DAVID SELVAGGI

Academy Director

David Selvaggi is the Founder and Academy Director of Chicago Pickleball Academy, the first junior pickleball academy of its kind in Illinois. A professional pickleball player and RPO (Racket Professional Organization) Clinician, David has competed at the pro level on the APP and PPA Tours, going head-to-head with the top players in the game today.

David brings a unique perspective to the court-combining elite competition experience with a proven track record in coaching and player development. He is passionate about creating a structured pathway for junior players, building their fundamentals, sharpening their strategy, and fostering the mindset needed to compete at the highest levels.

Through Chicago Pickleball Academy, David is dedicated to inspiring and developing the next generation of champions, while cultivating a culture of discipline, teamwork, and competitive excellence. Train. Compete. Win.

BH dink footwork 🦶

1. Paddle out front, eyes level
2. Pivot shoulders, load outside leg
3. Lead with shoulder, guide forward
4. Finish flat, recover to neutral

#Pickleball #BHDink #Footwork #PickleballTraining #PickleballCoach

Another milestone in Illinois! 16 more coaches officially RPO certified. Illinois leads the WORLD, yes WORLD in RPO coaches! Every time we run a Level 1, the energy and commitment to raising the bar in pickleball coaching gets stronger. Excited to see these new coaches take what they’ve learned back to their clubs and communities.

@racketpro.rpo | @joolapickleball | @bloomingdale_pickleball

#RPOCoach #PickleballCoach #RPO #JOOLA #PickleballTraining #Level1 #Pickleball #Coaching #PickleballCertification #ChicagoPickleball #IllinoisPickleball #LevelUp

First time in the Quad Cities didn’t disappoint — teamed up with @ryan_rose2323 aka Air Jordan on his home courts, grinded through the heat, and enjoyed a well run tournament.

@joolapickleball | @thepbacademy | @quadcitiespickleball

When plan A and B fall through, you call @marcel.elct 👊 Thanks for accepting my 9pm partner request the night before and going to battle, you were a great teammate. Special shoutout to @crosskourtpickleball for running a great charity tournament in support of @niuprojectflex !

@joolapickleball | @thepbacademy | @u_got_pickled

Where’s my lefty gang at? Shoutout to Samad. This guy is one of the busiest MDs I know and he still has time to put in the work.

BTS on the backhand roll—dialing in contact points, swing path, and brush to put the ball exactly where we want. Send this to your lefty mate.

Drill:

* Player A hits a forehand or a backhand dink into the middle to set the pattern.

* Player B replies with a cross-court dink that sits a little higher, but still below net level-giving Player A a realistic roll opportunity.

* Player A executes the backhand roll.

* Player B absorbs and resets the ball back into the kitchen.

* Repeat, focusing on Player A’s swing path, contact point, and brush. Player B should focus on resets and also hand-eye for counter attacking practice.

@joolapickleball | @thepbacademy | @thepicklr.wheaton

#pickleball #dinking #dinks #backhandroll #pickleballchicago #pickleballcoach #MDspickletoo #pickleballtraining #kitchenline #netplay #topspin #pickleballtips #pickleballlife #JOOLA #picklr#SelvaggiOnCourt #CPA #ChicagoPickleballAcademy

DUPR Day at Picklr Wheaton was a success! We helped 10 players get their first official DUPR rating and had a great time on court. Thanks to everyone who came out, stay tuned for more DUPR Days ahead!

@myduprcoach | @thepicklr.wheaton | @duprpb

#DUPR #pickleball #pickleballcoach #pickleballtraining #pickleballlife #SelvaggiOnCourt #PicklrWheaton #ChicagoPickleball #DUPRDay #MyDUPRCoach

Training session with Erikas. The perfect drill to level up your dinks on either side of the court. Here’s how:

🎯 Split the kitchen with tape or targets
↔️ Every shot must land on the opposite side from your last
👣 Forces you to move your opponent side to side
⚡ Sharpens accuracy, footwork, and anticipation

Endurance + precision = long rally wins

@joolapickleball | @thepbacademy | @racketpro.rpo

#pickleball #dinking #dinks #crosscourtdinks #pickleballchicago #pickleballcoach #pickleballtraining #kitchenline #netplay #topspin #pickleballtips #pickleballlife #SelvaggiOnCourt #ChicagoPickleballAcademy

Raw training footage from a previous session with Drew!

Fourth-Shot Roll Volley on the kitchen line: limit wrist movement, closed paddle face, an upward swing. Brush up the back / outside the ball to force an error from your opponent.

