Essential Tennis Podcast - Instruction, Lessons, Tips

Confronting Weaknesses: Essential Tennis Podcast #205

August 22, 2012 01:13 - 17 minutes - 8.19 MB

What happens when you hit a wall trying to improve a weakness? Should you keep plugging away at it or just move on?

Copying Pro Styles: Essential Tennis Podcast #204

May 25, 2012 02:24 - 19 minutes - 9.11 MB

"Find out when you should infuse (if ever!) some of the styles and personalities that you see on TV from ATP and WTA professional tennis players."

Forehand Timing, Footwork and Contact Point: Essential Tennis Podcast #203

May 12, 2012 02:24 - 18 minutes - 8.25 MB

"Timing, footwork, and contact point are all at least closely related when it comes to the forehand groundstroke. However, when attempting to diagnose a problem and fix it you need to know which element is at fault and what change to make! Today's show focuses on exactly those topics as I go into detail on all 3 technique elements of the forehand groundstroke."

Breaking Out of a Rut: Essential Tennis Podcast #202

April 26, 2012 02:24 - 13 minutes - 6.3 MB

"Have you ever experienced a certain stroke getting stuck in a rut when it comes to timing? A very common issue is timing a groundstroke swing late over and over again. I should know, it happens to me! In today's episode of the podcast I'll share my favorite method of breaking a student out of a timing rut. It's a progression of different target areas that will get you swinging freely and correctly in no time."

Tennis Parenting 101: Essential Tennis Podcast #201

April 18, 2012 02:24 - 34 minutes - 15.7 MB

"When your child begins taking lessons there are so many questions to answer: "What should I look for in a coach? Should he/she take lessons from only one coach or several? In today's episode of the podcast tennis parent expert Frank Giampaolo answers those questions and many more as he talks to me about the many pit falls of competitive junior tennis."

Defeat Spectator Nerves: Essential Tennis Podcast #200

February 25, 2012 02:24 - 26 minutes - 12.3 MB

"Do you hate it when people watch you while you play? Do you get nervous, tight, and stop playing the type of tennis that you know you can? If so then you absolutely must catch this episode of the podcast in which Dr. Patrick Cohn is going to tell you how to overcome your anxiety. He also answers questions having to do with avoiding momentum shifts, and improving your mental toughness while off the court."

Holiday Special: Essential Tennis Podcast #199

January 05, 2012 02:24 - 7 minutes - 3.22 MB

"Listen to all of the holiday messages left in the ET Voicemail Box over the past few weeks. Also, a huge "thank you" to everybody for their support during 2011. If you have listened to the podcast, watched my videos, attended a clinic, or signed up for any of my online courses this past year then you mean so much to me. I literally couldn't continue with Essential Tennis without you! Happy New Year, all the best for your tennis in 2012."

Top 5 Tennis Parent Blunders: Essential Tennis Podcast #198

December 13, 2011 02:24 - 38 minutes - 17.6 MB

"Whether you currently have kids involved in tennis or not you really need to listen to my interview with Frank Giampaolo. He shares his "Top 5 Tennis Parent Blunders" and gives some amazing information for all of us to follow along the way. In this episode of the podcast you'll learn about body, brain and personality types, how to get ready for a match, how to practice based on your strengths and weaknesses, and a LOT more! "

Return of Serve X-Factor: Essential Tennis Podcast #197

November 23, 2011 02:24 - 22 minutes - 10.4 MB

"Exactly what sets players like Agassi, Djokovic and Murray apart as great returners? Is it possible to learn those same skills as recreational level players? In today's episode of the Podcast I'll share with you the techniques needed to be successful with the return of serve, as well as the "art" and the "x-factor" required to be a master at it."

Mini Tennis Essentials: Essential Tennis Podcast #196

November 15, 2011 02:24 - 28 minutes - 12.9 MB

"No matter what you've been told or currently think short court hitting is NOT just for beginners! In this episode of the podcast I explain exactly why mini tennis should be part of your practice or match warm up routine and how to best execute it, both in terms of targets and technique. Start using short court today for better rhythm and technique!"

How to Crush Pushers: Essential Tennis Podcast #195

November 10, 2011 02:24 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

"Pushers are feared all around the world for their consistency and guile on the court, especially in lower to intermediate level tennis, but it doesn't have to be that way! In today's episode of the podcast I share the most important elements of your game to improve if you ever want to be successful against somebody who excel at doing whatever it takes to just get the ball in."

