Intermediate Pickleball Camp · Indoor · San Antonio, TX

Tired of losing to the same people every week?

Name: Breakthrough Pickleball Intermediate Camp — San Antonio
Start: 2026-11-07T09:00:00-06:00
End: 2026-11-07T13:00:00-06:00
Location: Texas Pickle Hall

WhenSat, Nov 7 · 9 AM–1 PM

WhereTexas Pickle Hall, Live Oak

WhoAges 50+ · Intermediate (2.9–3.5) · 8 players, 1 coach

Reserve My Spot

We find the one thing costing you the most points — and fix it with you on court, in one morning. Built for the 50-and-over player who has been stuck at the same level.

5 camps sold out

64 of 64 spots

Austin · Plano · Nashville · St. Pete · Houston

14 camps scheduled for 2026

A Breakthrough coach correcting a camper at our Austin camp

Official paddle partner Diadem

INDOOR COURTS · SAN ANTONIO

Format8 players & 1 coach on 2 courts — 8 to 1A small group, capped at 8. You get corrected by name, not coached to the middle of the room.
Date & timeSaturday, November 7, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 1:00 PMCheck-in opens at 8:30 · Done by 1 PM — the rest of your Saturday is yours
VenueTexas Pickle Hall INDOOR201 Shin Oak Dr, Live Oak, TX 78233 · indoor, climate-controlled courts
CoachesJohn Sanders (head coach)PPR-certified · 103 five-star reviews · on court all four hours
Skill levelIntermediate (2.9–3.5)No DUPR needed. If you can hang in an intermediate open play, this camp is for you.
Age group50 and overBuilt for the 50-and-over player — win with position and patience, not by running more

Included #1

The Breakthrough Paddle Lab, powered by Diadem

Hit a rack of the newest Diadem paddles in live play. One camper goes home with a brand-new paddle.

One camper wins a $249.99 paddle

Included #2

Your written After-Camp Plan

Built from what your coach saw you do, in your inbox within 72 hours. Plus a 30-day drill guide.

$79.99 value

Included #3

Breakthrough Players Club — 12 months

A private coaches-and-campers group, a live coach Q&A every month, and a new drill every month. Free for a year.

$69.99 value

$249

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · Texas Pickle Hall, Live Oak

Four hours of on-court coaching, 8 players, 1 coach
Paddle Lab, After-Camp Plan and 12 months of the Players Club — all included
Full future-camp credit, or send another player, if you can’t make it

$149.98 of included extras on top of four hours of coaching — and one camper wins a $249.99 Diadem paddle.

Questions? Ask a coach or call or text (830) 554-9310.

I came home so excited to implement what I learned. The format was so conducive to learning the skills presented. This is the best money I’ve spent on pickleball by far!

Bridget C. · Austin camp, October 2026 · coached by John & Craig

Today was my first time back at it since then and I actually got several compliments on my playing (meaning that they noticed the improvement)… I liked the individual attention that the coaches gave us.

Mark W. · Austin camp, October 2026 · his first clinic

The techniques were explained and demonstrated in a clear, easy-to-understand way, and I particularly appreciated learning the reasoning behind the coaching points rather than just being told what to do.

Renee I. · Austin camp, October 2026 · 5 out of 5

I’ve been working on third shot cross court drops since the camp. It’s really improving my game… It was incredibly helpful and so well run!

Bridget C. · Austin camp, October 2026 · her follow-up email after camp

Campers and coaches at the sold-out Breakthrough Pickleball camp in Austin, October 23, 2026 — Our camp in Austin, TX on October 23 · sold out, 16 of 16 spots

Player stories

Real players from our sold-out camps in Austin (Oct 23) and Plano (Oct 24) — including Pickleball Paul, who plays right here in San Antonio. Tap any video to watch.

Pickleball Paul · San Antonio · played our Austin camp, Oct 23
“Well worth the price… I got my money’s worth. I’d recommend it to anybody.”

Bridget C. · Cedar Park · Austin camp, Oct 23
“You should sign up. 100%. They told you the what, the why, and the how.”

Julie L. · North Dallas · Plano camp, Oct 24
“It was an empowering four hours that will make you a better player.”

Renee E. · Round Rock · Austin camp, Oct 23
“Totally changed my footwork at the kitchen… if you want to get better, give it a try.”

