-
Oak and Iron Fitness | Fitness & Sports in Wisconsin
Planet Fitness | Fitness & Sports in Wisconsin
Backstreet Boxing Club & Gym | Fitness & Sports in Wisconsin
Temple Fitness Personal Training 837 Logan avenue Bronx NY 10465 | Fitness & Sports in Wisconsin
TOS Boxing Gym | Fitness & Sports in Wisconsin
The Pit Barn | Fitness & Sports in Wisconsin
Activity
Personal trainerAbout the Club
Elevate your pickleball play with Lawson Pickleball, led by Certified Trainer James 'J-Smooth' Lawson. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, our tailored private and group lessons are designed to improve your skills rapidly. Enhance your competitive edge with our corporate events and accurate DUPR rating assessments. Treat your beloved paddle to the ultimate luxury makeover—from Hesacore grips to custom overwraps and edge guards, we have everything you need to make your paddle shine and play like a dream.
Photos
Leave a Review
Reviews
Maureen Hamby
★ 5
James is a good coach! I liked that he reached out ahead of the practice to see what I needed to work on. He addressed those concerns during the lesson. It was fun also! Highly recommend him.,
Source: Google
renee montavon
★ 5
James was very patient and gave plenty of positive feedback for all involved in the group lesson. His instructions were very clear and extremely helpful. I look forward to putting everything I learned into action during a game.
Source: Google
Mike Stamper
★ 5
Took 2 hour training session with James. He was very knowledgeable and attentive. Helped explain the game of Pickleball, the rules and tips on how I can improve my game. I would highly recommend him.
Source: Google
Jack Measures
★ 5
A week before the session we had a group chat with the 3 players and the coach. We all discussed what each of us wanted out of the session. James asked questions and and gave feedback. The session was by far the best session we have ever had. James really listened to our needs and gave his very valuable coach insights. I am definitely a better player after this session.
Source: Google
Christian Gentry
★ 5
Had a nice DUPR rating session with James. Very educational and was great to ask him questions regarding the sport. Will be back for more personalized lessons in the future!
Source: Google
Darcy Davis
★ 5
I love volleyball and a friend referred me to James. I'm new to the game and he has a great demeanor and you can tell he really wants to teach people the game. He is quick to respond and a great communicator. I have done 2 lessons and I like how he emphasizes things that every player needs to get better like get the ball down, but in a nice manner. He was willing to add things I wanted to work on as well as he can easily identify where my weaknesses were and made drills for that. He can upgrade your paddle as well and knows a lot about the equipment. Highly recommend and Black Barn Picklebarn in Dayton is a really nice new facility to learn the game!
Source: Google
Jim Prater
★ 5
Had our first beginners lesson with James at the Black Barn. He was very patient and work with us on the fundamentals. James made learning fun.
Source: Google
Linnette M
★ 5
I enjoyed attending James’s beginners pickleball class. His teaching style was enjoyable as he was clear with his instruction but also added humor. He created a supportive environment where we first worked on drills and then we played games as he gave us feedback on strategy and reinforced the rules of the game. I am looking forward to more lessons with James!
Source: Google
John Numbers
★ 5
Had a great time in the Friday Friendly Night pickleball session. James used both drills and lots of actual game time to reinforce skill development. Kept the group moving and working with various partners the entire evening. Always super positive in his style and promoting the benefits of the game. Highly recommend for anybody looking to meet New players and develop basic skills.
Source: Google
Chad Group
★ 5
James is not only a great player but a great coach. He has a warm and encouraging demeanor that disarms the nerves and lets you play your best. He is great at evaluating and setting up a strategy and implementing to see results. I’m looking forward to becoming a better player with James.
Source: Google
Allen Benton
★ 5
James is very friendly and patient. He got us volleying quickly.
The facility is comfortable: both temperature and lighting.
Source: Google
Melody White
★ 5
To ensure my best game following an injury, I enlisted the help of James Lawson. Each of his lesson plans included purposeful drills, constructive feedback, and lots of fun. If you are looking to refresh your skills and confidence in the game of Pickleball, I highly recommend James Lawson. He is a very great player himself and a terrific coach!
Source: Google
Thomas Ashman
★ 5
I had a great experience with James Lawson selling me a crush Pickelball paddle he explained what it would do and he was right it’s just a good experience
Source: Google
Meka Spencer
★ 5
My partner and I have trained with Coach James Lawson 3 to 4 times now and he’s amazing! He’s very attentive and provides thoughtful, actionable feedback that has helped us improve our game. He doesn’t just focus on the technical aspects like serves and movement on the court, he also motivates and encourages us with a cheerful, positive attitude, even when we mess up! And at the end of every session, we always leave feeling more confident and eager to get better. He’ll even take the time to message us with feedback or things to work on. We definitely recommend him to anyone looking to improve their pickleball skills!
Source: Google
Laura Raskay
★ 5
James is a wonderful teacher and coach. He breaks everything down into easily understandable steps and then lets you work on them in real time. Very patient and kind. He has made a huge difference in my pickleball game!
Source: Google
Alex Cordonnier
★ 5
Buying my first Crush paddle through Jason was Great. Paddle was amazing and Jason is even nice enough to play a couple games with you.