Developing Mental Toughness: Essential Tennis Podcast #194

November 02, 2011 02:24 - 27 minutes - 12.4 MB

"Most tennis players know what good "mental toughness" looks like on the court but have no idea how to actually develop it for their own game. Sure, Nadal and Federer are both tough and focused, almost never cracking under pressure, but how do you actually get to that point? How can we train ourselves to act and react the way that we want to? In today's episode of the podcast I answer those questions and give a three step plan for being successful with your mental game!"

Mental Toughness With Dr. Cohn: Essential Tennis Podcast #193

October 26, 2011 02:24 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MB

"Dr. Cohn is back on the podcast to share his knowledge and expertise in the area of sports psychology and mental toughness! Together we talk about three listener questions that were submitted via Facebook which include how to best prepare and play "monster" points during a match, how can you close out a better player when you find yourself in the lead, and how can you get an annoying player out of your head? Make sure to also check out Dr. Cohn's own podcast at: Sports Psychology Tennis. "

How to Slide On Clay: Essential Tennis Podcast #192

October 19, 2011 02:24 - 27 minutes - 12.4 MB

"Sliding correctly on a clay court can be really tough to be but completely worth working on since it will raise the efficiency of your movement around the court a TON. In today's podcast I talk about exactly how to slide on a clay court, and even a hard one if you can get moving fast enough! Check out the three step process that's presented including which foot to use, when to initiate the slide, and what type of footwork to use. "

Should I Quit Tennis? Essential Tennis Podcast #191

October 11, 2011 02:24 - 34 minutes - 15.9 MB

"In this week's episode of the show I answer a question from a listener who's fed up with tennis. He's tired of working hard on his strokes, fitness, and strategy only to have other's routinely beat him on the court. Is he doing something wrong or are some people who pick up tennis just doomed to never really "break through" and play the tennis of their dreams? Find out as I strive to set correct expectations for this player and everybody else! "

Success vs 5.0 Players: Essential Tennis Podcast #190

October 05, 2011 02:24 - 36 minutes - 16.5 MB

"Have you ever played against an opponent much stronger than you who seemed to crush every ball well past your comfort level? How can we possibly bridge the gap between where we are now and that type of play? Today's episode of the podcast is dedicated to having move success against 5.0 players and anybody else who has big power and offense off the baseline. Learn how to receive these monster shots and send them back with ease! "

Todd Martin Interview: Essential Tennis Podcast #189

September 28, 2011 02:24 - 39 minutes - 18 MB

"Todd Martin is my guest on this week's episode of the podcast to discuss all things tennis! I asked him a wide range of questions including: how he got started in the game and when he knew it would be his career, what rec players need to do to reach their full potential, what his time spend with Novak Djokovic was like including specific drills that were used, what his take is on new racket and string technologies, and a lot more! Also be sure to check out Todd's foundation which benefits at...

Forehand Shazam! Essential Tennis Podcast #188

September 21, 2011 02:24 - 37 minutes - 17.2 MB

"The first topic in today's show is a little move that adds "shazam" to your results! If you're looking for more power and topspin on your forehand ground stroke then definitely check out what this move is and how you can go about making it a habit. I also talk about the correct time to use a drop shot during your singles points. Find out the 6 times that are terrible to use this sneaky little play, and what you should be looking for when deciding to use it or not."

Angle Forehands and Easy Volleys: Essential Tennis Podcast #187

September 13, 2011 02:24 - 30 minutes - 14 MB

"The first topic in today's show is safely creating big angles from the baseline by creating more topspin. How exactly should we hit these shots without them sailing wide? I give two practice drills to get a better feel for how vertical you should be swinging. The second topic has to do with mishitting volleys and missing easy volleys in general. I give a great three step system to eliminating miss hit volleys and also talk about how you can hit an offensive volley without losing your consist...

Video Talk with Adam of FYB: Essential Tennis Podcast #186

September 07, 2011 02:24 - 40 minutes - 18.6 MB

"Hands down the best fastest way to improve your technique and strategy is through video analysis! Shooting video of yourself playing or hitting can seem daunting at first but it definitely doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. In today's podcast I interview the video guru behind the success of Fuzzy Yellow Balls. He gives a LOT of very practice advice about how to use simple cameras and software to check out and improve your own game."