Kim P. · North Dallas · Plano camp, Oct 24
“I improved my pickleball IQ… a ton of fun, but a lot of information.”

Arleen · North Dallas · Plano camp, Oct 24
“It really helped me to know how to position my body and how to hold my paddle at that 45-degree angle.”

See all player reviews →

Meet your San Antonio coach

Eight players, one coach, two courts. John is on court with you all four hours — here he is in his own words.

I’m John Sanders — “The Pickleball Professor”

PPR-certified · 103 five-star Google reviews

Seven years ago I was a beginner. Today I’m rated 4.597 on DUPR. I coach the way I learned: break the game down shot by shot, and fix one thing at a time.

I’ve been coaching for four years: more than 100 clinics and lessons, on three continents, and 103 five-star Google reviews from the players I’ve worked with. My students will tell you I take complicated technique and turn it into clear steps you can actually remember on court.

Because I made the climb from 3.0 to 4.5 myself, I know what it feels like to be stuck at a level. On November 7 my job is to find the habit that’s holding you there, and fix it with you before lunch.

My credentials

PPR-certified pickleball instructor
4.597 DUPR · a beginner seven years ago
Four years coaching · more than 100 clinics and lessons
103 Google reviews, 5.0 rating
Has coached on three continents

Watch John explain how camp gets you unstuck · 41 sec

Coach John Sanders working one-on-one with a camper at the Austin camp — John one-on-one with a camper at our Austin camp, Oct 23 — with only 8 players, this happens all morning

Read what John’s students say ↓

8 : 1Eight players and one PPR-certified coach for four hours — a group this small is how the habit that’s capping your game gets caught.

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · 7 days or fewer before camp: no refund, but a full future-camp credit or send another player · Refund policy

Have questions, or want to talk with a coach first? Ask a question or call or text (830) 554-9310.

Not ready to book today?

Leave your name and email and we’ll send you the full camp schedule — hour by hour — plus a reminder before camp.

Send me the schedule

Your four hours, session by session

Saturday, November 7, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Texas Pickle Hall, 201 Shin Oak Dr, Live Oak. Doors open at 8:30 for check-in. Every session is drilling with correction — you learn by hitting the shot, not by hearing about it.

019:00
Introduction & warm-up
15 minutes
Every player shares the one thing they came to fix, so your coach knows what to watch for from the first rep. Then a dynamic warm-up built for the 50-and-over body, with the keys to staying healthy and resilient on court.
What changes: your coach knows your game before the first drill starts.
029:15
Dinking & ready position
25 minutes
Proper ready position, soft hands, and dink control — cross-court and straight-on. The slow game is where intermediate points are won and lost.
What changes: the pop-up that keeps handing your opponents the point stays down.
039:40
Volley dinks, blocks & putaways
35 minutes
Taking the dink out of the air with control. Defensive blocking and counters under pressure. And how to get the ball down when it’s above the net instead of sailing it long.
What changes: when they speed it up on you, you have an answer.
0410:15
The Breakthrough Paddle Lab, powered by Diadem
25 minutes
How to choose a paddle for your game: weighting, grips and shapes, with paddles in hand. The Diadem demo fleet comes out here — 16mm and 14mm, elongated and hybrid, mid-tier to flagship, including the brand-new Edge Flex — and stays out for the rest of the morning.
What changes: you’ll never buy a paddle blind again.
10:40 · Ten-minute break · water, snack, breathe
0510:50
Serves & returns
20 minutes
Shot mechanics on the serve and the return, plus placement and positioning. Deep, consistent, and on purpose.
What changes: you start every point in control instead of recovering.
0611:10
Drops & drives — the third shot
25 minutes
Third-shot mechanics: when to drop, when to drive, and how to choose in real time. This is the shot that separates 3.0 from 3.5.
What changes: your third shot gets you to the kitchen instead of keeping you at the baseline.
0711:35
Transition strategy
20 minutes
Moving from the baseline to the kitchen with purpose and timing — when to go, when to hold, and what to do with the ball that arrives at your feet on the way.
What changes: the no-man’s-land points stop going against you.
0811:55
Live game simulation & games with your coach
45 minutes
Simulated point play to lock in transition strategy, court positioning and pickleball IQ at the game’s most critical moments, then real games with your coach rotating in. Swap into a Diadem demo paddle and try it in live play.
What changes: the fix holds under pressure — with a coach watching to make sure.
0912:40
Wrap-up, photos & the Diadem paddle giveaway
20 minutes
Recap, your takeaways, and next steps toward your Breakthrough After-Camp Plan, which follows by email within 72 hours. Team photos, your video reviews, and the drawing — one camper at every Breakthrough camp goes home with a brand-new Diadem paddle.
What changes: you leave with a plan, not just a memory.

