Pickleball Camp Recap: A Weekend with The Pickleball Doctor

Last weekend, I had the chance to attend an intermediate-level pickleball camp with The Pickleball Doctor—Noe Sariban—at Rhythm & Rally in Macon, GA. If you haven’t been to this facility yet, it’s worth the trip. It’s located inside a defunct mall and has something like 32 indoor, climate-controlled courts, a small shop for gear, plenty of restrooms, and a super laid-back vibe. A perfect setting for a weekend of pickleball.

Our group had 9 adult campers in the intermediate level (there was also an advanced intermediate group), and our session was split over two days—Saturday from 10 to 2 and Sunday from 8 to 12. It totaled 8 hours of instruction and honestly felt like a great value.

Noe, aka The Pickleball Doctor, didn’t just show up—he made it happen. His first flight was canceled due to issues at the Atlanta airport. Then his second flight was canceled too. I think most people would’ve canceled the camp. Instead, he got up  and drove at 3 a.m. from North Carolina to Macon just to be there. He wasn’t tired, didn’t seem cranky at all, and gave us his full energy the entire time. Amazing!

Noe is on Team Ben Johns (the G.O.A.T of male pickleball) and works closely with the top pros, so he brings a ton of knowledge. But he teaches in a way that makes things click for amateur players like me.

We learned quite a lot about the doubles game—but here are some highlights:

• How to hit 3rd shot drops and drives, plus the strategy of when to use each and who to target
• Serve strategy and serve return strategy
• Dinking to reset, as well as faster, more targeted dinks to pressure your opponents
• Court positioning for smarter play
• Footwork at the kitchen line for better balance and readiness

I left the weekend feeling more confident in my game and more thoughtful about how I play—not just how I hit the ball.

If The Pickleball Doctor hosts a camp near you, I really recommend checking it out. I’m not receiving any kickbacks for this review—just sharing a great experience. You can follow him on Instagram @thepickleballdoctor to see where he’s headed next.

A Few Extras from The Pickleball Doctor

Since the camp, Noe shared a few other cool things he's working on that might interest fellow pickleball lovers:

• The Pickleball Doctor Podcast – He recently launched a podcast where he shares tips, strategy, and behind-the-scenes insights from the pro world. You can find it on Spotify or YouTube by searching The Pickleball Doctor Podcast. I’ve started listening and it’s a great way to keep learning off the court.
• Rallie Pickleball Machine – Noe’s also working with a company called Rallie Pickleball that makes a lightweight ball machine you can control through an app. You can program where you want the ball to land and it’ll feed shots right where you need them. He’s not usually a fan of ball machines, but he really likes this one—and it’s more affordable than a lot of others out there. If you're curious, check out ralliepickleball.com and use the code pickleballdoctor for a discount.
• Stay and Train in Chapel Hill – Noe has a high-end court at his home in Chapel Hill, NC, and just built a beautiful guest suite for players who want to do private training with him. If that sounds like your kind of getaway, reach out to him by email to get the details.
• Pickleball Vacations – He also hosts all-inclusive pickleball trips. The next one will be in Mexico this January (the November trip to the Dominican Republic is already sold out). These trips are popular, so if you’re interested, definitely reach out to him early.

See you on the courts!

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