Hit the roll volley if the ball is at or below the level of the net. Use it when opponents stay deep after their third shot, stuck in mid court/ transition, and to attack higher dinks at the kitchen. Stay balenced, own your court position, and finish the point.

@drewdevelops 🏓

#pickleball #fourthshot #rollvolley #pickleballchicago #pickleballcoach #pickleballtraining #kitchenline #netplay #topspin #pickleballtips #pickleballlife #Selvaggioncourt

Our biggest workshop in Illinois yet - 16 coaches certified the RPO way. The quality of coaching in Chicagoland just took a huge leap forward! Fired up to see these instructors inspire the next generation of players and push our pickleball community to the next level.

@racketpro.rpo | @joolapickleball | @thepicklr.villapark

#RPOCoach #PickleballCoach #RPO #JOOLA #PickleballTraining #TheRightWay #Level1 #Pickleball #Coaching #PickleballCertification #ChicagoPickleball #IllinoisPickleball #LevelUp #WhatAFeeling

Spine care in the Chicago suburbs just took a major step forward! Grateful to support Dr. Alex Jones on this first motion-preserving case in the suburbs performed with TOPS! A huge win for patients in Illinois.

@premiaspine | @endeavorhlth | @elmhursthospital | @edwardhospital | @medtronic_spine | @medtronic

#TOPS #SpineSurgery #MotionPreservation #Medtronic #Premia #AlternativesToFusion

Mid court resets separate good players from great.

Mindset 🧠 comes first and belief you can execute the shot. Two-hand backhand half-volley reset is my go to when I’m under fire in mid court (positional disadvantage). It buys time and keeps you balanced, dropping the ball shallow in the kitchen to neutralize the point. No big swing. No panic. Just control. Own this space with calculated control. It is a lot more fun when you have a plan!

Try it next match, tag a partner who needs it, and save this drill for later. And if you are the attacker, don’t be afraid to step into the kitchen 😏

@rpo.racketpro | @joolapickleball | @thepbacademy

#Pickleball #PickleballCoaching #RPO #Belief #PickleballDrills #PickleballLife #PickleballTips #POV #HalfVolley #Mindset #PickleballTraining #SelvaggiOnCourt

TOPSPIN DROP (baseline)
• Hit only when you feel balanced and have time, the ball is higher, and pace is slower
• Drop it with topspin, linear, into the deep half of the kitchen. Relax the wrist, answer that 📞

SHOVEL DROP (mid-court)
• Assess, then step up, be patient and catch the ball on the descent
• Long dink with soft hands to the shallow part of the kitchen
• Neutralize pressure and finish your move in, toss that 🥚

Topspin drop sets the table. Shovel drop buys the time. Court position first, battle second. Earn your right to play the game at the kitchen.

Tag your drilling partner and give it a go. Let me know if you reach the kitchen in two shots!

@rpo.racketpro | @joolapickleball | @thepbacademy

#Pickleball #PickleballCoach #PickleballTraining #PickleballDrilla #PickleballLesson #CourtPosition #TopSpin #ShovelDrop #Patience #PracticeMakesPermanent #SelvaggiOnCourt

Brought Level 2 RPO curriculum to the 605 for the first time! Sioux Falls, South Dakota showed up ready to learn and take their coaching to the next level to teach 4.0-4.5 players. Grateful to work with instructors who care about doing it the right way and growing the game with purpose, especially in a community where pickleball is on the rise.

@rpo.racketpro | @joolapickleball | @remedy.pickleball.pub

#RPOCoach #PickleballCoach #RPO #JOOLA #PickleballTraining #TheRightWay #Level2 #Pickleball #Coaching #PickleballCertification #SiouxFallsPickleball #SouthDakotaPickleball

First ever Level 2 in the great state of Minnesota. This place will always mean a lot to me with @medtronic being based here and playing such a big role in my journey. Met some incredible people today who care about coaching the right way! Grateful to grow the game with people like this.

@joolapickleball | @rpo.racketpro | @lifetime.life

#RPOCoach #PickleballCoach #MinnesotaPickleball #RPO #Joola #PickleballTraining #TheRightWay #Level2 #Pickleball #Coaching #PickleballCertification #PPA #MLP #GlobalPickleballFederation

First-ever RPO Level 1 Certification Workshop in Wisconsin is officially in the books!

Congrats to all the newly verified instructors who showed up to elevate the way coaching is done in this sport.