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · 7 days or fewer before camp: no refund, but a full future-camp credit or send another player · Refund policy

Questions? Ask a coach or call or text (830) 554-9310.

Why we drill instead of lecture

Nobody’s third-shot drop ever improved from hearing it explained. It improves from hitting fifty of them with a coach six feet away who stops you on the third one and changes your contact point — and then watches the next forty-seven to make sure it holds.

That is the whole reason for a small group. In a clinic of twenty, the coach teaches the room. In a group of eight, the coach teaches you, and you find out on the very next rep whether the fix worked — not three weeks later.

Every block on the schedule above is built that way: a short demonstration, then reps with correction, then the same shot in a live point. Four hours of it adds up to a lot of “oh — that’s what it’s supposed to feel like.”

The Breakthrough Method

1DIAGNOSE

Your coach watches your reps and finds the one habit — a decision, a contact point, a position — that’s costing you the most points.

2CORRECT

You get a specific fix you can feel and understand, not general advice.

3REP

You repeat it until it starts to happen without thinking.

4APPLY

You use it in live points while a coach watches whether it holds under pressure.

5CONTINUE

You leave with the After-Camp Plan and your drill sheet to work it, so the morning keeps paying off.

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · 7 days or fewer before camp: no refund, but a full future-camp credit or send another player · Refund policy

Questions? Ask a coach or call or text (830) 554-9310.

★ 5.0 · 103 Google reviews for Coach John →

What John’s students say

John’s students

“I’ve attended two sessions focused on drops, drives, rolls, and volleys and the improvement in my game has been dramatic. John has a great ability to break down complex techniques into clear, manageable steps and fun, easy to remember phrases. Professional, kind, and a lot of fun to work with.”

Braxton B

“Great clinic at Portside Pickleball in Pensacola with a group of 10 adults. Learned net play, to dink, reset or take in air. Learned round house/disc swing and watching player position. Great clinic.”

Elizabeth W

“John, the Pickle Prof, is exactly that! If you are new to pickleball or a seasoned player, you will feel right at home with him as your pickleball coach. I have seen him coach juniors, college kids, young adults, and older adults - and regardless of age or ability, John will help you elevate your pickleball game. The Pickle Prof has been very easy to book with and is very accommodating.”

Steven K

“John is an outstanding pickleball instructor for all levels, and even for advanced players. He possesses an in-depth knowledge of both the technical and strategic aspects of the game. Furthermore, he is able to tailor that knowledge base to the individual’s existing skill set which sets him apart from other instructors I’ve met. I highly recommend him!”

Vu N

“Absolutely incredible coach: the Pickleball Professor is a patient and knowledgeable coach who can take any player to the next level, no matter what skill level they’re at. In just two lessons, he has dramatically improved both my game around the net and my serve returns. An hour spent with the Pickle Prof is a cheat code to accelerating your growth as a pickleballer! 10/10 would recommend.”

Chris P

“I can’t recommend The Pickleball Prof enough! Whether you’re just looking to refine your third-shot drops and kitchen strategy, he tailors each lesson perfectly to your skill level. The session is fast-paced, highly engaging, and packed with actionable feedback. Thanks to his coaching, my confidence on the court has skyrocketed and my overall game is sharper than ever.”

Kenny K

You know the drive home after a bad session.

The 11–9 game you had and gave away. The third shot you floated at 9–9, again. The same two people, at the same courts, beating you the same way they did last month.

You’ve done what everyone says to do. Watched the videos. Played more. Bought the paddle. And your game is exactly where it was a year ago — because nobody has ever stood six feet away, watched your mechanics and your decisions for four hours, and told you the one thing to fix first.

