Justin Telmo
Pickleball Coach in San Jose, California
Helping you get to your next step in your pickleball journey.
Hello, my name is Justin Telmo, and I am a PPR-certified instructor who is passionate about helping people at all levels improve their pickleball game. My approach to coaching pickleball is to break large concepts down as much as possible in order to establish common fundamentals that can be applied to as many things as possible. I have experience coaching racquet/paddle sports to players of all ages and various skill levels. I am open to individual lessons, group lessons, as well as video review sessions to help you improve.
5.0
25 reviews
49+
Lessons taught
1
Years experience
9
Locations
Building Pickleball fundamentals through drills, games, and experience!
I am a PPR-certified instructor based in San Jose, CA that offers in-person and virtual lessons as well as video review. I help players at every level build a dependable pickleball foundation, make clearer decisions on court, and turn practice into progress they can use in games. My focus is raising your skill floor before chasing a higher ceiling. I break big ideas into fundamental concepts that apply across many shots, then turn those concepts into focused drills and game situations. We can work on basics such as rules, scoring, serving, returns, footwork, dinks, drives, or backhands, depending on your goals. I will explain what I see, answer your questions, and help you learn from your own games through clear feedback and practical takeaways. Whether you are learning from the ground up or preparing for an event, we will build a plan that fits your experience and schedule.
See Justin Telmo in Action
Private Lessons
Choose a lesson package that works for you. Every session is personalized to your skill level and goals.
Intro To Pickleball
New to pickleball? This series of lessons is designed to help you learn the basics of pickleball from the ground up. Over the course of four lessons you will learn everything you need to learn how to play pickleball, including but not limited to: the different lines on the court, the rules of the game, how to keep score, how to hold your paddle, how to serve, how to hit from every spot on the court, and how to implement basic strategies in your games.
- 1 Fully Recorded Pickleball Game
- Personalized introduction to pickleball
Private Drilling Sessions
*RECOMMENDED FOR EXPERIENCED PLAYERS ONLY* Know what you want to work on but just need a partner and/or guidance? I'll come out to you and drill with you on what you specifically want, offering personalized feedback.
- 90 minutes of drilling
- Focused coaching
- Drills for specific shots
Tournament Preparation Package
Are you an experienced player who is looking to prepare for an upcoming pickleball event? I will work with you to prepare for that tournament. On-court, this means sharpening your game with drills and exercises, while off-court this means things like talking through your strategy, scouting opponents, and reviewing videos of your games.
- Tournament preparation
- Intense & focused drilling
“Justin is a great coach and a great person all around! He’s got the background, patience, and passion of an incredible pickleball player and instructor. He individualizes his lessons, focuses on form and court awareness, and does not waste your time with generic advice. He helped my husband significantly with his serve and worked with me on drive volleys and general footwork. He also does video review (which is my favorite!) He pauses at the right moments to highlight strengths and point out areas for improvement and he summarizes everything into a short list of things you can actually change. That part alone was worth it. I went from a 2.9 to a 3.25 DUPR in just a few months playing with him consistently. Whether you just want to learn the game or you’re serious about improving, I’d highly recommend Justin “Telmo” Telmo!”
Beth C.
What Students Say
Anand N.
3 lessons
Justin is an attentive, thoughtful coach who pays close attention to your body position, posture, and overall technique. He quickly identifies what is affecting your shots and gives clear, practical feedback on how to improve. After my sessions with Justin, my drops and resets improved noticeably. More importantly, my confidence in those shots grew, and I was able to start using them effectively in real games. Justin is also a warm and encouraging person. I love playing 7-11 with him, and I really appreciate that he watches my games and helps me understand which shots I need to work on next. I’m very glad to have him as my coach and highly recommend him.
Jason W.
15 lessons
I initially booked a single lesson with Justin, but I was so impressed after that first session that I immediately signed up for a 10-pack. Justin is an exceptionally attentive and perceptive coach. He closely observes every movement, pinpointing subtle adjustments and offering actionable advice to elevate my game. We worked through everything from serves and third-shot drops to both one-handed and two-handed backhands, as well as offensive and defensive techniques. My overall technique, consistency, and court confidence have improved significantly thanks to his guidance. I highly recommend Justin to anyone looking to level up their pickleball game!
Ganesh
1 lesson
If you want a coach who truly cares about your growth, Justin is your guy! Our 2-hour "Serve and Return" session was structured perfectly, starting with a solid warm-up and then moving into targeted serve and return drills with rotations and routine feedback. Justin was super gracious and hung back after the session to give us extra pointers, plus answer questions and share some awesome general tips for our overall game. It’s rare to find someone who is both a strong player and an easygoing teacher. Can’t wait for the next one!
Sally G.
2 lessons
Justin was very professional, flexible with time, easy to communicate. I requested a coach can work evening hours, and Justin answered that request. In addition, he was very flexible to adjust the situation and made the first work for both of us. The first training session started with warm up, assessment and a targeted skill exercise. I felt I've already made some progresses. Thank you!
Ridham P.
1 lesson
My lesson focused on backhand strategy. I have rarely used 2-handed backhands during games but after 45 mins session with Justin, I was much more comfortable using backhands on base line as well as for dinks. Justin made great observations on my foot work, hand-eye coordination and body rotations and taught exactly what to apply when. Looking forward to more lessons!!
Anand N.
3.5+ DUPR rated player
Justin is an attentive, thoughtful coach who pays close attention to your body position, posture, and overall technique. He quickly identifies what is affecting your shots and gives clear, practical feedback on how to improve. After my sessions with Justin, my drops and resets improved noticeably. More importantly, my confidence in those shots grew, and I was able to start using them effectively i
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before booking with Justin.
Do you provide equipment?
Students are responsible for bringing appropriate footwear, hydration, and a paddle to these lessons. Balls will be provided for all lessons.
I can only do a lesson for a certain time at a certain place. How can I fit you into my schedule?
I am fairly flexible when it comes to when and where I give lessons. As long as we can get uninterrupted court time, I will work with you to find a way to get our lesson done.
How much do your lessons cost?
A single lesson with me is $85 through my own site. Package lessons start at $85 per lesson, and membership lessons are $75 per lesson, depending on the option you choose.
Where can I actually take lessons with you?
I will work with you to find the best times and places to offer lessons. I do not have sole access to a private court, and most public parks will be too crowded on weekends and weekday nights. If you have access to a private court, I can drive to you as long as you are within reasonable distance to San Jose, CA.
Do you teach beginners?
Absolutely! I offer a three-part Intro To Pickleball series that starts from absolute basics, including but not limited to: the rules of the game, the structure of the court, how scoring works, how to hold your paddle, how to serve, and basic game strategy. The goal of the series is to ultimately prepare you to be able to play full games with friends, family, and/or anybody you might run into at your local pickleball court! As with all of my students, I focus on building solid fundamental techniques that apply to as many areas of the game as possible.
Do you offer virtual lessons?
I do indeed offer virtual lessons! I offer multiple types of video review sessions, depending on your preference and goals. The most common type of virtual lesson I offer is a video review session, where we sit down and review game footage of you. These lessons are often recorded for future reference for both myself and the student. Yes, I teach online through video review sessions. In a live video review, we watch your gameplay together so you can ask questions and receive feedback, or I can review a recording and send you a detailed review with advice and explanations.
Ready to Start?
Justin is available throughout the week for lessons. Pick a time that works for your schedule.
Choose a PackageWeekly Schedule
Booking policies
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your lesson.