From footwork to shot selection to how WE teach the game the right way.

Big thanks to RPO and JOOLA for the support and for continuing to raise the standard of pickleball instruction.

@rpo.racketpro | @joolapickleball | @ppccwi

#RPOCoach #PickleballCoach #WisconsinPickleball #RPO #JOOLA #PickleballTraining #TheRightWay #Level1 #Pickleball #Coaching

Training the mind and the body! Kirk calls out “YES” when he has time. He steps in, takes his drop on the descent, and transfers weight forward. “NO” means widen the base and absorb pace with a half-volley and reset the ball.

This is intentional cueing with action based reinforcement: say it, then do it. It builds awareness, decision-making, and hardwires split-second choices into instinct. We’re not just hitting, we’re building game IQ to win more points at the kitchen.

#pickleball #pickleballcoach #pickleballtraining #pickleballlife #pickleballtraining #pickleballfootwork #pickleballtips
#pickleballstrategy #SelvaggiOnCourt #courtawareness #gameIQ

@joolapickleball | @rpo.racketpro | @thepicklr

Fast hands win points🔥Use the wall to sharpen reaction time and dial in your hands. Punch, don’t swing. Stay condensed and control the point.

#pickleball #pickleballtraining #fasthands #punchvolley #pickleballpractice #pickleballcoach #RPO

@rpo.racketpro | @joolapickleball | @thepicklr

Had an awesome crew of 12 at the Level 1 RPO Certification Workshop at Picklr Mundelein! A whole new level of coaching unlocked.

When good players become great coaches, the entire community wins. Proud to be part of the movement changing how the game is taught.

#PickleballCertification #RPO #TheRightWay #Level1 #Pickleball

@rpo.racketpro | @thepicklr | @joolapickleball

Preparation is key here: Start with a compact ready position- elbows in, paddle out in front in the 11:00/1:00 o’clock position (righty/lefty). Your volleys should be short and condensed to force quick reactions, letting the ball come to you. The goal isn’t just speed, but controlling the speed from your stable base. Watch your slow hands turn to fast hands with this 3 drill progression:

1. Backhand to backhand volley
2. Forehand to forehand volley
3. Figure 8 (X) volley

#pickleball #pickleballcoach #pickleballtraining #pov #pickleballlife #selvaggioncourt

@joolapickleball | @rpo.racketpro | @thepicklr

After a deep, aggressive serve that pins your opponent on their back foot, quickly assess their court position. If they’re slow to transition forward, follow up with a hybrid drop-drive at 50-75% power. Aim to land the ball at their feet or just below the knees to limit their counterattack options.

And what’s the goal? To transition smoothly to the kitchen and control the point at the net. Tried this approach? Drop a comment and let me know how it worked for you. #pickleball #picklr #RPO #pickleballcoaching #pickleballislife #coaching

@thepicklr | @rpo.racketpro | @joolapickleball

Playing the left? Getting beat on backhand speed-ups usually comes down to positioning, paddle prep, and belief. Stay low, weight forward, and let your left hand drive the swing. As tennis legend Dennis Ralston once said. “Keep the face flat through contact if you’re going line.” This is especially important with pickleball as the paddle itself does not have any strings.

The goal isn’t to swing harder- it’s to stay compact, balanced, and intentional on counters. #pickleballcoaching #practicemakespermanent #pickleball #pov

@thepicklr | @rpo.racketpro | @joolapickleball

What a rally! Working with this junior on her drop shots and transition game. Step in, compact. Love how she’s staying balanced and ready at the kitchen line. Pretty solid ready position if you ask me. #pickleballcoaching #juniorpickleballers #pickleballjuniors

@junior.ppa | @rpo.racketpro | @thepicklr

Getting pulled wide on a dink? The goal isn’t to win the point - it’s to survive it.

Lift a soft, arching dink back into the shallow part of their kitchen to neutralize their push and buy yourself time to reset in the point.

It’s not flashy, but it’s the high percentage shot.

Bonus Tip: Shallow middle is your best friend.

You know you are doing this drill right if your legs start to burn! 🔥

#PickleballCoaching #PickleballIQ #PickleballStrategy #CompeteSmarter

@joolapickleball @rpo.racketpro @thepicklr @theyobow @thepicklr.naperville @thepicklr.villapark

Wrapped up an awesome night at @crosskourtpickleball Ca$h Scramble 🥇

Great playing to all guys and nice meeting some new faces. So many tight games throughout the night!

