CALL KEN TODAY at 304-633-4260 and JOIN www.huntingtonpickleballclub.com
CALL KEN TODAY at 304-633-4260 and JOIN www.huntingtonpickleballclub.com
Contact us to find out how you can join the Huntington Pickleball League in 2022
My name is Kenneth Pemberton age 66 with a successful high school and college background in basketball, tennis, and table tennis. I am a graduate of Vinson High School and Marshall University. After raising 4 kids and retiring from corporate America at age 55, I began playing competitive billiards again. But after 8 years of playing competitive billiards I got about 35 lbs overweight from eating all the time. I needed to get the weight off so I found this crazy sport called Pickleball in June 2019. A mixture of tennis (exercise), racquetball (small paddle), and table tennis (quick hands at the net) intriqued me. So I bought my friend Vic and I a wooden paddle (paddle mistake lol) and began my Pickleball quest to losing weight. Within a week I bought a "quality paddle" and got rid of the wooden paddle. lol I lost 35 lbs in 4 months and was having the time of my life playing Pickleball every day in 2020. Because of Covid in 2021 there were not many tournaments to play so we just did the best we could in finding courts to play on for practice. I broke my left fibula bone in my leg on 1/26/21, after slipping on mud. After being laid up after leg surgery with plate and screws in my fibula for about 4 months I went back to playing again and teaching and it felt good. In 2021 I gained back my 30 lbs with the broken leg not being able to play Pickleball for 4 months in 2021 and had to play again to get it to come off like I did in 2019 when I started playing. In 2021, things started getting back to normal, I got my weight back off, covid started settling back down and the courts are filling up with players and tournaments around the country.
My doubles partner Hunter Tubert and I won the 4.5 division in the ASHLAND invitational tournament in September 2021. My mixed doubles partner Mindy Backus and I won the Silver in 4.0 mixed doubles.
I am undefeated in Pickleball SINGLES event tournaments in my short Pickleball career (June 2019- Current 2022) except for my Bronze medal in this years U S OPEN in Naples FL on 4/24/22
My doubles partner Mike Bentley and I won the Gold in the Teays valley YMCA winter classic in Feb 2022 and My mixed doubles partner Mindy Backus and I won the Gold in the same tournament.
I qualified and look forward to attending this years May, 2022 SENIOR OLYMPICS NATIONAL tournament in Ft Lauderdale, FL. I recently qualified for the SINGLES and MENS DOUBLES events with my partner Mike Bentley.
We won the age 50-54 in mens doubles and I won Singles in age 65-69 in the WV Senior Olympics qualifier in july 2021 And one of my students Mindy Backus will be attending in the mixed doubles event.
I also played in the U S Open tournament in April 2022 in Naples Fl. Playing singles and doubles with my partner Vic Navy. I played in the age 65-69 bracket in both events. I got the bronze medal in Singles
I wish you the best in your Pickleball career but if you are ready to have your Pickleball game be more than just a hobby/social event, I am here, ready, willing, and able to help you become more competitive on the court and win more matches, because winning is FUN. Just read the following testimonials of folks I have helped in their Pickleball career. Hope to hear from you about joining a weekly group lesson or a private lesson ($40 per hr rate) no matter how many people take the 1 hour lesson (1-4 people), but if not, thank you for stopping by and I am always up for a game if you are interested in contacting me to play singles or doubles.
if you want to join a league this summer then call me and become a member of the Huntington Pickleball Club
STUDENT UPDATE 9/26/2020 Ashland KY
CONGRATULATIONS to Amanda & CC, two of my first students, who won GOLD medal in women’s doubles 3.0 skill level. Proof that lessons work. Call us today and get ready to WIN your GOLD MEDAL IN 2021.
KEN UPDATE 11/23/2020 Ashland, KY
Ken won 1st place with an 11-0 record at the 24/7 Ashland Singles round robin tournament on Monday night 11/23/2020. First place prize was a carved trophy by tournament director Tommy Aparicio.
