To celebrate the end of 2024, I'm re-releasing the three most popular episodes of the year. This is #3...

Styrling Strother is an innovative tennis coach who trains junior players and adults to transform the way they practice and think about the match court. He is a Tennis Performance Trainer (TPT) with the International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA), a PTR Professional Coach, a best-selling author, and the founder of Styrling Strother Tennis, a player development program located in Cary, North Carolina.

This episode will totally shift your practice habits, and inject fun into your doubles matches. Styrling shares some transformational ideas with me in this episode.

• Why you should NOT look at the ball after you hit.
• A new way to think about the game score that helps you maintain focus and concentration (Momentum Scoring System).
• Innovative doubles drills that will better help you win matches.
• What you should be thinking when you make an error.
• Why opponent-based thinking is the #1 thing to learn for tennis players (and why it's so hard).

We also discuss his new book, The Art of Winning Tennis, which offers strategies that change the way you see the court. I'm about halfway done with the book and it's already got me thinking about adjustments for my next match.

As we dissect the traditional practice court paradigm, you'll discover why it's critical to move beyond technique to the strategic 'where, when, and why' of each shot. You'll learn to embrace the pressure of in-match scenarios through our in-depth analysis of scoring and drill modifications that mimic match conditions.

See the show notes for this episode here: https://www.thetennistribe.com/styrling-strother-interview

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Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Harri Heliovaara is the 2024 Wimbledon gentlemen's doubles champion and the 2023 US Open mixed doubles champion. He's currently ranked #16 on the ATP doubles tour. Heliovaara is also one of my favorite players to watch because of his entertaining celebrations and on-court demeanor.

This interview with Harri covers his Wimbledon run, doubles changes, his story, and more.

• Why he quit professional tennis in 2013 before returning in 2017.
• How he mentally overcame being down multiple match points in the Wimbledon final.
• Serve struggles and how he's improved his 2nd serve, including specific drills.
• His experience being mic'd up in DC (video below), and what other changes he'd like to see to help make doubles more popular.
• Offseason training.
• The process of changing partners and new teams for 2025.

Learn more about Harri:

• ATP Tour Profile
• Wikipedia

Harri's Favorites:

• Tennis Book: The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
• Non-Tennis Book: The Unknown Soldier by Vaino Linna
• Tournament: Wimbledon
• Dream Mixed Doubles Partner: Anna Danilina
• Singles Player You Want to Play Doubles With: Alexander Bublik
• Off Season Hobbies: Hang out with children (1 & 3 years old); Aviation- he likes to take his daughter to the airport to watch planes landing and taking off.
• Harri's advice: Watch more doubles! 

More from this episode:

• Follow Harri on Instagram
• Harri mic'd up at the DC Open: https://youtu.be/zGmBgVPTQk8?si=z0pBm5MzD08KWNl-
• Harri's Blog: https://www.harriheliovaara.fi/

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

Are you using the right tennis racquet? What about strings? Jonas from Tennisnerd is one of the world's leading experts in tennis racquets and strings, having reviewed 1000s of racquets and consulted for ATP & WTA tour pros.

I first met Jonas in Austria at the Head headquarters on a trip with Tennis Warehouse to test out the new Gravity. Recently, we went to SLO California to test more gear with the TW team. I've learned a ton from Jonas and wanted to have him on so you can too. In this conversation, Jonas and I discuss the following.

• Some of the best tennis racquets on the market today for certain player types.
• The head size most club-level doubles players should be looking for.
• What gives a racquet more power, control, spin, etc.
• Why you and the professionals do not (and should not) use the same racquets - even though they look the same.
• How to start experimenting with your strings, including specific recommendations.
• and more...

Follow Tennisnerd on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Get a racquet or string consultation from Jonas here.

Shop tennis racquets at Tennis Warehouse.
Shop strings at Tennis Warehouse.

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

It's the offseason, a time to reflect and prepare for next year. How will your training or practice improve in 2025?

In this episode, I share 5 tips for improving your doubles game through more effective training this offseason.

• You cannot improve without tip #1.
• A common mistake in practice made by club-level doubles players.
• My favorite training tools (links below).
• What off-court training has helped me the most.

If you can implement these tips, you'll be a better doubles player in 2025!

My favorite training tools:

• Topspin Pro 
• Functional Tennis Saber
• Targets & Lines from Tennis Warehouse
• The Best Tennis Ball Machines

Members get discounts on all the items above except the ball machines. Become a member or sign in here.


