Essential Tennis Podcast - Instruction, Lessons, Tips

If you feel like you’re trying hard on your forehand but just can't hit a powerful shot then this is the episode you've been waiting for. That’s what my recent student told me was happening to her, but when I took my first look at her contact position it didn’t make any sense. Here's how I discovered the root of her problem and the steps you can follow to start hitting more effortless and powerful forehands...

How would you like to play your BEST tennis in the BIGGEST moments instead of crumbling under pressure? That’s exactly what you’re going to learn how to do as I deconstruct the recent video by Karue Sell from MyTennisHQ. He had an incredible result in a set against Taylor Fritz, the current world #12, and his reaction to that result speaks volumes about the difference between the mental toughness of world class players and regular, every day ones like you and me. Hope you enjoy this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.

There’s a 90% chance your ready position SUCKS based on the tens of thousands of hours I’ve spent coaching everyday tennis players like you. Without checking all four boxes needed you’ll never move around the court as quickly or smoothly as you should. Find out what they are in today’s special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.

Novak Djokovic is one of the most mentally tough tennis players of all time but it’s not for the reason most people think. Find out what the secret is in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast so you can become a better competitor during matches, play your best when it matters most and level up your game.

If you’ve EVER tried to keep your tossing arm up on your serve then you MUST listen to this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast because that tip might be ruining your tennis results. Find out how long is too long to keep your arm up and how to hit your serves with the most power, smoothness and athleticism possible!

What if you could make your best swings, hit your best shots and play your best level completely on auto pilot? Without thinking about it at all? That’s what the best competitors at ALL levels are able to do: play on instinct and habit instead of a merry go round of constant reminders and thoughts. Find out EXACTLY how to do that in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast! 

What if you could make your best swings, hit your best shots and play your best level of tennis completely on auto pilot? Without thinking about it at all? That’s what the best competitors at ALL levels are able to do: play on instinct and habit instead of a merry go round of constant reminders and thoughts. Learn how to do that and much more in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.

If you’re an adult competitive tennis player that feels stuck with the same game, the same strokes, year after year, and you’re starting to feel like giving up - DON’T. This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast will reveal how to use the Improvement Circle to break out of the rut of bad habits, advance your game and reach the next level as quickly as possible.

The last 18 months have been a struggle and I wanted to let you know why I haven’t been posting new episodes of the Essential Tennis Podcast. Thank you so much for all your support over the years. I appreciate it tremendously.

The thing holding you back from the next level of tennis is something truly unexpected. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been playing, what level you are, how many lessons you’ve taken or how many matches you’ve won. Every player across the globe has yet to master this ONE thing and it’s keeping them from the quality tennis they’re capable of. Find out what it is and how to fix it in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast!

Often times tennis lessons ARE a waste of money because they simply don’t provide the type of service that students were expecting. Today’s special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast features a candid conversation between Ian and a player who felt ripped off. Was it warranted or did he make a mistake signing up for the coaching he did? Find out so you don’t make the same mistakes and get the most out of your tennis experience.

Pickleball is all the rage right now so I got some coaching and played some matches to see if it’s as great as so many people think. In this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast you’ll hear my candid thoughts about what Pickleball is nailing, what the tennis community can learn from it, and whether I’ll be sticking with tennis or transitioning to Pickleball.

The mental side of tennis used to be my biggest weakness and now it’s one of my biggest strengths. I’ve gone from being angry, self critical and spiraling out of control match after match to perfectly balancing my thoughts, feelings and mental energy. How was I able to do it? In this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast I look back over the last 20 years of work, reflection and learning to uncover the most important changes I’ve made that have turned tennis competition into a joy again.

If you’re sick of playing better in practice than you do in matches then this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast can’t be missed. You’ll learn the two big problems holding players back from their best performance when the pressure is really on, and most importantly, how to break free of those traps and finally become the competitive player you’ve always dreamed of.

If you’re sick and tired of bad line calls in tennis matches then this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a must listen. You’ll learn the surprising reason behind why they happen so frequently, what you can do about it in the moment, and even how you can keep them from sabatoging your level of play and destroying your results. If you’re a serious tennis player who wants to perform their best when it really matters then don’t miss this.

One thing more than any other keeps players from immproving level after level in tennis. It’s not technique or strategy related, or even access to good coaching. Without addressing it you’ll eventually plateau and then stay stuck for the rest of your playing career. Find out what it is and how to break free from the trap in today’s special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.

Out of all the cliché, overused tennis coaching the instruction to “finish your follow through!” is one of the worst. Find out why and what you should be doing instead in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast. You’ll learn how a long, smooth, full follow through can actually happen automatically, without you thinking about it at all, so your whole tennis game can become more powerful and easy!

What’s happening inside the mind of an elite competitor like Roger Federer right as things are looking most dark and pessimistic during a match? Is he visualizing holding a trophy, saying positive affirmations or some kind of special mantra? This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast reveals the answer along with 4 huge takeaways that we can all learn from when it comes to mental toughness and playing our best tennis under pressure!

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your tennis game then this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a must listen. It features four stories from Ian’s past as a player and coach where things felt very wrong and how he was able to navigate through those tough periods. If you’ve ever lost your tennis happiness then this is a must listen!

A huge chunk of the practice tennis players do is a total waste of time. It’s a waste because the same bad habits are getting repeated again and again and again. How do you get off that merry go round of non-improvement? Find out in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast. It’s time to finally break free and make meaningful improvements to your game!