Pickleball Club offers instruction on Wednesdays

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m., members of the Leisure World Pickleball Club offer instruction and drills for new and experienced players.

The weekly sessions follow a schedule: Week one: beginners, introduction to game, rules, etiquette, equipment, drills in forehand, serve and return. Week two: emphasis on ready position, serve, swing, forehand. Week three: serve, return of service, unforced errors, backhand. Week four: serving and returning team movement, volley, wall drills, half volley. Week five: getting to line, drop/ drive, block volley, dink.

Often there is a sizable class, with potential players learning the basic skill sets through repeated practice and drills. In the following weeks, instructors observe the newer players, offering suggestions regarding paddle position, movement and court position.

All instruction is offered in a welcoming manner to make new players comfortable on the courts and to encourage play. Paddles and balls are available for use during the classes.

Instructor Jim Thomason is a former tennis player who has been playing pickleball for the past 10 years. He is a graduate of the Pickleball Coaching International Introductory Instructor Training Program (PCIIIT) and particularly enjoys introducing new players to the game. He generally handles weeks one and two of the lessons.

—Donna Gambol