Last Updated: 2.26.26 | Time To Read: 5-7 minutes | Author: Mark Miller | Category: Pickleball

Call/Text To Schedule A Lesson With Michael - ‭(760) 641-5922‬

If you’ve been around the pickleball courts in the Coachella Valley for any amount of time, you know this truth: there’s “good,” there’s “solid,” and then there’s that rare level where a player’s fundamentals and pace change the entire feel of a rally.

That’s Michael Cabacungan.

I’m Mark Miller (Desert Oasis Insider), and I’ve been playing pickleball for over five years now. I’ve seen a lot of talent out here—former college athletes, lifelong tennis players, hard-working grinders who built their pickleball game from scratch. But I’m going to say this clearly:

Michael hits the ball harder on his drives than anyone I’ve personally seen.

Not “hits hard for a local.” Not “hits hard when he gets one.” I mean consistent pace—the kind that forces you to respect the ball early, the kind that compresses time, the kind that makes you feel like you’re reacting instead of choosing.

And what makes him even nastier is how narrow he can hit topspin dinks, it pushes you off the court to the side, often when at the kitchen during a dinking contest. The angle stays tight, the ball dips off the court to the side, and he doesn’t need a big opening to create real pressure. He can shape a ball in a lane that shouldn’t exist, and he does it without looking like he’s forcing anything.

That combination—pace + narrow topspin + repeatable mechanics—is exactly why I’m writing this.

Because if you’re looking for a coach in the Coachella Valley, for either pickleball or tennis, Michael should be the person you call.

Pickleball is its own sport. Anyone who takes it seriously learns that quickly.

But at higher levels, a majority of the best pickleball players usually have one thing in common: a base of movement, spacing, and timing that was built somewhere else—often tennis.

Michael is that kind of athlete.

He’s a Palm Springs guy. He grew up in the desert game, and he carried that edge into college tennis at the University of Redlands. That matters because college tennis isn’t just “being good.” It’s daily reps, structured training, match pressure, and a constant demand for clean fundamentals.

And here’s what I’ve noticed: Michael didn’t lose the habits that separate serious players from casual ones.

Footwork first. Discipline always. Respect for repetition.

When you watch him, you can see the difference in how he sets his base, how he loads, how he stays balanced through contact, and how quickly he’s ready for the next ball.

That’s not an accident. That’s years of doing it the right way.

On the pickleball side, Michael’s calling card is pace. If you’ve played with him, you know that feeling—when he unloads a drive, the ball doesn’t just land… it arrives.

But what makes him truly valuable as a coach isn’t just that he can hit hard.

It’s that he can explain *why* something works—and helps you build it in a way that becomes repeatable.

A lot of high-level players can beat you.

A much smaller number can teach you.

Michael is a teacher.

He’s the kind of guy who will break down:

- where your feet need to be before you swing 

- why your contact point is drifting 

- how your paddle face is influencing your topspin and depth 

- how to create pressure without swinging harder 

- how to stay stable when the rally speeds up 

And he’s a student of the craft too—he’s into paddle technology, he pays attention to what the pros are doing, and he actually enjoys refining small details. That matters because pickleball is evolving fast, and you want a coach who keeps learning.

One of the best parts about Michael is that he genuinely cares about both sports.

Tennis is his foundation. Pickleball is the arena he’s been sharpening in more and more in recent years. And he’s not treating either one like an afterthought.

He also told me about the coaching development program he’s involved with—meaning he’s not just “winging it” as a private coach. He’s investing into learning how to teach properly, how to communicate better, and how to get results with real structure.

That’s what you want.

Because the goal isn’t to take a lesson and feel hyped for a day. 

The goal is to build a game you can actually trust under pressure.

Here’s the part that makes this extremely convenient:

Michael travels across the Coachella Valley to work with students.

So whether you’re in:

• Palm Springs 
• Rancho Mirage 
• Palm Desert 
• Indian Wells 
• La Quinta 
• Indio 
• Coachella 

…and everything in between…

You can either meet him at a court that makes sense, or have him come to you.

And if you’d rather come to Michael for lessons, that works too.

Either way, the barrier to getting quality coaching is low—you just have to reach out and schedule it.

Every coach has their own style, but here’s what I’ve seen and what I think you can expect if you work with him:

Pickleball lessons can focus on:

• Building a reliable drive (with real topspin and control)
• Third shot choices (drive vs. drop, and when)
• Transition zone footwork (where points are actually won)
• Dinking fundamentals that don’t break under pressure
• Speed-ups that are smart—not reckless
• Resets, blocks, and absorbing pace
• Doubles strategy, positioning, and decision-making

Tennis lessons can focus on:

• Stroke mechanics and efficient technique
• Footwork patterns (the difference-maker for most players)
• Serve fundamentals and consistency
• Match play patterns and point construction
• Confidence building through repeatable reps

Most importantly: he’s not just feeding balls. He’s building fundamentals

First-hand, I can tell you: Michael’s fundamentals are extremely high level.

And beyond the skill—he’s a pleasure to spend time with.

He brings a big smile to the court, but he takes improvement seriously. He’s the kind of coach who will meet you where you are, and still challenge you to level up.

So if you’ve been thinking:

•  “I want to get better faster.”
•  “I’m stuck at this plateau.”
• “My drives aren’t heavy enough.”
• “I can’t handle pace.”
• “I want real fundamentals.”
• “I want coaching that actually translates into winning points.”

…then give Michael a try.

Whether you want to come to him, or you want him to come to you, reach out and schedule a session. I think you’ll feel the difference quickly.