Essential Tennis Podcast - Instruction, Lessons, Tips

"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 their spin is hit, and how to read it correctly so that you can be in the right position!"

"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."

"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 for some new videos coming out soon featuring Steve and his fitness tips!"

"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!"

"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 a local USTA league."

"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!"

"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!"

"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!"

"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!"

"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!"