Russ Lombardo
Pickleball Coach in Cary, NC
Helping new and experienced players to learn and improve your game.
I help pickleball beginners build confidence and learn the game, while helping experienced players sharpen their skills, strategy, and consistency. Whether you are picking up a paddle for the first time or working toward a stronger all-around game, I create personalized lessons around your goals and the areas you want to improve. I am a PCI-certified Pickleball coach with five years of coaching experience, and I bring a relaxed, welcoming energy to every session. We can work on fundamentals such as grips, serves, returns, dinks, and court positioning, or focus on more advanced tactics, shot placement, resets, and handling different styles of play. Each lesson combines targeted drills with game play, so you can put new skills into action while enjoying your time on the court. I coach players in Cary and nearby communities, including Apex, Raleigh, Durham, and Morrisville. As a Selkirk Advocate, I can provide paddles to demo and help you find a good fit for your needs. With a 5.0 rating from 113 reviews and 156 completed lessons, I would love to help you enjoy Pickleball and play with greater confidence. Book a lesson and let’s get started!
5.0
132 reviews
179+
Lessons taught
5
Years experience
9
Locations
I Help Beginners Build Confidence and Experienced Players Sharpen Their Game
I help pickleball beginners build confidence and learn the game, while helping experienced players sharpen their skills, strategy, and consistency. Whether you're picking up a paddle for the first time or working toward a stronger all-around game, I create personalized lessons around your goals. In Cary, North Carolina, and nearby communities, I coach with a relaxed, welcoming approach that keeps learning productive and enjoyable. I am a PCI-certified Pickleball coach with five years of coaching experience. We can work on grips, serves, returns, dinks, court positioning, shot placement, resets, and handling different styles of play. Each lesson combines targeted drills with gameplay, so you can practice skills in action. As a Selkirk Advocate, I can provide paddles to demo and help you find a good fit. With a 5.0 rating from 113 reviews and 156 completed lessons, I would love to help you enjoy Pickleball and play with greater confidence. Book a lesson and let's get started.
See Pickleball With Russ Lombardo in Action
Private Lessons
Choose a lesson package that works for you. Every session is personalized to your skill level and goals.
Single 1-hour Lesson
This is a single, starter lesson for Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced Players.
Beginner 4-Pack
You’ll get four 1-hour lessons at a court that’s convenient to both our locations and schedules. We’ll begin with assessing your current interests, skill level, and goals. Then we’ll move on to learning the basics about how to play, from rules and court layout to proper grips to simply getting the ball over the net. And, most importantly, having fun. Through the next lessons, you’ll learn how to dink (Yes, that’s a real pickleball term), serve, return shots, and play a full game.
Intermediate/Advanced 4-Pack
You’ll get four 1-hour lessons at a court that’s convenient to both our locations and schedules. We’ll begin with identifying areas that you want to work on and improve. It could be improving your serve accuracy and speed, or working on court positioning, or dealing with bangers, or a variety of other techniques (skills) and tactics (strategies). Each lesson we’ll focus on targeted areas you want to work on and will include drills and gameplay.
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For lessons with Russ
Parties & Events
Birthday parties
A private group session built around the birthday kid, with games for every level and a coach who runs the show.
Explore pickleball birthday partiesCorporate events
Team-building clinics for your group, at your venue or a court near the office.
Explore pickleball corporate eventsSend an inquiry with your details — Russ replies with availability and a quote before anything is booked.
“Russ is a great coach! He is highly skilled, knowledgeable, and brings great energy, focus, and sense of fun to every lesson. He is great at explaining the “why” behind various pb skills. I’ve benefitted greatly from working with him.”
Elizabeth
What Students Say
Sanjay D.
1 lesson
Finding Russ's lesson pretty helpful overall. He was very knowledgeable, patient, and quite instructive, which made understanding the basics more straightforward. Though there's room to keep developing on racquet technique and strategy, I appreciated his approach and the clear guidance he provided. Still, I’m hoping future lessons will focus more on extra tips for gameplay tactics. If you're interested in solid basics and a thoughtful instructor, you might consider trying Russ.
