Every 4.0 player started right where you are.

Tyler Firth has spent more than a decade developing athletes, and he has 12 years of high-level coaching across three sports: pickleball, tennis, and hockey. At Club 65 he’s the person players go to when they’re serious about getting better.

He plays at the level he teaches. Tyler plays at the 5.0 level, and he has taken students all the way up to 5.0. He has trained with coaches from both the PPA and APP Tours, so what he teaches is how the top players are playing right now.

He coaches every level. Tyler coaches players from their first serve to tournament play. He also leads Club 65’s Junior Program for ages 7–15, where kids learn the game right from day one.

He built the system. Playing and coaching took Tyler across the country, and that’s where he saw the gap between players who keep improving and players who stall out. So he founded Club 65 to bring that level of play and community to St. Louis. He also created the Club Academy, a structured pathway built for real long-term improvement instead of quick tips that fade by next week.

His coaching style: precise and detail-obsessed, and focused on fundamentals that hold up under pressure. He’s known for his habit-breaking methods. Tyler sees what’s holding your game back, explains why, and gives you a plan to fix it.

He’s a student of the game. Tyler never stops learning, and he’s continuously finding ways to simplify the growth and development of his students.

He has a competitor’s background. Before pickleball, Tyler played college hockey at Utah State University. He has since helped several hockey players reach the college level, and he still coaches hockey privately. He knows what it takes to compete at a high level because he has done it himself.

John brings a lifetime of elite racquet sports experience to the court. A former Open/Pro level racquetball player for 30 years, complete with a Collegiate National Championship and a National Doubles title, John seamlessly transitioned his elite paddle skills to pickleball in 2017. Today, he is a premier 5.0-rated player and a powerhouse on the court.

John's competitive record speaks for itself. He has captured 11 medals at the US Open (2 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze) competing at the highest 5.0 and Age levels.

As a full-time, Certified IPTPA Level 2 Instructor with over six years of coaching experience, John knows exactly how to help players elevate their games. He believes that proper technique, smart strategy, repetition, a good mental approach and having fun are vital keys to success.

His coaching journey has taken him all across the United States and even internationally to Vietnam. Having coached alongside world-class pros like Tyson McGuffin, Riley Newman, Connor Garnett, Allyce Jones and Kyle McKenzie, John brings top-tier, tour-level insights right to your game. Widely recognized as one of the top instructors in the Midwest, John is part of the Winning Shot Pickleball Academy staff. Learn from the best, right here at Club 65!

Shiva Garimella brings a combination of competitive playing experience, technical instruction, and a genuine passion for helping others improve their pickleball game.

An IPTPA Level II Certified Instructor and competitive 4.0+ player, Shiva actively participates in regional tournaments and coaches players across recreational, intermediate, and advancing skill levels.

His coaching philosophy is simple: better fundamentals, smarter decisions, and more confident play. Whether you’re learning to build consistent rallies, improving your third-shot drops, mastering kitchen-line exchanges, or developing stronger doubles strategies, Shiva emphasizes practical techniques that translate directly into better performance on the court.

Analytical, yet approachable. With a PhD and a professional background in science and leadership, Shiva breaks down complex skills into simple, actionable adjustments that players can understand, practice, and apply immediately.

Shiva particularly enjoys helping players move beyond simply hitting the ball to understanding why, when, and where to hit it.

Eli is an IPTPA-certified pickleball coach based right here in St. Louis, and he brings 15 years of competitive racquet sports experience to every lesson. Long before he picked up a paddle, Eli was winning at the highest level of high school competition.

He’s a proven champion. Representing Lindbergh High School, Eli won both the state and national championships in racquetball singles. He also finished 5th in the state individual tournament for tennis, proof that his skills carry across every racquet sport he plays.

He knows how to teach. Eli spent four years coaching tennis and racquetball before bringing that experience to the pickleball court. He breaks the game down so it clicks, helping players build strong fundamentals, sharpen their strategy and gain real confidence in their game.

Focused, and fun. Eli’s lessons have a clear purpose, but they never stop being fun. You’ll leave every session with something you can take straight into your next game.