Pickleball Learning Never Stops

by Aaron Reznik

Just because we graduate from school, does that mean we want to stop learning? Do cooks stop trying to make their meals even better? Just because we’re in shape, do we stop trying to keep our bodies healthy?

One of the beautiful things about pickleball is that as long as you know the basics and scoring, you’re good to go. But just because a couple lessons or clinics is all you need to play on your own, your journey of learning and growing as a player should never end there.

Are most of us are not trying to be top pro pickleball players? No.

Are we all training 5 hours/day and traveling new states each weekend for tournaments? No.

Do we love pickleball and want to play for the rest of our lives? Yes.

Do we want to continue improving so we can be better players and have better games? Yes.

If we’re going to play this game for years and years, and even small improvements or additions will make us better, then why not try to reach closer to our potential? After all, the better you are, the more fun this game gets.

Earlier this year, I was texting my friend Ben Johns (#1 player in the world who I became friends with in college and originally convinced me to try the sport) and said to him, “it seems like you’re still getting better every year,” to which he replied, “only been playing 7 years, I got lots to get better at.” Well, this exchange told me two things:

1. Pickleball is easier than most other sports to become very good at. In what other sports do you see a World #1 player who has only been playing for 7 years? Probably none. With the right training and people around you, you can get real good, real fast.

2. You can ALWAYS continue learning and improving. If the #1 player in the world says he has a lot to work on, we all do too!

Pickleball is a game for life! And once you learn something, it doesn’t disappear.

Each of our locations, Montclair, Bergen County, and Atlantic County, offer clinics and lessons not just for brand new beginners - we also offer programs for players of various levels, all with the goal of helping each group make improvements that will last them a lifetime and move them along on a journey to whatever level they’d like to reach.

Through the relationships and experiences co-founders Aaron and Matt have been able to accumulate within NJ’s high-level pickleball community, Montclair Pickleball has put together a roster of outstanding coaches with a benchmark level of play that has not been seen by any pickleball academy ever before. In terms of coaching experience, coaching ability, friendliness, and passion, our coaches are on par with the best in the country. Our team boasts over 15 coaches with a 4.5+ DUPR rating as well as over 7 coaches with a 5.0+ DUPR rating - by far the highest in the United States! We want to make sure players learn to play the RIGHT way, from coaches with proven track records of their own successes, energy, and love for the game that never quits. Those who have played with us already know. The coaches, the vibes, and the passion make experiences on our courts different. The best.

Keep on playing. Keep on learning. Keep on growing and trying to reach your potential. If not for a shiny medal or bragging rights, do it just to be the best pickleball version of you! Remember what Ben Johns said: No matter HOW good you get, you can ALWAYS improve.