Joanna P.
17 lessons
The lesson with Russ was quite helpful, especially in working on my pickleball skills at a comfortable pace. The focus on specific mechanics really helped me understand my game better, though I still see room for refinement. I appreciated the calm, clear manner in which he explained things, making the learning process feel natural. Still, I might try more lessons to build on what I covered. If you're looking for thoughtful instruction, I’d suggest giving Russ a try.
Tim S.
9 lessons
The lesson was quite helpful, especially in working on my serve accuracy, though I think I still need to improve my volley game. Russ explained some key strategies clearly and kept things pretty practical, which I appreciated. Still, I’m hoping future lessons will focus a bit more on footwork to really boost my overall play. If you're looking to get a balanced rundown of pickleball skills, you might want to give Russ a try.
Stefanie Reed
1 lesson
Russ is an exceptional pickleball coach who combines expertise, patience, and a genuine passion for the sport. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned player, Russ meets you where you are in your skill level and tailors his advice accordingly. He provides techniques or drills to help you make tangible progress. His easygoing demeanor creates a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.
Steve
1 lesson
Coach Russ Lombardo is a great coach for Pickleball. My wife and I developed true skills given Russ's approach to technique and having fun. His style is encouraging, inclusive and inviting to continue forward. Our PB journey started in early 2022. Having trained under multiple coaches and clinics to help accelerate our skills, my personal favorite by far is Russ. Many thanks
Elizabeth
Russ is a great coach! He is highly skilled, knowledgeable, and brings great energy, focus, and sense of fun to every lesson. He is great at explaining the “why” behind various pb skills. I’ve benefitted greatly from working with him.
Rates
Every price is per player, per session.
Pair and group prices are per player, and one person books for the group. A processing fee is added at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before booking with Russ.
How much do pickleball lessons cost in Cary, North Carolina?
My pickleball lessons are $69 for a single 1-hour session. I also offer a Beginner 4-Pack and an Intermediate/Advanced 4-Pack option, with each lesson priced at $55.
Where can I take pickleball lessons near Cary, North Carolina?
I offer pickleball lessons at Cary-area locations including Carpenter Park, McCrimmon Parkway Neighborhood Park, NetSports Indoor Facility, and Apex Community Park. I also coach at nearby locations in Apex, Raleigh, Durham, and Morrisville, including Apex Nature Park, Piney Wood, Baileywick Park, and Morrisville Community Park.
Are your pickleball lessons suitable for beginners?
Yes. In beginner lessons, I assess your interests, skill level, and goals, then cover the rules, court layout, grips, serving, returning, dinking, and playing a full game. I keep the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming while combining targeted drills with gameplay.
Do I need to bring a paddle to pickleball lessons?
You can bring your own paddle if you have one, but you do not need to. As a Selkirk Advocate, I can provide a variety of paddles to demo and advise you on a good fit for your needs. Bring comfortable athletic clothes, court or tennis shoes, and a water bottle.
What is the rate for a 60-minute pickleball lesson with Russ in or around Cary, North Carolina?
My pickleball lessons are $69 for a single 1-hour session. I also offer a Beginner 4-Pack and an Intermediate/Advanced 4-Pack option, with each lesson priced at $55.
What do intermediate and advanced pickleball lessons in the area of Cary, North Carolina cover?
I begin by identifying the areas you want to improve, such as serve accuracy and speed, court positioning, handling bangers, shot placement, resets, or other techniques and tactics. Each lesson combines targeted drills with gameplay. The Intermediate/Advanced Pack includes four 60-minute lessons.
Ready to Start?
Mornings are usually best for me, but afternoons can work too. Try to avoid evenings since courts are usually packed at that time.
Choose a PackageWeekly Schedule
Booking policies
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your lesson.
Rescheduling
Reschedule any time up to 24-hours before the lesson.
Good to know
In the case of rain, we will communicate before the lesson to reschedule.