KEN UPDATE 7/10/2021 Charleston, WV
Ken won 1st place in age 65-69 Singles event and 1st place in age 50-54 Mens Doubles event at the WV Senior Olympics tournament.
KEN UPDATE 7/18/2-21 Porstmouth, OH
Ken won 1st place in singles event age 50 and up and 2nd place in mens doubles with Vic and 3rd place in Mixed doubles with Mindy at the Ohio southern senior olympics games.
STUDENT UPDATES 7/24-26, 2021 Ashland, KY
CC won Gold medal in 3.5 womens doubles event . Lance and Blake won silver medal in 3.5 mens double event. Maggie won bronze medal in 3.0 womens doubles event. Lisa won Gold medal in 3.0 womens double event at the annual Ashland tournament.
KEN UPDATE 7/25/2021 Ashland , KY
Ken won GOLD medal in 4.5 mens doubles event. With Hunter Tubert Ken won Silver medal in 4.0 Mixed doubles event with Mindy at the annual Ashland tournament.
STUDENT UPDATE 10/22/2021
Lisa won Gold medal in 3.5 womens doubles event Annie & Mindy P. won Bronze medal in 3.0 womens doubles event. Tom & Karen won silver medal in 3.0 doubles event at the 1st annual Ceredo tournament.
KEN UPDATE 10/22/2021
Ken won GOLD medal in the OPEN division of mens doubles event at the 1st annual Ceredo tournament.
kEN UPDATE: Feb 2022
ken won Gold in mens doubles with his partner Mike Bentley and mixed doubles with his partner Mindy Backus at the Teays Valley Ymca winter tournament
KEN UPDATE: 10/24/22
ken got a Bronze medal in the age 65-69 SINGLES event at the U S Open 2022
MY STUDENTS LEARN THE FOLLOWING
***How to SERVE effectively so you can control the Point from the First shot
***How to RETURN the serve so you can keep your opponent on the defense and get to the kitchen line every time
***How to Increase your 3rd Shot Drop percentage so you can play offensively at the net
***How to determine when you should HIT the 3rd shot drive
***How to use the 4th Shot as a Secret weapon in keeping your Opponent back
***How to DINK in a way that will win you more points with less effort
***How to LOB successfully so you can keep your opponents on the defense
***How to VOLLEY aggressively to put points away at the kitchen line
***How to RESET the slam so you can slow the point down when your opponent is Slamming the Ball
1. YOU will learn various volley techniques to counter and attack different types of shots and players
2. You will learn proper grips for various strokes of dinking, forehand/backhand ground strokes, targeting, and footwork.
3. Understand how to serve and the different types of serves and their proper techniques and placement on the court.
4. Master the 3rd shot drop and drive
5. Learn how to properly return serves, understand ground stroke technique, and when to lob the ball.
6. Learn practice drills, warm up drills, and advanced strategy for singles and doubles play.
7.Learn stacking, strategy, and mindset for playing DOUBLES.
Ken is an expert when it comes to Pickleball fundamentals, rules and techniques. Ken has the skill set and knowledge to help improve your Pickleball game. I have seen many players in this area, become threats on the court due to the in-depth coaching Ken provides.
Nick L Age 26 Founder of Huntington Pickleball on Facebook, Supply Chain Representative Huntington, WV
I got interested in Pickleball while walking past the tennis courts at Ritter Park and seeing people having fun playing this game called Pickleball. After looking online I discovered Ken's internet web site. Calling ken was the best move I made to learn this game. He promptly called me back and set up my first lesson. Ken is the ultimate coach and teacher. He makes learning this game fun and is very passionate about helping people get better at Pickleball. I just finished my 6th lesson today. What a fun experience I have had so far. ken is patient and really enjoys seeing his students progress in their game. He uses drills and strategy to challenge any level of skill, even beginners like myself. It has been a great experience for me to take Pickleball lessons from Ken, and I'd highly recommend him to anyone interested in learning Pickleball or anyone wanting to improve their game at any level.