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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

Nate Lammons is the 19th-ranked doubles player on the ATP Tour. He and his doubles partner, Jackson Withrow, made the semifinals of the US Open earlier this year.

Nate played college tennis at SMU in Dallas, Texas where he still lives and trains with other professional doubles players like Austin Krajicek and Hans Hach. In this conversation, we discuss:

• Who's had the biggest influence on his doubles game?
• How Nate practices his serve - he has one of the best serves on the ATP doubles tour.
• Changes to the doubles tour - free fan movement, faster pace of play, mic'd up players, etc.
• Simulating in-match pressure.
• How he & Jackson "got over the hump" during the 2024 US Open to reach their first major semifinal.
• How Nate trains his first volley when his partner is serving.
• Nate's offseason plans.
• Their on-court apparel from Sigrun.

Nate and Jackson are among the few teams that have stayed together for more than a couple of seasons. Their team chemistry and consistent progress show how important a good partnership is in doubles.

Follow Nate on Instagram.

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

Today, Sunday, November 24, is the last day to get 35% off the new Tennis Tribe Memberships (coupon: LAUNCH).

This mini-lesson covers a phrase coined by Craig O'Shannessy (Brain Game Tennis), that has had more impact on my doubles game than any other lesson I've learned over the last decade.

I believe that if you can focus and train with this simple lesson in mind, you'll improve faster and understand doubles on an entirely different level.

If you like this shorter format, let me know by sending me an email: [email protected]

Dan Kiernan is the coach of Gaby Dabrowski who just won the 2024 WTA Finals alongside her partner Erin Routliffe.

I spoke with Dan a few days after winning the title in Riyadh. He shares:

• Behind the scenes stories from the Finals.
• How his coaching process has changed over the last 18 months with Gaby.
• What types of adjustments the team made from 1st to 2nd set in different matches.

Dan is one of my favorite guests because of his ability to share messages through stories. Doubles fans and players of any level can benefit from listening to Dan's advice.

The membership is live and discounted through this Sunday only.
**Sign up here**


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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• Net Play Strategy for Doubles - The Masterclass
• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
• Mental Game Masterclass
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics
• Return Strategy for Doubles
• Serve Strategy for Doubles
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles

Do you prefer to play doubles from the baseline or net? I'm better at the net but often get lazy and have to remind myself to get up there and quit hanging out in the back of the court.

This episode reminds the baseliners (and me) the benefits of getting to the net.

You'll learn:

• Three reasons to move forward
• Why I think many people aren't comfortable at the net (but should go anyway).
• What the win percentages say about the net vs the baseline.

The Membership launches next Tuesday, November 19. Stay tuned for updates!

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• Net Play Strategy for Doubles - The Masterclass
• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
• Mental Game Masterclass
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics
• Return Strategy for Doubles
• Serve Strategy for Doubles
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles

Do you use different serve and return formations? You should be! This episode will cover the pros and cons of each formation.

• When to NOT use regular formation while serving.
• What is the best formation against BIG returners.
• When should I play 2-back while returning?

This is a preview of my presentation from Tennis Con 8 which goes live today. To watch the full presentation, sign up here before 10/31.

Get lifetime access to all 40 presentations here.

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• Net Play Strategy for Doubles - The Masterclass
• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
• Mental Game Masterclass
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics
• Return Strategy for Doubles
• Serve Strategy for Doubles
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles

Peter Freeman hosts Tennis Con 8 starting next week. It's a free event where some of the best online tennis coaches present on different topics to help you improve your game.

I asked Pete to share the best doubles lessons he's learned over the years from Tennis Con. We discuss eight lessons.

1. Gigi Fernandez's 123 Poaching Formula
2. Jorge Capestany's Doubles Dance
3. Ian Westermann's Angels in the Outfield
4. Roy Emerson's Play for your Partner (Bonus Never miss a return)
5. Will Boucek's It's not you, it's me approach
6. Gigi's Stagger formation
7. Will Hamilton's Racket Below Wrist Poach Tell
8. Gigi's Singles Approach Strategy for Doubles

Pete and I always have great strategy discussions so I know you'll enjoy this one.

Sign up for Tennis Con 8 here.

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** 

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• Net Play Strategy for Doubles - The Masterclass
• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
• Mental Game Masterclass
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics
• Return Strategy for Doubles
• Serve Strategy for Doubles
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles