Renee Hollander: The Pickleball Wellness Guru

Balancing strategy, wellness, and an aggressive third-shot drop.

Renee Hollander isn’t just coaching pickleball—she’s revolutionizing how players train, move, and stay in the game. As the Head Pro Coach at Bounce Pickleball Club, a USAPA NE Region District Ambassador, and a certified personal trainer and wellness coach, Renee is bringing a science-driven, holistic approach to player development.

Her journey into pickleball began in 2016 in Ocean City, NJ, where she was instantly hooked. “I stayed for two to three hours that first day. Then I went back the next day. And the next. And the next. It was fun as hell.” By 2019, she made the full pivot from tennis to pickleball, turning her passion into a profession.

But Renee doesn’t just teach the game—she competes at the highest level. This year, she represented the United States in the World Cup in Peru, and team USA took the GOLD! Her experience on the international stage reinforces her approach to training, proving that strength, endurance, and smart recovery are just as important as strategy.

Her expertise has helped shape some of the biggest pickleball programs in the Northeast, including LifeTime King of Prussia’s pickleball division, which she built from the ground up. In just four months, it became one of the top-producing pickleball LifeTime locations in the country. Now, at Bounce Pickleball Club as Head Pro Coach, she’s leading a new wave of training that blends performance, wellness, and longevity—because in her words, “Your game is only as strong as your body allows it to be.”

I talked with Renee about her transition from tennis to pickleball, her thoughts on the rapid evolution of the sport, and why playing smart means more than just shot selection.

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Titles/Roles

Head Pro Coach, Bounce Pickleball Club, USAPA NE Region District Ambassador, Personal Trainer & Wellness Coach

Location

Phoenixville, PA

How did you get into pickleball, what drew you to the sport?

“It was Ocean City, NJ in 2016, a tennis court near my house was one of the first in the area to be converted into 12 courts. Tennis was my whole life, but I decided to play it cause it was two blocks from where I live. It was an instant attraction.

A lovely woman took me under her wing and taught me the game. She held my hand and taught me the basics. I stayed for two to three hours and went back the next day, and the next day, and the next day. It was fun as hell.”

When did it change?

“I stopped playing tennis in 2019 and pivoted. I quit in August of 2019, that was the last time I picked up a tennis racket. I started coaching pickleball in 2019. I had a wonderful mentor from The Villages in Florida who would teach us to play and inspired me to get started with coaching. I began helping out with clinics in Ocean City, and that’s when I knew this was more than just a hobby—it was a new career path.”

What’s been the most defining moment in your pickleball journey so far?

“As a player, playing in my first 4.0 tournament and literally playing until midnight. I took double gold in mixed and women's. It was my first tournament ever, “I thought wow, I can actually compete.”

As a pickleball professional, building the LifeTime King of Prussia pickleball program from scratch in 2021. I handled everything—marketing, promotions, open play, programming, converting basketball courts into dedicated pickleball courts, and of course, coaching. Within four months, we were the fourth-largest LifeTime indoor-only pickleball program in the country.

It was intense, but it prepared me for the next level—constantly learning, teaching, and creating better experiences for players.”

What are things you’d love to see change or improve in pickleball?

“What I’d like to see improve is the attention paid to paddle technology. The exit velocity on some of the newer paddles is out of control—it gives players a false sense of skill. They’re using that speed as an advantage, but many can’t actually control it, and that’s leading to injuries, especially to the eyes and face. My concern is safety and I hope we continue to pay attention to this."

What advice would you give to women looking to get into pickleball?

“Learn the game the right way. Start small, focus on fundamentals, and recognize that pickleball can be whatever you need it to be—social, competitive, or both. You don’t need to win medals to enjoy it. My advice? Play at the level of your skill, not at the level of your expectations.”   

If pickleball had walkout songs, what would your anthem be?

Turn Down for What - DJ Snake and Lil Jon

What's your signature shot or move that makes opponents nervous?

“An aggressive third shot drop with a follow-up put away—wait for the pop up and kill it!”

Who is your dream mixed doubles partner?

Saquon Barkley 

What’s your go-to pre-game snack or ritual?

"I always make sure to get enough carbs for energy. Liquid IV for hydration. If you're playing really hard, your body needs carbs and electrolytes for energy." 

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The Female Pickleball Titans of the Northeast is a Lindsey Leigh Creative storytelling series celebrating the women who are shaping the future of the sport. 

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