Will Hamilton Talks Doubles Strategy: Essential Tennis Podcast #185

August 30, 2011 02:24 - 37 minutes - 17 MB

"My guest on today's podcast is Fuzzy Yellow Balls co-founder Will Hamilton. Together we discuss what working with the best doubles team of all time was like. He talks about exactly why Bob and Mike Bryan have been so successful, and what parts of their game YOU can copy and implement for more doubles success on the court. For a free two hour instructional course featuring the Bryan's CLICK HERE!"

How to React to Unforced Errors: Essential Tennis Podcast #184

August 23, 2011 02:24 - 34 minutes - 15.7 MB

"The only thing worse than missing an easy shot in tennis is having it put a seed of doubt into your mind about the next time you're in that same situation. Making mistakes is part of both tennis and life in general, but how can you keep their occurrence from destroying your confidence and forcing you to play tight, tentative tennis? In today's episode of the podcast I'll give you the three "essentials" to reacting to unforced errors the best way possible so that you can continue playing conf...

How to Serve and Volley: Essential Tennis Podcast #183

August 16, 2011 02:24 - 33 minutes - 15.6 MB

"When serving and volleying or returning and volleying ballance is incredibly important. What is the correct footwork to use on your way up to the net? Should you use a split step or shuffle step? When does the split step take place exactly? Learn the answers to all of these questions and more as I give an outline of the 6 steps to take to a successful split step."

Poker Face: Essential Tennis Podcast #182

August 10, 2011 02:24 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MB

"It's widely accepted that keeping a totally neutral exterior during tennis matches is the way to go when it comes to mental tennis, but in today's show I'm going to give you a few reasons why that might not be the case! Sure, we can all come up with a list of past champions that never batted an eye regardless of the situation or how frustrating things might be for them, but at the end of the day that just isn't realistic or even best in terms of performance for all of us. Find out when it's ...

Struggling Against Weaker Players: Essential Tennis Podcast #181

August 02, 2011 02:24 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MB

"Today's show covers a topic that is extremely familiar with the vast majority of tennis players: struggling on the court against somebody that in your opinion is weaker than you are. It might be just a little bit, or maybe even a large difference in ability level but either way you seem to constantly play down to their level and make things difficult for yourself. Stop that cycle! In this episode of the podcast I outline the biggest psychological and physical reasons why tennis players can't...

I Formation Tactics: Essential Tennis Podcast #180

July 26, 2011 02:24 - 36 minutes - 16.9 MB

"If you play any doubles at all then you need to be familiar with the I formation! In today's episode of the podcast my guest is friend and former teammate Jason Cole. Together we go over a full overview of how to use the I formation, when it's typically most successful, how to manage signals, what parts of the court both players should be covering, and more! Start using these tactics right away so confuse and intimidate your opponents, it's really a lot of fun!"

Speed, Strength and Flexibility: Essential Tennis Podcast #179

July 19, 2011 02:24 - 39 minutes - 18 MB

"In today's episode of the podcast I'm joined by certified personal trainer Steve Beck! Together we have a great discussion about three areas of tennis fitness that you need to be working on if you'd like to reach your full potential on the court: speed, strength, and flexibility. We also talk about a free course that we just released which will show you exactly how to work on those three areas for your tennis game! It's only available to view until July 27th so click on the link below to sig...

Finding a "Lost" Stroke: Essential Tennis Podcast #178

July 12, 2011 02:24 - 33 minutes - 15.4 MB

"Having a once confident tennis stroke completely leave you and turn into a liability has got to be one of the all time biggest frustrations to a player! I've personally experienced this several times in my own game and in today's show I give advice on how to avoid it, and also a three step process that you should use to bring a lost stroke back from the grave. I also discuss the technique of hitting a more penetrating backhand slice so that you can avoid hitting high floaters to your opponent!"

Brent Abel Interview: Essential Tennis Podcast #177

July 05, 2011 02:24 - 38 minutes - 17.8 MB

"Brent Abel runs the excellent tennis instruction website www.webtennis.com. In this week's episode of the podcast he's my guest as we discuss several topics that are vital to the improvement of tennis players everywhere: singles strategy, doubles strategy, trying to copy the pros, and what to do when you find yourself stuck in a rut with your tennis game. Brent has some great insights that I know you'll find helpful!"

Talent is Overrated: Essential Tennis Podcast #176

June 28, 2011 02:24 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MB

"In today's show my guest is Will Hamilton from Fuzzy Yellow Balls! Together we talk about some super important topics having to do with improving your tennis game. Did you know that the biggest difference between players isn't actually natural skill and ability? Will explains how what he read in a book by Geoff Colvin (really good read!) can teach us about getting better at tennis, specifically what you should be focusing on and not focusing on as you try to improve."