Karen G Age 62 Retired Huntington, WV
Ken is an expert pickleball player and coach. I had never played a racquet sport before Pickleball and I was in need of the basics to get started so I decided to sign up for classes with ken. I am so glad I did! Ken is an excellent teacher and really worked with me to get the basic skills I needed. He is patient and persistent with the basics of grip, strokes, etc. If you are new to the sport, I highly recommend that you take some lessons first from Ken. However, any skill level will benefit from Kens in depth teaching and strategy to help you winmore games at Pickleball. You will definitely gain the skills and the confidence you need to improve your game and have fun at the same time.
Lisa T Age 54 School teacher, Chesapeake, OH
Ken is an amazing instructor! He's skilled, patient, and most of all, super fun to play any sport with. I am completely uncoordinated and knew nothing about Pickelball. In under an hour, ken had my fundamentals in check with just a few short drills, and I was playing hard and truly enjoying the game! I recommend Ken to give you lessons and any of your friends. No matter the age or skill level he can have them winning more games and having fun playing Pickelball.
Carrie M. Age 41 Bartender at The Pool Hall Huntington,WV
I have known Ken for about a year and a half. I met him on the Pickleball court and have played many games with and against him. Ken has been a good teacher for both me and my wife, Lynn. He was kind enough to not only point out some of our weaknesses but to also work with us on improving our games. We made a road trip to cheer for Ken as he played his first Pickleball tournament. That tournament was also the first time he ever played on an indoor court. And, it was not just your run-of-the-mill local tournament, it was the Southern Ohio Section of the 2019 Ohio Senior Olympics. Ken Pemberton not only won first place in his age group, he never lost a match, and he was crowned the Men's Singles-Overall Champion. Ken has become a dominant player in the tri state area. He has also taken the time to help many of our friends and other beginners learn the game and become better Pickleball players. If you're looking for someone to teach you the game of Pickleball, I have no hesitation in recommending Ken as your coach. He's an excellent teacher in addition to being the best player in any of the groups I play with - in Florida or West Virginia.
Bob F. Age 73 Mostly-Retired Electrical Engineer Huntington, WV
A good friend of mine used to say, "the key to a good life is to always be developing a sport." Pickleball is one of those sports people can enjoy at every stage of life. Additionally, it is a sport that can build community (it is common to have new players show up at the courts and all players simply rotate in and out of games). I have played pickleball with Ken for over a year. He has put a great deal of effort into his own game and he has tremendous passion for teaching America's fastest growing sport to other players. While I haven't been a student of Ken's, I have seen the results of his teaching. Several people I play with regularly are Ken's students and I see their improvement every week. If you are interested in learning to play pickleball, I am confident Ken will be beneficial to any skill level. He knows the games integral aspects, is passionate about the sport, and is clearly a great teacher of the game. I hope you will fall in love the sport and I will see you on the courts in the near future!
David H Age 55 University Professor Huntington, WV
The game of Pickleball hit us around the first of the Year (2020) just like the coronavirus struck the US in March (2020). In fact, we knew very little about either one. One day in January, a mutual friend introduced my girl friend Kristin and I to Ken Pemberton. Our Pickelball skill level was not where it needed to be even for a recreational game of Pickleball and we knew that it was obvious to Ken that we needed help. After a few games of getting spanked, Ken graciously decided to slow the game down and began working on our Pickleball skill sets. He would put us through individual and group drills each and every time we met on the court. He has a variety of drills along with him coaching and encouraging you along the way. His knowledge of the skills needed to make you a successful Pickleball player is off the charts!! He has a "hands-on" approach in teaching you all that you need to know to step onto any court and become a competitive Pickleball player. You won't be sorry with the time you invest with Ken as your coach because a few lessons from him has made us better players and made the game much more FUN to play!!
Danny M Age 53 Kristin T Age 42 School Teachers Huntington, WV
What is Pickleball I asked myself? When I Utubed it I decided to give it a go! I had played tennis growing up but there was so much running and I was terrible at the overhead serve. After foot and back surgery I wasn't sure what type of sport I could play. I went to Ritter Park and met a wonderful and sincere group of folks that introduced me to Pickleball. "If you really want to improve your skills in Pickleball you need to take lessons from Ken, " they all said. So I did just that. After only two lessons and Kens keen eye for detail my hand eye coordination, ball and foot placement, strokes and the dink have dramatically improved. Thank you so much Ken and I will see you for another lesson next week.
