
Play! Pickle and the growing popularity of pickleball in the city have also been featured in a recent article for Time Out Singapore.
2. Better Pickleball
Better Pickleball has training camps across the USA but also offers pickleball players its renowned Better Pickleball Academy. These online virtual classes are taught by respected coaches and high-ranking players, including the men’s doubles champion Dyand Frazier.
Better Pickleball camps base their training on the “Three Pillars of Pickleball”, which divide the game into the athletic, mechanical, and strategic aspects.
The online Better Pickleball Academy offers courses on approaching the non-volley zone with attack strategies, winning the mental game, and the best doubles positioning. Furthermore, they also have hundreds of online video lessons taught by experts and live interactive events that function as tutoring classes without players having to travel long distances.
3. Pickleball Academy
Pickleball Academy, based in Norfolk, England, a region known for being a hotbed of pickleball talent. Players from across the UK and Europe test their skills and play in Norfolk, many at competitions held by Pickleball Academy.
Academy players in the city can participate in Fast 15 Team Events, which offer eight matches with a rally scoring up to 15 points. This has proven popular with people at varying skill levels. There are also the Super Series Events, which run ranked singles, doubles, and team events throughout the year.
Alternatively, players looking for a more casual experience can take part in PA Fun Events, a range of events with a different theme like “Handicapped” and “Friends and Enemies”.
4. TTT Pickleball Academy
Based in Victoria, Australia, TTT Pickleball Academy runs pickleball sessions at schools and venues in the local area, as well as classes for beginners and more experienced players. This academy is known for spreading awareness and participation in the game through its on-site half-day school sessions.
TTT private coaching sessions can accommodate up to four players looking to refine their skills in local courts. Moreover, the Pickleball IQ coaching packs allow players who are feeling confident to join leagues and tournaments. They also run more casual social play sessions for beginners of any age and at corporate events to promote healthy work socialising.
5. Engage Pickleball Camps
Engage Pickleball Camps, based in the USA, is famed for its training camps. It is known for producing high-quality paddles, apparel, and gear, while the camps are designed for players with a wide range of skill levels.
Engage Pickleball Camps often features coaching from pickleball professionals, like Tammy Patys, who teach players how to master techniques like drop shots and court positioning. Players from around the world are taught different styles of playing the game, including skinny singles and drills like the windshield wiper.
The camps, which offer one-on-one training and group exercises, have been held nationwide and proved immensely popular with pickleball fans.
6. Canadian Pickleball Academy
The Candian Pickleball Academy offers monthly training camps across Canada, teaching players this sport's basics and more advanced aspects. Even better, it also offers international pickleball trips with training, open play, and competition to sunny destinations like Bali and Costa Rica!
The academy offers hour-long private lessons for Montreal-based Canadians with Karina Michaud, a local professional player and coach. National boot camps, which last two six-hour days, focus on smart dinking, strategy at the net, and defending against hard hitters, among other techniques. Lessons at the academy are offered in English and French to cater to the country’s different languages, maximising its accessibility.
7. TM Pickleball Camps
Tyson McGuffin, from Lake Chelan, Washington, has a background in tennis and is now one of the highest-ranked pickleball players in the world. He runs TM Pickleball Camps across the USA to offer players in-depth instruction and tips on how to perfect their game.
Every month, the academy runs two camps that focus on teaching players the ins and outs of dinking, 3rd and 5th ball drops, and various defensive tactics. The classes have a small 8:1 student/teacher ratio and are run by McGuffin and other IPTPA/PPR-certified professionals. This makes them an excellent opportunity for pickleball enthusiasts looking for a world-class curriculum.
8. Suncoast Pickleball Association
The Suncoast Pickleball Association is famous in the pickleball community for pioneering the teaching of the sport in the USA. In 2016, the IPTPA recognised it for inventing the country’s first pickleball camp. This association now runs annual pickleball camps, training sessions across the Sunshine State, and regular tournaments.
Pickleball professionals like John Sperling, Mindy Yoder, and Rob Cassidy have worked together to run these camps as player development programs. Coach Russell Elefterion, a certified IPTPA/IFP professional, also offers players looking for more personalised coaching, group clinics, and private lessons. The association runs trips to destinations like the Turks and Caicos Islands for those looking to combine pickleball training and a sunny vacation.
9. Ultimate Pickleball Academy
Ultimate Pickleball Academy runs classes at pickleball clubs all over the USA, providing players with expert advice from Michelle Esquivel and Rob Cassidy, two IPTPA-certified instructors. Ultimate Pickleball Academy is an excellent opportunity for clubs in areas newer to the sport to expose members to expert advice and attract new fans.
The duo provides clubs with detailed demonstrations and drills that have helped them master the sport. Club members will learn how to hit the ball with correct technique, improve their court positioning for singles and doubles, and other aspects of the game like volleys and overheads.
10. Pickleball Finland
Pickleball is a relatively young sport in Finland. It only really took off after 2014, when American player Ray Schiltz moved to the country and started playing with Tuomo Antikainen, the founder of Pickleball Finland. In the ten years since its founding, they have spread the sport throughout the Nordic country to over 100 cities and towns in gyms, leisure centres, and schools.
They’ve been organising tournaments across the country and Scandinavia since 2015, attracting the top players from around the region and North America. Their next major tournament will be the 7th Pickleball Finland Xmas Games during November and December 2024.
Concluding on Our Top Pickleball Academies
So, there you have it!
These ten pickleball academies are among the best in the world, renowned for their coaching from players with years of experience. Racket sports fans with experience in badminton, tennis, and squash are discovering a love for the game, as well as those who have never held a racket and are interested in an accessible and fun sport. As the sport continues to grow, more academies, clubs, and venues will undoubtedly open to serve new fans.
If you’re interested in learning more about different aspects of the sport or how to get involved in Singapore, be sure to check out our blog.