What to Expect at a Women’s Pickleball Skills Clinic: Drills, Confidence, and Connection
As just about every Pickleball stat shows hockey-stick growth, the numbers and types of Pickleball clinics—especially those dedicated to women—are also on the rise. Yet when it comes to women-only events, there are basic elements as well as important differentiators for the everyday player to consider.
What Clinics Offer
First the basics. Pickleball clinics offer a concentrated opportunity for players to learn the sport generally and to improve skills, gameplay, and strategies. Led by a single expert or coaching team, clinics often are designed for individuals or groups of players at certain levels—beginner, intermediate, advanced, or ratings 2.0 to 5+—and can be conducted over single- and multi-day sessions, weeks, or even within destination vacations.
The number of participants as well as clinic fees/rate schedules vary widely based on coaches, regional location, facilities, and clinic duration. Participants generally bring their own equipment and often are required to sign liability and risk waivers.
Why Women-Only Matter
Kelly Whalen
As a Pickleball player and Pickleball Coaching International-certified coach since 2014, Kelly Whalen sees importance differences between women’s only and men’s-only or co-ed clinics, including the mindset, attitude, on-court behaviors, even “the vibe.”
“Men are inherently more powerful and stronger. It can be intimidating for women to play with and against them until they learn how to control their game with skill shots,” according to Kelly, founder of Everything Pickleball, Waukesha, Wis. “The women come to play and learn, they are there for a good time, and they are there for each other.”
Everything Pickleball in Action
Through affiliation with both parks and recreation agencies in Milwaukee suburbs as well as with several area clubs, Kelly and Everything Pickleball conduct different clinic types. Kelly, a former collegiate women’s tennis coach and Wisconsin Racquetball Hall of Fame member, offers clinics in Muskego, New Berlin, and Waukesha, Wisconsin, during summer months, then indoors at Center Court, The Yard, and the ARC clubs in winter. Kelly also participates in Milwaukee area tournaments and the National Senior Games.
Some Everything Pickleball programs derive from specific group skill requests and improvement areas. This summer and in previous years, for instance, Kelly has led women’s-only clinics for the Wauwatosa Women’s Tennis and Pickleball league. Each session is based on the group’s focus area(s) of the day, with instruction, strategies, demonstrations, and question-and-answer, all balanced by drills with Kelly’s live feedback. These sessions also include shot selection and court position counsel as well as reviewing fundamental mechanics of what is covered in drills.
Other events, such as a recent nine-week clinic, focused on single topics or skills in sessions over several weeks, moving players from beginner to advanced intermediate. This clinic type covered everything from paddle basics and grips to fundamentals of the dink and drop, the why and how of different serve and return options, volley drills (punch, roll, flick, poke), when and how to spin shots. Control drills are part of the program as are focused sessions that put skills and strategies together in game-play situations. Everything Pickleball also offers its renowned “Hen House” women’s-only Pickleball tournament each year.
Importantly, Everything Pickleball isn’t everything without the efforts of Terry Augustin-Whalen. She works behind the scenes organizing tournaments and communicating with participants on format, time frames, skill levels, and other preparations. She also coordinates food, prizes, and event themes.
Terry’s also the community creator, according to Kelly, especially during their Center Court programming and lessons and clinics, making people feel comfortable and welcome while delivering a fun, supportive learning environment.
Kelly and her mixed doubles partner
Final Advice for Women Players
In searching for clinics and evaluating options, Kelly said players should look for coaching certifications, knowledge and skill level, experience, positive reviews, and reputation. Word of mouth from trusted friends or playing partners can be key.
Whether clinic, camp, or tourney, Kelly recommends that women “bring an attitude and energy that respects the sport and each other, along with a frame of mind that embraces competition, sportsmanship, and enjoyment of the event” for best results and an optimized experience.
About the Author: Laurel Nelson-Rowe is an independent contributor to Empower Pickleball. A longtime business technology and communications leader, she now runs LaurelComms, delivering content for corporate and non-profit partners. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her on the pickleball court, volunteering, or sharing stories on her Substack, My Life Adventurement.