Essential Tennis Podcast - Instruction, Lessons, Tips

There are great tennis lessons and BAD tennis lessons, but how do you tell the difference?? This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast will dive deep into the top five ways you can tell that a tennis lesson won’t get you where you want to go. Of course, different players are looking for different types of lessons, too, so you’ll also learn about what to look for depending on your goals and aspirations on the court!

We're super excited to announce a brand new audio podcast from Essential Tennis called the "Shankcast"! This is a quick update to give you the details on that show plus let you know how you can get FREE access to any of our online coaching programs, but only through the end of September. If you love tennis then you'll absolutely love the Shankcast podcast. Go subscribe today! http://www.essentialtennis.com/shank

How would you like to tell the future on the tennis court by knowing EXACTLY what your opponent is going to hit next? You can do it! But only if you know exactly what to look for, watch, and analyze as your foes move around the court and prepare to hit each shot. In this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast you’ll learn all 5 elements needed to deconstruct your opponent, read their patterns and intention, and show up in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Nothing is more fun!

If you’re frustrated by what Father Time is doing to your tennis game then this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a must listen! You’ll hear an incredibly specific, practical conversation between Ian and Brent Abel who is world ranked in men’s 70’s competition. Not only has he stayed sharp over time but he’s playing better than ever and has a tremendous amount of wisdom to share for players of all ages!

What is it exactly that separates beginner, intermediate, and high level tennis players? What’s the magic combination of skills, abilities, and traits that sets them apart? This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast will explain the top 7 things beginners miss that keep them at low or intermediate levels of play. Plus you’ll learn exactly what to focus on instead of those mistakes so you can propel your game to the next level and beyond!

Did you know you have a lot in common with one of the best tennis players ever to step onto a court, Rafael Nadal? You do! Today’s episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast will explore the mentality and perspective around making mistakes including how the world’s most elite competitors respond after hitting a shot they clearly didn’t mean to hit. You’ll also learn my own personal philosophy about hitting and missing feeds during point play, drills, or practices.

This special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast features a conversation with Marcus Cootsona, the author of "Occam's Racquet" and "TNNS LSSNS, Filling the Gaps in Your Game". Together we discuss why tennis isn't an intuitive or natural game, how we can tell if a coach is worth taking lessons from, plus what the gaps in our games are and how we can fill them.

So you want to do video analysis for your tennis game, but where in the world do you start?? Which camera is best? What about tripods, software, or shooting angles? Don’t worry, in today’s episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast you’ll learn the step by step details for all of those things and many more! Good news: it’s much, MUCH easier than most people think. In fact, you probably already have everything you need.

This special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast features a candid conversation with Dr. Peter Scales, Ph.D. You'll learn how its possible to love the game of tennis more than simply winning and losing, what mental traits separate frustrated players from satisfied ones, and how to approach your practice and competition to be as successful as possible.

So what does it REALLY take to bring your tennis game to the next level? Today you’ll find out during this candid and open conversation between coach and student. Learn exactly what drills, mindsets, and schedules Amadou used to dramatically improve his technique and strategy over the span of 6 months so you can utilize the lessons he learned! If you take your tennis results seriously then you can’t miss his episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.

If you lose to singles players you KNOW you should beat then today’s episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a must listen! You’ll learn the 5 key principles needed for singles success so you can evaluate your opponent, set up effective patterns and plays, and adjust your strategy on the fly like a pro to find the best possible plan of attack. Ignoring any of the five things in this episode means leaving matches on the table so be sure to tune in if you’re serious about your tennis results!

There’s an underlying assumption being made by tennis players and coaches that KILLS the potential to win matches! Singles and doubles players alike are making this critical perception mistake that keeps them locked into losing patterns of play. Find out what that wrong mindset is, how it was holding back one of my students, and how we’re breaking him free with amazing results in this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.

It can happen to the most passionate of players: an injury, a change in schedule, losing access to a court… life can throw any number of things at us to keep us from the game we love. But when you’re ready to pick up your racquet and hit the court again after years - or even decades - of time away, getting back to your former level of play can feel impossible. In today’s episode I’ll discuss the best (and worst) way to get you back in the game as quickly as possible.

Do you get nervous when you play tennis matches? Do you get tight, lock up, and become a totally different player once score is being kept? If so this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a MUST listen! You’ll learn the secret to the incredible performances of world class players, what’s happening inside their minds, and why it’s very different than most people think. Plus, you’ll hear a step by step plan to start overcoming your drops in performance during real tennis matches.

Ever heard the phrase “it’s like riding a bike” to describe something really easy to do once you learn how? Today’s episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast uncovers a vital improvement lesson that proves nothing could be more DIFFICULT than riding a bike when one simple variable changes. Understanding these principles is critical to improving absolutely any part of your tennis game!

Want to play your BEST just hours after completing a match in a tournament? This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast will give you a simple 5 step formula that any player can execute at any level to quickly recover, recharge, and ramp up again for their next match. Topics include mental, tactical, hydration, and food intake so you can peak at exactly the right time and win more tennis tournament matches!

Do you always choose to “serve” after winning the spin before your matches? If so you’re often giving up a HUGE tactical advantage and likely missing a lot of queues that your opponent doesn’t want you to notice. That all stops today! This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast will teach you the psychology, math, and tactics behind choosing whether to serve or receive after the racquet spin. You’ll never look at the end of your match warm ups the same way again.

Ready to take your tennis to the next level? Over the last 6 weeks I’ve spent a huge amount of time on the court with private and group students. This podcast pulls together all of the most important, impactful lessons that I learned alongside them! Included are actionable tips on how to prioritize your technique projects, why “weird is normal”, why quality is more important than quantity, and much more! Thanks for your patience and support of the Essential Tennis Podcast :-)

Has one of your tennis strokes fallen into a jerky, twitching mess of hitches and hiccups? If so you’re not alone, and this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast has the solution! You’ll learn how to regain confidence in your wayward stroke, find the smoothness you used to have, and finally break free to better habits.