That is the job on November 7.

Eight players, one coach, two courts. By 1 PM you will know what your habit is, you will have felt the fix work in live points, and you will have it written down. The following week you play the same people on the same courts — and the points go the other way.

This camp is for you if…

You play two or three times a week and your game has stopped moving.
The same pop-ups, missed thirds and rushed decisions keep showing up.
You hold your own with 2.9–3.5 players but don’t feel ready for the next group.
You want to win with position and patience, not by running more.
You’re 50 or over and you want coaching built for how you actually move.

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · 7 days or fewer before camp: no refund, but a full future-camp credit or send another player · Refund policy

Questions? Ask a coach or call or text (830) 554-9310.

What you’ll walk away with

A new group of players at your level.

Seven other San Antonio-area players at your level, all working on the same things you are. New playing partners come with the spot.

Win points without wearing out.

Positioning and shot selection that control rallies — you’ll finish the morning with gas left in the tank, and that matters at 50 and over.

Decisions without hesitation.

Drop or drive? Hold or attack? You’ll drill the decision until your body answers before your brain finishes asking.

The mistake you keep making — fixed.

A group of eight and a coach watching every rep — the flaw that’s been capping your game gets caught and corrected on the spot, not described in general.

You’ll know how to weight and set up a paddle.

Twenty-five minutes in the Paddle Lab on weighting, grips and shapes — with paddles in hand — and then a rack of Diadem demos to test it on for the rest of the morning. You’ll leave knowing why your paddle plays the way it does and how to change it. One camper also goes home with a brand-new Diadem paddle.

A plan for what comes next — and a coach to ask.

Your drill sheet in hand when you leave, your written After-Camp Plan by email within 72 hours, and twelve months in the Breakthrough Players Club: a live coach Q&A every month and a place to ask a question any time.

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · 7 days or fewer before camp: no refund, but a full future-camp credit or send another player · Refund policy

Questions? Ask a coach or call or text (830) 554-9310.

Everything included in your $249 spot

Included #1

The Breakthrough After-Camp Plan $79.99 value

Within 72 hours of camp you get a written plan built from what your coach saw: the two or three things to fix first, a 30-day drill roadmap, and how often to practice.

Included #2

Take-Home Drill Sheet

The drills you ran at camp, written down so you can run them with a partner the next week.

Included #3

The Breakthrough Paddle Lab One camper wins a $249.99 paddle powered by

Hit the brand-new Diadem Edge Flex before you ever have to buy one. Twenty-five minutes on how to choose a paddle — weighting, grips, shapes — and then the whole Diadem demo fleet stays out for the rest of the morning. Feel the difference between a 16mm and a 14mm. Between an elongated shape and a hybrid. Between their mid-tier paddle and their flagship. Campers get 15% off any Diadem gear at camp, and one camper at every Breakthrough camp goes home with a brand-new Diadem paddle.

Included #4 · new

The Breakthrough Players Club — 12 months, free with your spot

Camp finds the habit and fixes it. The Players Club is how it stays fixed. Every camper gets a year of it at no charge.

A private group for Breakthrough campers and coaches — ask a coach a question any time, and keep playing with the people from your camp
A live 45-minute coach Q&A every month — bring your questions, or the video of the shot that keeps failing
Every call recorded and posted, so you never miss one
A new drill every month: what it fixes, how to run it, and a one-page guide you can take to the court

A Players Club membership will sell for $69.99 a year. Yours is included.

Four hours of coaching and $149.98 of extras above — all included in your $249 spot.

Paddle partner

Breakthrough Pickleball is proudly partnered with Diadem Sports. The Paddle Lab is taught as diagnostic instruction — we teach you how to choose a paddle for your game, not which one to buy. One paddle is given away per camp by random drawing.

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · 7 days or fewer before camp: no refund, but a full future-camp credit or send another player · Refund policy

Questions? Ask a coach or call or text (830) 554-9310.

Frequently asked questions

What skill level is this camp for?

Breakthrough camps are built for 2.9–3.5 players, 50 and over. No DUPR needed. With 8 players and one coach, the coaching is individual either way, and if the group spans a wide range we’ll group players by level for some of the drills. If you can rally and serve consistently, you’re in the right room. If you’re already winning consistently at 4.0, this isn’t your camp.