Source: Google
Mark Johnson
★ 5
I’ve been looking for a paddle with a little more power and yet still offering the control that keeps my game competitive. James was kind enough to loan me a Crush Force 5G 14 mm for a couple of days to see if it would be a good fit for my game style. I placed an order for this paddle soon after. Took about a week or two before I was able to consistently get my 3rds and drives working. Going with this Crush paddle was exactly what I needed.
Source: Google
Cheryl T
★ 5
My pickleball partner and I had a lesson with James Lawson in preparation for an upcoming tournament. James was very easy flexible with time and place. He responds very quickly when communicating via text messages. In the hour lesson with James, he provided us with some good drills to work on as well as giving us useful strategy pointers! He makes sure you are getting what you need from the lesson. I highly recommend James for pickleball lessons.
Source: Google
Peggy D'Arcy
★ 5
James was awesome! I learned a lot and he helped to improve my play immensely. He was encouraging and the lessons were fun!
Source: Google
Ted Vander Roest
★ 5
James is a wonderful pickleball instructor. He creates a training plan for you, and is very patient while you work on different drills. He has an easygoing approach but you feel like you learned a lot when the lesson is done.
Source: Google
Todd Smith
★ 5
Very professional and talented. He is a great coach and can help anyone at any level.
Source: Google
Charles Veil
★ 5
Coach James makes learning pickleball a blast! My skills and strategy improved quickly—highly recommend for all levels!
Source: Google
Rotunda Jackson
★ 5
I've had repeated private and group pickleball lessons with James and they were exceptional. His easygoing temperament made the lessons interactive and fun.
I developed essential skills with the use of his excellent techniques and drills. My performance improved significantly.
If you're looking to acquire basic pickleball principles to build a strong foundation or you want to up your game. I highly recommend James Lawson, the Game Changer!!!
Source: Google
Kenna Ward
★ 5
I highly recommend James. My pickleball league has hired him many times. He coaches to eight individuals with all of us at a varied skill levels. He is amazing with identifying our shortcomings and encouraging/coaching us on how to improve our skill level. Everyone wants to slam the ball and he has taught me how to dink the ball so that it changes the momentum of play which totally throws the opponent off. I personally have learned a lot from James and will continue to utilize his expertise!
Source: Google
Stan Kriesberg
★ 5
James Lawson is Pickleball Extraordinaire! In providing both Pickleball lessons and rating assessments, James is always professional, thorough, resourceful, and practical in bringing a beneficial and active hands-on learning experience to any level of play, and he also ensures a calm, instructive, scientifically fair, and supportive approach to evaluating level of play. Obviously, I have tremendously enjoyed and learned from my Pickleball experiences with James and can highly recommend him for any Pickleball player’s needs, thank you!👍👍👍👍👍
Source: Google
Tina patrick
★ 5
James is a great coach who provides clear, simple instructions that are easy to learn. He has great drills he uses to improve your game. I also love playing with the crush paddle. It is the BEST! It has great pop and helps with absorbing hard shots. James is my go to person for anything Pickleball!
Source: Google
Barbara Davis
★ 5
James is a great Pickleball instructor! Recently three friends and I had a lesson where we did drills first with his input. The last half of the lesson we played games while he helped us with strategy and answered questions. It was so helpful to get feedback in the moment! I will definitely do this again and highly recommend James for whatever level you are!
Source: Google
TheDeatonShow
★ 5
He knows the game very well and is a good coach when it comes to the game! I’ve been with him for over a year now and he’s helped me so much to become better and better each and everyday.
Source: Google
Candace Goodall
★ 5
James is very professional with his interactions with players of all levels. His energetic approach to the sport is infectious and refreshing!
Source: Google
Bret Nicolle Boll
★ 5
James is great working with my son (8 years old). He challenges him, keeps him engaged, and does it in a fun way that makes my son love his lessons. And I am learning a lot too from watching them!
Source: Google
Matt Heidenreich
★ 5
James did an excellent job teaching our group how to play pickleball and made the whole process easy and fun. Highly recommended!
Source: Google
Vickie Gleason
★ 5
James is very professional, knowledgeable and in tune to your needs as a pickleball coach. James has been playing for over 7 years and coaching for over 3 years. He is very aware of the game and his main goal is to help you become a better player. If you are looking to take your game to the next level or if looking to work on a specific skill, I would recommend James.
Source: Google
Lisa Bixler
★ 5
James was a great help in making over my pickleball paddle. He is extremely professional and timely with replies and service! I would highly recommend him.
Source: Google
John Gevedon
★ 5
I had a one hour pickleball lesson with James. He went through many aspects of the game, concentrating on specific skills and decision making as a whole.
First, I was impressed with James' attention to detail. He focused on how to position each part of the body in order to make the best shot, and where to be on the court. He made helpful comments after every move.
Second, he moved through the hour fluidly, keeping the practice relevant and meaningful to the game. Every segment was strategically planned.
Finally, James has impeccable teaching skills. His methods of delivering instruction to match the skill level of those involved are impressive, and he is supportive and genuinely enthusiastic with his participants.
James is a top shelf instructor -- do yourself a favor and spend some time improving your game with the best.
Source: Google