The Unicorn Academy is an undisputed champion of pickleball training programs, where excellence knows no bounds. Our program stands as the gold standard, nationally recognized for its unparalleled coaching, cutting-edge techniques, and a legacy of transforming players into ELITE players. For 6 weeks, you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to learn from the very best players in Houston, TX. Step into the footsteps of a professional player, soak in their unparalleled expertise, and discover their secrets! In this journey, we will start from the very beginning, you’ll discover the strategies, techniques, and mental fortitude required to elevate your skills to NEW HEIGHTS.
Get ready to rise above the competition and unlock the true ELITE within you.
There are four levels of the Unicorn Academy.
◼ Beginner/Advanced Beginner
o Tuesday Group Lesson 7-9pm
◼ Intermediate
o Thursday Group Lesson 7-9pm
◼ Advanced Intermediate
o Monday Group Lesson 7-9pm
◼ Advanced
o Wednesday Group Lesson 7-9pm
**We will only be accepting 8 players in each level.
**You will be placed into a GroupMe Chat with your entire UA group, your Elite instructor, Becky & Shellton, which makes communication easy.
We will be placing you in the level that you belong in. We will start scheduling private and group lessons when each level is full. The private lessons will start Monday, August 12 and the academy will end by Saturday, September 28th.
All UA players are required to participate in the following:
◼ 6 Private Lessons (one hour a week) – to be held BEFORE that week’s Group Lesson
o It will be YOUR responsibility to schedule your 6 private lessons with the club directly.
o If you need to reschedule a private lesson, you need to do so 12 hours prior to your private lesson.
o If you don’t show up for a private lesson, you will be charged a $25 fee but are able to reschedule.
◼ 6 Group Lessons (two hours a week) – to be held AFTER that week’s Private Lesson
o Some skills will also be learned in the group lessons instead of private lessons.
o If you miss a group lesson, there is not an opportunity to make it up.
◼ Weekly Drills (minimum of four hours a week – the more the better) – you will track your hours at the club and are expected to drill with other players in the academy.
o Please understand that each week, you will be required to drill, and it will be based on what you have learned during that week. Drilling is required so that way you can take the best advantage of the class.
o As a member of the UA, you will be able to book discounted courts (for drilling with other current Unicorns) at $15/plus tax per hour for Members and at $20/plus tax per hour for Guests. (These cannot be booked on CourtReserve – you must call the front desk to reserve these discounted courts.
Pro Tip - Start practicing against the wall, the wall always wins, a little bit everyday will take you a long way at the end of the 6 weeks.
INVESTMENT
◼ Members - $700
◼ Guests - $800
**No refunds of any kind.
WEEKLY OVERVIEW
Week 1:
◼ Improve your serve: How to serve with more power, choose your placement and start using the serve as a weapon.
◼ Return of the ball: How to return the ball deep with power and spin.
◼ Court Positioning and Movement: Learn where the reset position is on the court, and how to move on the court.
◼ Footwork: Learn to move at the kitchen line without foot faults and learn the right footwork for dinking.
◼ Understand the strategy behind every shot so you can start being consistent and intentional about every point.
◼ Understanding your role at the kitchen line, to help and cover your partner on the return of serves.
Drills:
◼ Practice your serve and return. You need to be able to stay consistent, intentional, and aggressive.
◼ Footwork is very important for pickleball, you can practice what you’ve learned or go on YouTube for videos.
Week 2:
◼ Drop-shot or 3rd shot-drop: Learn the right technique to drop the ball from the baseline to anywhere in the kitchen.
◼ Learn to drop cross court and straight forward.
◼ Learn the right technique for forehand drop-shots and backhand drop-shots.
◼ Learn to volley the ball to keep your opponent back.
Drills:
◼ The 3rd shot drop is one of the key skills in pickleball, the more consistent you can be the better, this is a skill you will need to practice forever to keep improving it and be more consistent.
◼ Practice dropping the ball from anywhere at the baseline to anywhere in the kitchen.
Week 3:
◼ Learn the right technique to move at the kitchen line to set up your dinks.
◼ Learn to Dink. Crosscourt dink, backhand dink,
◼ Learn to take the ball in the air.
Drills:
◼ Practice your dinks and footwork.
Week 4:
◼ Learn to reset from no man’s land.
◼ Learn the right Footwork technique.
◼ Learn to turn your defense into offense.
◼ Learn to stay calm when the point is chaotic so you can defend the ball.
◼ Learn where to reset the ball to.
◼ Understanding the game in no man’s land is different than the kitchen or the baseline game.
Drills:
◼ Drill resetting the ball in different part of the kitchen.
◼ Practice your footwork so you move properly to get to the ball and to hit it properly.
◼ Drill resetting the ball while making your way to the kitchen.
Week 5:
◼ Learn to be always in an aggressive position and mindset.
◼ Learn to attack from the bounce.
◼ Learn the 1-2 punch combo.
◼ Learn the different attack options you have at the kitchen line. (Where to attack and when.)
◼ Learn to attack in the air, forehand roll and backhand roll attack.
◼ Understanding whether you have a backhand attack off the bounce or should you only dink on the backhand and attack when the ball is in the air.
Drills:
◼ Drill your attacks off the bounce.
◼ Drill making your way to the kitchen line and being in an aggressive mindset when you get to the kitchen line.
◼ Drill your attack volleys.
Week 6:
◼ Learn to counter punch back after your attack or when being attacked.
◼ Learn to hit an overhead.
◼ Learn to be aggressive at the kitchen line to keep your opponent back and bring them trouble.
Drills:
◼ Drill to be in control and aggressive as a player putting everything together.
◼ Drill your overhead shots
◼ Start connecting everything together to create your game personality.