I don’t have a DUPR rating. Can I still come?

Yes. Most of our players don’t. If you can hold your own in an intermediate open play, you’re a fit. Not sure? Call or text (830) 554-9310 and we’ll tell you honestly.

I’m not sure I’m a 2.9 yet. Is this camp for me?

If you can hold your own in an intermediate open play, this camp is for you. Eight players is a small enough group that you get corrected by name, not coached to the middle of the room, and your coach meets you where you are. Still not sure? Call or text (830) 554-9310 and we’ll tell you honestly.

What age range is this camp for?

50 and over. The drills, the pace and the warm-up are built for how the 50-and-over player actually moves — winning with position and patience, not by running more.

Will I get one-on-one attention?

Eight players, one coach, two courts. You get individual corrections through the morning — plus a written plan built from what your coach actually saw you do.

I’ve done clinics before and didn’t improve. Why will this be different?

A clinic teaches everyone the same thing. Here, your coach diagnoses YOUR one habit, you fix it on court, you rep it under pressure, and you leave with a written plan and a drill sheet to keep working it. Different job.

I’m coming on my own. Will that feel awkward?

No. Most players come alone. You rotate through the full group, and by the 10:40 break you’ll know everyone’s name.

Four hours sounds like a lot. How physically demanding is it?

Less than a morning of open play. Eight players on two courts means short lines and real rest between reps, there’s a ten-minute break at 10:40, the courts are indoor and climate-controlled, and the whole point is efficient movement. You set the pace; your coach adjusts to you.

Is the camp indoors?

Yes — Texas Pickle Hall is an indoor, climate-controlled facility. Weather is never a factor. Weather is never a factor.

What should I bring?

Your paddle, court shoes and water. We supply balls and everything else. Don’t own a paddle? Tell us when you register and we’ll have one for you to use — and you’ll hit the whole Diadem demo rack during the Paddle Lab anyway.

What is the Players Club?

A private group for Breakthrough campers and coaches, a live 45-minute coach Q&A every month (recorded if you miss it), and a new drill every month with a one-page guide. Every camper gets twelve months free; after that it’s $69.99 a year if you want to stay. You get the group link in your confirmation email.

When do I get the After-Camp Plan?

Your drill sheet is in your hand at camp. Your written After-Camp Plan comes by email within 72 hours.

What if I need to cancel?

Cancel 15 or more days before camp and you choose a 90% refund or a 100% future-camp credit. 8–14 days out: a 50% refund, or a 100% future-camp credit. 7 days or fewer: no refund, but you can take a 100% future-camp credit or send another player in your place. Cancellations must be made by email. If we cancel, you choose a full refund or a free transfer. Full policy →

All questions & policies →

Coaches huddling with campers at the sold-out Breakthrough camp in Plano, October 2026

A Breakthrough coach working one-on-one with a camper in Plano

Your breakthrough is one Saturday away.

Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Texas Pickle Hall, Live Oak · 8 spots · 50+ · 2.9–3.5

Eight spots. A coach who will know your game by 9:15. One habit found and fixed before lunch, written down, and a plan to make it stick.

Eight spots. One morning. Your game, different by lunch.

Saturday, November 7 · 9 AM–1 PM · 7 days or fewer before camp: no refund, but a full future-camp credit or send another player · Refund policy

Have questions, or want to talk with a coach first? Ask a question or call or text (830) 554-9310.

Tired of losing to the same people every week?

Player stories

Meet your San Antonio coach

I’m John Sanders — “The Pickleball Professor”

My credentials

Watch Coach John coach

Your four hours, session by session

Why we drill instead of lecture

The Breakthrough Method

What John’s students say

You know the drive home after a bad session.

This camp is for you if…

Picture the Tuesday after.

What you’ll walk away with

A new group of players at your level.

Win points without wearing out.

Decisions without hesitation.

The mistake you keep making — fixed.

You’ll know how to weight and set up a paddle.

A plan for what comes next — and a coach to ask.

Everything included in your $249 spot

The Breakthrough Players Club — 12 months, free with your spot

Frequently asked questions

Your breakthrough is one Saturday away.

Want to talk with a coach before you decide?

Know someone in another city?

One step from your spot

Ask a coach