The Paddle LandsPickleball Venue in Jacksonville, FL

Currently the Director of Pickleball at The Paddle Lands Pickleball Club. From competing as a pro athlete to coaching for the past 5 years, I've dedicated my life to the exciting world of pickleball. From college and competitive tennis player and then finding pickleball. I’ve been teaching sports for over 25 years and so far this is the most fun due to the people I get to meet and work with. My passion lies in sharing my knowledge and experience to help players of all levels reach their full potential. Let's get on the court and have some fun while elevating your game!

"I’ve been playing pickleball for a little over a year now, and working with Jeff Kinlaw has been the single biggest reason I went from a complete beginner to a consistent 3.25–3.5 level player. I came in with almost no background in racquet sports and a lot of bad habits, and Jeff built my game from the ground up in a way that was clearly tailored to me—not a one-size-fits-all lesson plan. What stood out immediately was how closely he watched how I actually played. Jeff didn’t just teach generic drills; he identified *my* tendencies—how I approached the kitchen line (or when I didn't) , how I handled dinks under pressure, when I rushed shots, not to mention my footwork, then he designed each lesson around fixing those specific issues. Every session had a purpose, and I always walked away knowing exactly what to work on before the next one. As my game developed, so did his coaching. When I was brand new, he focused on fundamentals: grip, footwork, shot selection, and understanding the geometry of the court. Once I started improving, he shifted to more advanced concepts like third-shot drops, soft resets, positioning, and reading opponents. That progression is what helped me break through the beginner plateau and start winning consistently against better players. Jeff is also excellent at explaining the *why* behind every shot. Instead of just telling me what to do, he helped me understand strategies, like when to speed up, when to slow down, how to create pressure without taking unnecessary risks. That understanding has made me far more confident and consistent in real games, not just in drills. If you’re serious about improving at pickleball, whether you’re brand new or trying to move up from intermediate to advanced, I can’t recommend Jeff highly enough. His coaching is thoughtful, individualized, and incredibly effective. A year ago I was just hoping to keep the ball in play. Now I’m a solid 3.25–3.5 player with a real, repeatable game, and that’s 100% because of Jeff’s coaching.