“10,000 hours of ‘deliberate practice’ are needed to become world class in any field.”

Malcom Gladwell

 

Hello! Thank you for visiting my site.

I am Jose Blanco. I’ve been playing pickleball since 2015, became a certified pickleball instructor in 2018 and have trained over 500 local players just like you in the Des Moines area.

Check out my offerings and please do not hesitate to reach out! See you on the courts!

July 7, 2025

Hello and thank you for visiting my website. I created this site to help offer dates and times to set up pickleball lessons. Both Karen and I teach pickleball in the Des Moines Metro and surrounding areas. Check out the following publicly promoted options or see the Private lesson section below for options. See you on the courts soon!

Publicly promoted lessons:

Ankeny Parks and Rec is offering clinics. Karen will be leading these clinics. Sign up now!

Karen and I do run clinics offered by Smash Park. There are upcoming Date Night and Saturday clinics ranging from 101 “Beginner” clinics to 301 clinics (for 3.0 players). Check it out and sign up!

PRIVATE DAYTIME, EVENTING, AND WEEKEND LESSONS ARE AVAILABLE.

For daytime options, Karen, my partner on and off the court has assisted me with hours upon hours of lessons. She understands the curriculum and is a great resource to solve any problem I’d be able to! She is available most weekdays during the week.

For weekday evening or weekend lessons, it’s best to use the Get in Touch icon at the top right of the webpage. We lead a busy life with ongoing lessons and latin dance lessons - please try to contact us with some lead way as to when you’d like a private lesson.

Private lessons are in 2 hour blocks, so plan accordingly. Lessons can be held at all indoor and outdoor locations. Send a message by clicking on “Get in Touch” at the top right to coordinate a date and time.

Please follow these steps to coordinate a time:

  1. Contact me via email or text to confirm the time(s) are available. Let me know when you’d like a lesson and where (at minimum what city you live in).

  2. I will respond with location and pricing options. Indoor is best for a lesson but it does increase the cost as we will be paying to reserve a court.

  3. (INDOOR OPTIONS) Check either Dinks, SmashPark or RecPlex for availability.

    • Dinks requires membership which I am a gold member of. I would be able to reserve a court and have you as my guests to schedule a lesson there. Email me to coordinate a time.

    • SmashPark allows you to reserve a court up to 2 weeks out. Be sure to look for an indoor court. Their app allows you to look two weeks out for availability.

    • RecPlex website shows you availability but you must call during the day to reserve over the phone. In the link above, be sure to check both the Red and White pickleball courts for availability.

    • (OUTDOOR OPTIONS) Valley View Pickleball courts can be rented ahead of time as well. Check out their website for details.

    • We can coordinate “Free” outdoor locations as well.

4.We’ll continue to communicate until we can confirm a location, date, and time. I accept Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, cash depending on how the court reservation is to be handled. See rates below.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again for visiting.

Services offered

  • Private lesson for group of up to 4: Beginner

    This is the best value for a lesson as costs are shared by a group of up to 4 players. One 2-hour session. Cost is $80 + venue costs (if applicable)

  • Private lesson for group of up to 4: Advanced

    This is the best choice for players who know the rules, have some level of consistently getting the ball back over the net and are looking to improve their game. One 2-hour session. Cost is $100 + venue costs (if applicable)

  • Private One-on-One lesson

    Get full attention with this one-on-one option. New to the game or you want to focus on a certain part of the game?

    One 2-hour session.. Cost is $80 + venue costs (if applicable)

  • Private parties/team building

    Do you want to schedule a private party or team building exercise? I can help organize and train during your event. Cost: Contact for details.

  • Children 12+ and young adult lessons

    This sport has benefits for all ages including children and young adults. Benefits include increased hand-eye coordination, strategy planning, building upon other paddle/raquet sports. Cost: Contact for details.

  • Pickleball machine addition

    Do you want to add the use of a pickleball machine to the lesson? By adding this option, we will incorporate the machine into the lesson.

    Add $25 to your offering selection.

  • Evaluate your game

    Do you want to know what level of play your are? This is a great option for those untested in tournaments or entering a league. (Note: I am not a certified ranking representative - this is simply for non-sanctioned tourneys or leagues)

    One 2-hour session. Cost is $80 + venue costs (if applicable)

  • Drill partner

    Are you wanting to learn new drills to improve your game? Let’s set up some time and focus on a range of drills that will elevate your game!

    One 2-hour session. Cost is $80 + venue costs (if applicable)

Contact Jose for a lesson!

Pickleball machine option.

When scheduling your lesson, you can add an option to have the pickleball machine machine to be included in the lesson. Whether you want to work on third-drop-shots, blocking, backhand shots, resets or slams - this option provides consistent set up shots to drill those skills. Contact me for rates.

A few photos with the Pros and local players

  • 2018 at Chicken 'n Pickle receiving my trainer certification.

    Accepting my IPTPA Certificate from ITPTA President Seymour Rifkind. "Riff" is also the President of the Picklleball Hall of Fame

  • Training with Dave Weinbach

    Training with Dave "The Badger" Weinbach.Dave is a 10-time US Open Champion, 9-time USAPA National Champion.