Caroline C Age 55 Retired Captain Helicopter Pilot Huntington, WV
Full disclosure. I am biased Ken is my dad..Givers gain has always been my dads mentality when it came to sharing instructions with sports. I can always remember when I was little and him telling me, "be kind to everyone because you never know when they can change your life & if you want to be good at something you need to be the hardest working person in the room!" He's always been good at everything because he truly lives by his words. His dedication to the Pickleball community, the game & ability to teach/coach is definitely a talent from God. I hate to lose in any Pickleball game, but I can say I always lose against him but enjoy winning when I am on his team. My other testimony is the calories you burn during one game of Pickleball. I'm a huge workout fan & I love implementing pickleball into my health plan. If you want to just have fun, play competitive or get your health on track then take some lessons from my dad and watch your Pickleball game change for the better.
Melissa Pemberton Age 34 Tech Specialist Prosource Huntington, WV
When tennis/golfer's elbow took away two sports I loved to play, I thought I would never find another sport as enjoyable and challenging. A friend introduced me to pickleball and when COVID-19 hit, I started playing. But I didn't learn the fundamentals, skill, and science of pickleball until I met Ken. He is a phenomenal Pickleball player, and it's pure joy to watch him on the court. But equally matching his knowledge and skill level is his unique ability to teach others. He is patient with and supportive of all skill levels. His knowledge of the game along with his ability to see the strengths and weaknesses of each individual with whom he instructs is sometimes mind-boggling. Thank you, Ken, for bringing a fun, challenging sport back to my life. I'm hooked for life!
Mindy B Age 53 Marshall University professor Huntington, WV
If you are looking to sharpen your Pickleball game, whether it be to improve your strokes, understand strategy, or improve your overall play, I would strongly recommend that you spend some time taking lessons from Ken. If you practice what he teaches, your game will definitely move to the next level like I have been able to do with Ken's help.
John S. Age 78 Retired N/W Insurance agent Huntington, WV
I have known Ken for most of my adult life. He is a great athlete. I play all sports and racquetball and squash have been my passion the past two years, but with limited playing partners available at my level., so I have found Pickleball to be an upcoming fantastic sport that I can compete on a larger scale because more people are playing and more courts are being built. I reunited with Ken last summer and my athletic ability let me stay close with him in single matches, but he has far surpassed me with his Pickleball skills now and mastered the art of the Pickelball game and actually has helped me figure out some of the shots I need to compete with at a higher level. I play at a 4.0 skill level in Pickleball now and competition drives me to become a 5.0 level. Playing with Ken and working with him is elevating my game even though I am striving now to beat him in singles, but he says that I am too young to beat him. lol About 2/3 of the people I have brought to meet Ken have all thanked me for introducing him and they all love the game and want to get better. Ken has helped them and me and no matter your skill level he can help you get better.
Mike B Age 52 Insurance Adjuster Scott Depot WV
I started playing Pickelball about one year ago. While playing with some friends, I would see Ken also at the courts in the evening. I've known Ken for years and I talked to him about helping me with my Pickelball game. He is a very talented teacher and makes it simple and enjoyable. He helped me with different training exercises. It made exercising on the court a lot more enjoyable. I would recommend Ken as a coach for the beginner, intermediate, or advanced Pickeleball player.
Bob H. Age 54 medical device sales Huntington, WV
I am a Tennis player from Mingo County, but I came up to Huntington 17 years ago and could never find anyone to play with me on a regular basis. Last summer, (2019) as I was walking one day in Ritter Park, I came down the hill where they were playing Pickelball and I had no clue what the game was called. As I sat on the bench watching them play I got interested so I asked could I try and hit some. That was my first day and I have been playing as much as I possibly can ever since. The great thing that happened was my first day I played with Ken and later found out that he was probably the best player in the area. That pleased me because if I could play with the best player than I could get better quicker. Ken has been working with me since the beginning. I like the way he takes time out to help everyone that wants to play and learn how to play the right way and play to a higher level. I've learned so much about this game from Ken who is well able to teach any skill level no matter their background in racquet sports. Last thing, I have fallen in Love with this game called Pickelball, so much that I don't think about playing tennis anymore.