Stop Choking!: Essential Tennis Podcast #175

June 21, 2011 02:24 - 32 minutes - 15 MB

"Dr. Cohn is back for another great discussion about mental toughness in your tennis game! Together we discuss three different listener topics about avoiding disappointment on the tennis court. The first question has to do with the infamous "choke", how can we avoid giving up a big lead? Second we talk about getting angry or upset after missing shots during a match and thirdly we talk about being too nice and feeling sorry for your opponent!"

Cooperative Hitting Keys: Essential Tennis Podcast #174

June 14, 2011 02:24 - 36 minutes - 16.8 MB

"So many recreational tennis players walk out onto the practice court, rally a couple balls from the baseline without any purpose at all and then just go right into set play or baseline games. Don't do that! You can make such better use of your time on the court and on today's podcast Andy Zodin and I discuss exactly how that's possible. Cooperative tennis drills don't have to be boring!"

Dealing With Spin Docto: Essential Tennis Podcast #173

June 07, 2011 02:24 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

"We've all dealt with this type of opponent at least once in our tennis careers. This is the player that has a lot of experience, unconventional technique, and imparts huge amounts of spin on the ball over and over again. In trying to deal with these shots you feel confused, off balance, and sometimes just plain dumb as the ball curves and bounces all over the place. Talk about frustrating! In today's episode of the podcast I will tell you exactly what to look for against these players, how t...

How to Drop Volley: Essential Tennis Podcast #172

May 31, 2011 02:24 - 27 minutes - 12.6 MB

"Being able to hit a soft, delicate drop volley can often be extremely useful both in singles and in doubles. Unfortunately most recreational players complicate this shot by trying to chop at it and add a ton of spin, don't make that mistake! In today's episode of the podcast I talk about exactly how to execute this shot correctly, and how to best use it in a singles match against an opponent that loves hitting passing shots."

Better Fitness for Better Tennis!: Essential Tennis Podcast #171

May 24, 2011 02:24 - 35 minutes - 16.5 MB

"If you're really serious about being a better tennis player then training your body for peak performance is definitely something you should be doing! In today's episode of the podcast I have a special guest join me who is not only passionate about tennis but is a certified personal trainer as well. We talk about topics such as warming up correctly, whether or not a "cool down" is necessary for tennis players, and also how to best fit your workout into a busy schedule. Also, keep an eye out f...

Maximize Your Lessons: Essential Tennis Podcast #170

May 17, 2011 02:24 - 33 minutes - 15.5 MB

"So you've decided that it's time to get some help from your local tennis professional. That's great, but now what? Should you tell them what you want to improve or just go with whatever they say? How often should you take lessons and how much time should you spend practicing what they teach you? How long should you expect for it to take to see improvements? All of these questions and more are answered in today's podcast focusing on getting the most from your lessons!"

Two Handed Backhand Essentials: Essential Tennis Podcast #169

May 10, 2011 02:24 - 36 minutes - 16.6 MB

"Today's show is completely dedicated to the two handed backhand! I discuss all of the most important technical elements related to grip, the backswing, contact point, and follow through. I also throw in some other really important factors including how energy transfers from your right side to left side during a good swing, the use of the kinetic chain, and whether or not using an open stance is a good idea when hitting a two hander. In today's wrap up I also talk about my attempts at joining...

Return of Serve Success: Essential Tennis Podcast #168

May 03, 2011 02:24 - 39 minutes - 18.1 MB

"This episode of the podcast is completely dedicated to an extremely important shot in tennis: the return of serve! Listen in as I talk about the most important elements of a good singles and doubles return of serve. When should you try to beat a poaching player down the alley? Where should you aim your singles return of serve with so much court to work with? I give a full overview of what to keep in mind, what to forget about, and how aggressively you should be hitting this important shot!"

When Should You Work On Offense?: Essential Tennis Podcast #167

April 27, 2011 02:24 - 28 minutes - 13.3 MB

"Today's podcast episode is on an awesome topic: at what point in your tennis development should you stop being so focused on being steady and start developing some big weapons? Is there a certain level that you should transition over? Are their specific cues in your game that you should be looking for? I talk about the "sliding scale" of tennis players on this episode and give advice on what to develop and when based on your current level of play!"