  • Training with Zane Navartil and John Cincola

    Training with Zane Navartil and John Cincola. Zane is the #1 ranked Singles player in the world. John is ranked #7 in the world.

  • Winning SmashPark's first ever men's competitive league and tournament

    Winning SmashPark's first ever men's competitive league and tournament

  • 2022 State Games of America Tournament

    2022 State Games of America Tournament

  • Mark Dennison of 3rd Shot Sports

    Training with Mark Dennison. Mark is the owner of 3rd Shot Sports; one of the first curriculum-based Pickleball training programs offered in the continental US.

Where it all started….

At a young age, I traveled Europe as my father was enlisted in the U.S. Army. Whether it was at the local community center or out in the neighborhoods living amongst locals, I fell in love with table tennis. In middle school, I played a few years of league racquetball and was later introduced to what was at the time called “paddle ball”.

Many years later, I stumbled upon pickleball; literally playing in a button up shirt and leather shoes. Check out these pictures of my first day on the court! I was hooked ever since.

I love to teach. I followed my passion to teach and combined it with pickleball in 2017 where I was teaching for the City of Ankeny’s Adult Education programs. I wanted to become the best instructor I could be, so later that year I became ITPTA certified.

Fast forward to the end of 2018 when I made a year-end bucket list. On it was skydiving and learning how to dance Salsa! Not only did I achieve both that following year, but I now also instruct Salsa dancing classes!

Not all great players make great instructors. In my years of experience in teaching; whether it be in my career, on the pickleball court or on the dance floor I am confident you’ll enjoy my classes and will leave learning something about yourself, the game and why I love the sport of pickleball.

I hope to see you on the courts!

What My Students Say

  • "Jose and Karen are the very best! It’s so great to learn from two awesome people. Thanks again for everything. You two are very much appreciated"

    Jen

  • "Your lessons exceed my expectations!"

    Clinic held at Smash Park Clinic - Level 201 student

  • "Jose and Karen love to teach. They are such great trainers. Not only do they have solutions to my problems, but they can offer drills to help work on bad habits and common mistakes."

    Kevin and David: Novice players, 2 lessons

  • "Jose didn't hold back in teaching me ways to beat him. I now give him a run for his money!"

    George G.; advanced novice, 2 individual lessons and one group lesson

  • "2 hours went by so fast! I learned so much and now I know why my opponents beat me or my shots aren't going where expected."

    Kelly M.;beginner, 2 individual sessions

  • "We got slaughtered in our first RecPlex league matches. After 2 classes, we not only won our next matches but could hear Jose walk us step by step reminding us what to focus on."

    Michelle; beginner; 2 individual and 2 group sessions

  • "We played our first two matches in our Smash Park intermediate league; losing to bangers. I contacted Jose and he provided a game plan based on the lessons he gave us. We came back the next week and won both games! His training works!"

    Pauline; Advanced beginner, 2 group sessions

  • "Thank you Jose and Karen. I have learned so much from your lessons."

    Stephanie; advanced beginner, 2 group lessons

  • "My wife has been playing pickleball for a year now. I played once and knew right away I had some catching up to do. Jose not only taught me how to play...but how to beat her at her own game!"

    Kevin M.; Beginner. One lesson…and recently divorced.

  • "Your lessons make so much sense! I like how you told me to focus on one thing at a time; creating new habits."

    Mike S. Novice beginner with tennis experience, Two private lessons, one group lesson.

Links to local clubs and resources

  • Ankeny Pickleball League

    Ankeny offered the first recurring spring and fall tournaments and leagues in the area. Follow them on Facebook to be informed of upcoming leagues and tournaments.

  • Dinks Pickleball

    Check out the newest addition to Des Moines. 13 (thirteen) indoor courts! Check out the site for membership information,.

  • Prairie Trail Sports Complex Facebook page


    This indoor facility is located in West-Central Ankeny and has the ability to house 12 indoor courts. Follow them on Facebook to find out when they have open play.

  • Des Moines Metro Pickleball Club

    This is the largest club in Des Moines. Consider becoming a member to take part of local events including parades, fundraisers, and members-only pickleball “Crazy 8s”.

  • Playtime Scheduler

    This site is free to register and gives you access to all the local spots and who is playing where.

    It shares locations, if the courts are dedicated or tennis-layovers, lighting, indoor and outdoor, times of play and if any fees involved.

  • Smashpark

    Smashpark offers 2 Outdoor courts with lights and 4 indoor courts. Did I mention they were dedicated courts? They have great food and drinks and their game zones offer other yard-games from corn hold, darts, shuffleboard, table tennis AND MORE!

    Check out their site for leagues and tournaments.

  • Valley View Park Pickleball court rental

    The area’s latest addition of outdoor courts. 8 dedicated courts, with lights. You can reserve courts 1-4 by clicking on the link above.

  • MidAmerican Energy RecPlex

    This location has 2 full-size hockey rinks, basketball courts, eGaming, and… up to 5 indoor pickleball courts (2 dedicated). Check out their site to see when open play is offered or to reserve a court

  • Latin Up Your Life

    Check out our Facebook page to learn about when classes start. Heck - it might even improve your pickleball game!