March 6th, 2025

"Find your Groove" - Cody Barbeau, High Performance Pickleball

It’s no secret – pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in North America, and has quickly become a year-round past-time for many at the RA.

RA High Performance Pickleball was created by our Head Professional, Cody Barbeau. The premise? To gather a group of talented, passionate individuals to train with one another and benefit from the best coaching possible.

Barbeau is an accomplished pickleball pro who has competed at the local, regional and national level. As an ex-tennis professional and professional golfer with 25 years under his belt, Cody brings a depth of experience as both a coach, and a competitor. His coaching focuses primarily on tactics and strategy, teaching players how to win the game, not just the rally.

“When you told us to ‘play the way we need to play’ and ‘make the mistake now’, I started letting go,” reflected a student of Barbeau’s. “Yesterday I really unleashed my shots, fully accepting that I will make a mistake. It tremendously improved my game. I was winning a match I definitely shouldn't have been.”

Barbeau cites the variety of coaching styles he received as having helped build a foundation for his own coaching career. Through his experience, he was able to amass diverse knowledge about both the mental, and physical game – taking note of the similarities and differences in technique and overall strategy between various sports.

Although pickleball has been around since the 1960s, it has recently seen a massive spike in popularity. “At its core, it’s a social game and a welcoming environment,” explained Cody when asked about the allure of the game. “It makes it really easy to pick up and find your groove.”

Barbeau also attributes pickleball’s success to the low-impact, low-wear nature of the game – opening the door for all age groups to play. “It’s got all the feels of tennis, table tennis and badminton," reflects Barbeau. "But it doesn’t give you the same physical strain. As soon as you’re out there, you literally feel like you’re 17 years old again.”

Learn more about our pickleball programs, leagues, clinics and training opportunities!

As Barbeau would tell you: “Just try it!”