Pastor Joplin Age 68 Retired coal miner/Asst Pastor New Life Church Huntington, WV
I had never even heard of Pickleball until I met Ken. He invited me to come play in ritter park and I was instantly hooked. He is really good, makes it fun for all ages/skill levels and helps everyone advance at their own pace. I highly recommend you meet both Ken and this great game of Pickleball.
Audy P. Age 49 Owner Heritage Farms Huntington, WV
As a talented athlete and Pickleball enthusiast, Ken has become the role model of how the game is to be played. Not only does he share his knowledge of the game, on and off the court, he works tirelessly to make others competitive and instill an enthusiasm in them to enjoy one of the fastest growing games in the country. For anyone who has previously competed in other racquet sports, or someone looking for an athletic hobby, I highly recommend Ken to introduce and teach you how to be the best Pickleball player you can be. But along the way in your Pickleball journey, Ken will make sure you know he is the king of Pickleball and challenge you to dethrone him. lol
Linda H. Age 67 University Administrator Huntington WV
When I first started playing pickleball, Ken graciously took time to teach me as a friend, the many aspects of pickleball. His skill in teaching on a level for each person's individual ability is high. His patience for teaching drills and repetition is high. His knowledge of the game and what's important to learn to improve in your game is high. I feel I am a better player because of playing with Ken when I first started learning Pickleball. I recommend everyone getting a coach in the beginning and there is no better coach than Ken.
Barb B Age 62 Job Coach Cabell County schools Kenova, WV
Experienced with racquet sports or not, Kenny will work with you and teach you how to play Pickleball. If you have a desire to improve he can coach you to take your game to the next level as he did for my wife and I.
Jon G Age 62 State Farm Agent Huntington, WV
It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or a professional, Ken will be able to take your game to the next level. He can help sharpen your technique, ball placement, and overall strategy to help you become a more well rounded player. He can really help smooth out the frustrations that come with such a challenging game on the court. I'd recommend his lessons to anyone wanting to improve on their Pickleball skill sets
Andy B Age 30 Financial Planner Ceredo WV
When I took up pickleballit was nice to have someone with Kens skill level who will use his time and energy on the court to help anyone who wants to learn and get better at their Pickelball game. I would recommend him as a coach to anyone.
Steve T Age 68 Retired safety director Construction Huntington, WV
If you are interested in starting to learn to play the game of Pickleball, and need a Coach I would recommend you call Ken. Ken is the most knowledgeable teacher of the game in the Tri-State area. He will definitely teach you all the basics and strategies of the game to make you more competitive with your peers, and quickly. I have been playing a little over a year and Ken has shown me all the ins and outs of this great game called Pickleball. Its for all ages, and you can come out on Thursdays at 6 pm and Saturdays at 10 am at Ritter Park on court #11 if you want to give it a try. Lots of folks to help you get started. Get started right with a few lessons and you won't be disappointed. Meet new and wonderful people and get some exercise at the same time.
Mark G Age 63 Retired Mountaineer Gas Huntington WV
After I was introduced to Pickleball last summer (2019), I was eager to share it with my sister (former tennis doubles partner). When I visited her in Huntington, WV, we couldn't wait to get out & try this game called Pickleball! We found ourselves joining a group to play at Ritter Park. Shortly after getting on the court, we met Ken. We quickly learned that he meant business, & was very serious about promoting the game in this area. It wasn't long before we started asking him 5 million questions about hitting, dinking, & strategy. He was very helpful, knowledgeable, & gave us very good advice on how to play Pickleball the right way. He was very patient, & never got tired of having to tell us the same things over & over. Ken even met us at the courts several times, for drill & practice on dinking, ground strokes, etc. If you are interested in improving your game, & learning the best Pickelball strategy for winning....I highly recommend Ken as your coach.