How To Beat Serve and Volley: Essential Tennis Podcast #166

April 20, 2011 02:24 - 37 minutes - 17 MB

"Serve and volley players can be extremely tough to beat, they really make you come up with great shots in order to win! In today's episode of the podcast I will tell you exactly what you need to do in order to defeat these tricky opponents. Topics include how best to handle the return of serve, two main tactical options to use once the point has begun, and also some mental toughness advice as well. Don't get bullied around by these types of players anymore!"

Breaking the Directionals: Essential Tennis Podcast #165

April 12, 2011 02:24 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MB

"In today's episode of the podcast I answer some great listener questions about adding more weight to your favorite frame by using lead tape. Will adding weight really slow your swing down and decrease power? Where should you put the lead exactly and how much? I also talk about the correct times to NOT use the directionals! I list four specific times in which using the directionals would actually be a bad idea and how to implement those shots selections into your game!"

Big Announcement + Question: Essential Tennis Podcast #164

April 05, 2011 02:24 - 22 minutes - 10.5 MB

"On today's episode of the podcast I have a big announcement that will has huge implications on the future of Essential Tennis! I also have a question to ask of all of you, one that you should answer in the comments on the podcast page at Essential Tennis. Thank you all so much for your support over the years, I can't thank you enough!"

How To Drop Shot: Essential Tennis Podcast #163

March 29, 2011 02:24 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MB

"On today's show Ian talks about the three essential technique elements to hitting an effective drop shot. Make sure you're doing all three! He also discusses managing a partnership within a doubles match. What should you do when your partner is missing easy shots and getting upset? How about when it actually starts affecting your own concentration and play? Find out!"

How Hard Should You Swing?: Essential Tennis Podcast #161

March 15, 2011 02:24 - 32 minutes - 14.7 MB

"So exactly how hard and fast should you be accelerating the racket on a consistent basis? On one hand you don't want to swing tentative and scared, but on the other going full out all the time will lead to a lot of mistakes, right? Listen to Ian talk about exactly where you acceleration level should be. He also talks about the main essential elements to hitting a topspin forehand, even if you've been hitting "old school" for over 30 years!"

How To Hit Passing Shots: Essential Tennis Podcast #160

March 08, 2011 02:24 - 34 minutes - 15.6 MB

"When your opponent comes to the net in singles you have so many different options: cross court, down the line, drive, heavy topspin, lob, etc. What is the best type of shot to chose and why? Find out on today's show! Ian also gives advice on how to hit effective forehands and backhands on the run. How are the pros able to hit such amazing shots when in trouble and running off the court?"

Raise Your Tennis IQ: Essential Tennis Podcast #159

March 01, 2011 02:24 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MB

"On today's show Ian answers a great question about developing the skills needed to win. We're not talking about forehand or backhand technique but rather the intangibles that really make up a player that just seems to pull out wins even against "better" players. Ian also discusses a question about what parts of your technique you should be thinking about and which should just be "automatic"!"

How to Beat Pushers: Essential Tennis Podcast #158

February 22, 2011 02:24 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MB

"In today's show Ian talks about how to better handle the most feared type of player in tennis: the PUSHER! What parts of your game need to be improved and what tactics should you employ to be more successful against this dreaded opponent? Find out by listening! Ian also talks about handling low, short shots in the court."

3 Simple Singles Necessities - Essential Tennis Podcast #157

February 15, 2011 02:24 - 29 minutes - 13.3 MB

"Two great singles tactics questions occupy today's episode of the podcast! First off I discuss what tactics patterns, and strategies are most essential when it comes to being successful in singles competition. Secondly I talk about how to approach a match tactically against a player who is obviously much stronger and you. What can you do to increase your chances of coming out on top? Find out!"

Win More Singles Matches NOW! - Essential Tennis Podcast #156

February 07, 2011 20:05 - 33 minutes - 15.4 MB

In today's episode I talk about three big ways that you can win more matches in your singles game: improving your singles practice, singles strategy, and mental game specifically for singles play. Improving even one of these areas will absolutely earn you more points, just image what would happen if you spend the time and effort to become better at all three!

Relax For More Power and Spin! - Essential Tennis Podcast #155

January 31, 2011 20:25 - 33 minutes - 15.3 MB

Did you know that you can make more power and more spin without actually trying any harder? If that sounds impossible to you then you definitely need to listen to today's podcast! Ian talks about the power of relaxation and exactly how much you should be relaxing your arm and grip during a ground stroke. He also discusses the benefit of playing people who are weaker than you and how to deal with losing concentration during such matches.

Essential Tennis Podcast - Instruction, Lessons, Tips

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