@laterza.frank, respect to you for what you are continuing to build. Love seeing the game continue to grow in the community through events like this. Can’t wait for the next one!

@joolapickleball @rpo.racketpro @thepicklr.villapark

RPO Level 1 Workshop at Pickleball Clubhouse. These 8 newly certified instructors are now ready to teach the RPO Methodology! Leveled up and they’re just getting started.

@rpo.racketpro @joolapickleball

#RacketPro #RPOCertified #PickleballChicago #TeamJOOLA #JOOLAPickleball

Huge thanks to all who came out to support at the @sureshotpickleball Open $ Division! Went to battle with @ammarwazirr and played some great points, taking the top spot 🥇 Always fortunate to compete against such talented players in the Chicago PB community. #PickleballTournament #OpenDivision #SureShotNaperville #MoneyBall

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Singles Clinic at @thepicklr! A special shoutout to @beckyatnet and @ammarwazirr for their incredible coaching and to Jill Ko for helping organize the event. Excited to see these great players level up their singles game. #RPOCoach #Joola #PicklrAffiliate #SinglesClinic #4Tenets

💡 Tip of the Day: Master Your Footwork at the kitchen.

When you’re pushed off the kitchen, it’s all about keeping balance and control. 🕒
•Backhand dink: Step with your left foot to 7–8 o’clock.
•Forehand dink: Step with your right foot to 4–5 o’clock.

Practice this wall drill to stay consistent under pressure and take your game to the next level.

#NoDaysOff #PickleballTips #SSG #PickleTipOfTheDay #LearnPickleball #FootworkMatters #Pickleball #PPA #Picklr #Yobow #PicklrAffiliate #JoolaPickleball

Back at it with @beckyatnet, finishing 11-0 to take home first place at the inaugural CrossKourt Kla$h Tournament. It was great competing against some of the top MXD teams in the area. Huge shoutout to @laterza.frank and team for organizing such a great event.

#Pickleball #Picklr #ForTheChampionInYou #CrossKourtKla$h #RPO #YoBow

@crosskourtpickleball @theyobow @rpo.racketpro @thepicklr @thepicklr.villapark @thepicklr.naperville @joolapickleball

It was great attending the Racket Professional Organization @rpo.racketpro Level 2 Workshop to further advance expertise in pickleball coaching and player development. Huge thank you to the incredible instructor Eric White @joolamegalodon50 for his knowledge and to @thepicklr.naperville for hosting the workshop. #PickleballCoaching #Level2Certified #RPOJourney #Joola

Thanksgiving Pickleball tradition with my Dad never disappoints! Thanks to @thepicklr for being open so we can get our morning sweat in before the 🦃 ! #Pickleball #PicklrAffiliate #Picklr

Competed in the 5.7+ ID & Friends Cash Dhamaka, teaming up with @pickleball_pandit for the first time and finishing 9-0. Great to compete against the top men’s team’s in the area, and a big thanks to the tournament organizers for putting together a great event. #Pickleball #Picklr #LetsGoAgain

Family roots run deep #StrongerTogether #Dad #BigBro

The @pickleopen Recap!

What a weekend at @thepicklr.naperville @thepicklr, hosting their biggest tournament since opening their doors here in Illinois.

With 200+ players ranging from 3.0-4.9 bringing the heat, the competition was fierce, the energy unmatched, and every point was well earned.

Big shoutout to everyone who showed up—players, supporters, sponsors, and our amazing team. We didn’t just set the bar, we raised it. Stay tuned, because this is only the beginning 👀

See you on the court 🏆

#ThePickleOpen #PicklrNaperville #PicklrAffiliate #ThankYou

Last-minute substitution in The National @thepicklr Pickleball Tournament! Thanks for the invite, @bradleyspangenberg. You are creating a great community. Great job to all the other tournament players! 🏆 #pickleballtournament #pickleball #TheNational #sports #community #athletes #competition #tournament #friends #Picklr #SelvaggiPB

Had a blast at @officialapptour Chicago this year. Played Pro Mixed Doubles w/ @beckyatnet and had some good wins. Swipe left to see some of the action! #APPTour #Chicago #Pickleball #ProPickleball

1 BM & 2 GM. Congratulations Jon & Olivia!

Great weekend with the family celebrating @anthonyselvaggi’s birthday! #Fiance #Brother #Famiglia

Exactly 1 week ago I asked my best friend to marry me. I was overwhelmed by emotions and I could not have asked for a more better moment! And she said “YES!” ❤️

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DAVID SELVAGGI

Academy Director

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