Angie T. Age 54 Retired Teacher/HS tennis coach St Louis, MO
I have enjoyed tennis for over fifty years. I still enjoy the game of tennis but was very intrigued with the game of pickleball. I was intimidated and insecure to move forward with the game until I found Ken playing Pickelball. He is very knowledgeable and supportive of the rules, fundamentals, and strategies of the game. He is ready to help with words of encouragement which will motivate you to reach your personal best at Pickelball. It is rare that you will find such an accomplished Pickleball player/coach willing to share their time to teach others. If you are looking for a good coach, Ken is the best in the tri-state area.
Randy W Age 63 Retired Ashland Valvoline Huntington, WV
I first began playing Pickleball with friends and family during the fall of 2019. After a few outings on the court, I fell in love with the game and couldn't get enough. I was introduced to Ken not long after starting the sport, and immediately following the first time playing with Ken, I improved drastically. I remember one training lesson in particular where Ken took me aside to the smaller dinking net. Ken taught me the proper grip of the paddle and how to meet the ball out in front of of me, instead of waiting on it to get on my side. After this 20 minute teaching and practice session, I exponentially improved as a player. Overall, I have learned so much from ken and have thoroughly enjoyed the Pickleball process of changing from a complete beginner into one that can compete with most folks in this area and have even won a "few" games from Ken (when he was tired like a normal old guy lol). If you are serious about wanting to improve your Pickleball game, don't ever hesitate to ask Ken for help. You won't regret it.
Hunter W. Age 23 Mechanical Engineer/U S Army Corps of Engineers Huntington, WV
Being recently retired and an old tennis player from nearly 40 years ago, I was intrigued when I heard about the game of Pickleball last summer (2019). So I googled this new sport of Pickleball and learned the basics of scoring and watched videos of others playing. Since I can't move as well on the tennis court as I used to, I liked that the Pickelball court was smaller, yet the game still provided a fast enough pace to make it interesting and a great source of exericise. On one of my first trips to the Pickelball court, Ken introduced himself and invited my sister and I to join their group and play with them. After watching Ken play and compete on the Pickelball court, I knew I needed to learn all I could from him about Pickelball. Ken not only had the skills to play well, he also had the intuitive ability to identify skill weaknesses and the patience necessary to be a great coach and instructor for myself and others. Ken began my first course of instruction that evening with me and my sister! I guess he recognized I understood the basics of a racquet sport and as his doubles partner he guided me in some basic Pickelball strategies of ball placement which led to some immediate success and thus, sparked my competitive spirit to i want to play more Pickelball! The more we played over the next several months, the more I learned from him. Ken used innovative instructional techniques such as videoing play, mirror repetition and other various drills geared to improve my specific skill set while working to transition my tennis game to the Pickleball game. My love of the game and my ability to play at a higher level is a direct result of the time spent and being coached by Ken. I have recommended Ken as a coach to family and friends and watched him identify their areas of need as a Pickelball player and to improve their play exponentially.
Amanda W. Age 57 Retired Captain, U.S. Public Health Service Huntington, WV
I believe in sportsmanship first. The sport is the game, and we are all in it together. While I am very competitive, I also want to support all the Pickleball players in the tri-state area, as we strive to make the sport of Pickleball grow in OH, WV, and KY. I work every day on the court to better myself as a player and coach and to
improve the game for other players in the OH, WV, and KY area.
Come join the fun and learn to play Pickleball. A great way to lose weight, socialize with new people, and bring the competitiveness back into your life through the great game of Pickleball. Hope to see you on the court in the near future.
We love Pickelbal . so feel free to contact us with any Pickleball questions!
Dedicated PB courts in Huntingtons Ritter Park
Huntington Pickleball Group Everyone welcome
Dedicated PB courts in Huntingtons Ritter Park
Dedicated PB courts in Huntingtons Ritter Park
Huntington Pickleball Group Everyone welcome
Dedicated PB courts in Huntingtons Ritter Park
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