As the new year approaches, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson step back and re-center on the fundamentals that drive long-term development in tennis and in life: being proactive, prioritizing what matters, and committing to steady improvement. They connect timeless principles to junior development, especially grips, habits, and the idea that “winning” is built through process and skill-building rather than a scoreboard-driven mindset.

The conversation also highlights a set of ten "life lessons” drawn from a GreatBase student: being all-in, outworking the room, showing gratitude and respect, valuing character before technique, and doing the ordinary an extraordinary number of times. Steve and Dave discuss, on episode 281, why the best growth comes from “Program Plus" - the work done away from the lesson, the court, and the spotlight. The pair closes with a practical mindset for 2026: simplify goals, avoid spreading yourself thin, and make daily routines measurable and repeatable.

In this Christmas Day episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ilya Samyanov for a wide-ranging conversation that blends reflection, teaching philosophy, and community. The group opens by honoring the legacies of Vic Braden, Dennis VanderMeer, and the late Mark Spann, sharing stories that underscore gratitude, mentorship, and the idea that tennis itself is a gift. The discussion weaves through family, sacrifice, and the responsibility coaches and parents carry in shaping both players and people.

The second half centers on a review of the recent Ave Maria workshop, highlighting the “Golden Growth Opportunity” theme and the power of fundamentals done well. From learning names and building shared language, to rhythm training with the metronome, fitness testing, brain typing, and character development, the episode reinforces GreatBase as a system of systems. The core message is simple and demanding: start the course, stay the course, and commit to lifelong learning - on the court, at home, and in the daily habits that define a tennis journey.

Steve Smith and Dave Anderson welcome Coach Jaime Pulgar Garcia, new to the Brookhaven staff and already making a major cultural impact. Jaime shares his tennis origin story from Madrid, Spain, his late start at age 10, and the twin-track journey he and his brother took through college tennis (NC State and San Diego State), pro tennis, and high-performance coaching. The conversation explores how Spanish tennis culture shaped his development and why his family pushed the U.S. college route.

Episode 279 expands into the “Spanish method” versus the U.S. landscape—coaching pathways, credentialing, junior development, and the role of other sports like soccer in building movement and competitiveness. Jaime and Dave discuss “high floor vs. high ceiling” player development, plus how modern scouting and analytics reinforce match-film insights without overwhelming players. Jaime also reflects on coaching Mackenzie McDonald through his major ranking climb.

In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith welcomes USTA performance analytics expert Mat Cloer and coach Dave Anderson for a deep dive into the USTA’s new coaching initiative and its effort to strengthen education and certification for American tennis teachers. Cloer explains his role inside Player Development, using Hawkeye data, video analysis, and match statistics to help players and coaches better understand patterns in serving, returning, transition play, and net effectiveness. The discussion highlights how analytics are becoming a core tool in shaping modern training.

Episode 278's conversation also explores Cloer’s time around the tour and his close work with Ben Shelton, along with insights from Billie Jean King Cup team events. Steve, Mat, and Dave connect high-level trends back to junior development—emphasizing doubles, all-court skills, proper fundamentals, and a genuine love for competing. They underline a clear message: the best players blend strong character with strong information, and the data only matters when it elevates teaching, learning, and long-term development.

In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson sit down with Texas A&M head coach and former world No. 11, Steve Denton. Denton opens with the incredible story of the Shanghai Masters, how former Aggies Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot, first cousins, battled their way from qualifying and alternates into a dream final on one of tennis’ biggest stages. He explains their roots at Texas A&M, why developing an all-court, forward-moving game takes longer, and how subtle changes in style and mindset can unlock a pro career.

Episode 277's conversation ranges through Denton’s own tour days, doubles with Kevin Curren, the evolution of college tennis, the importance of doubles as a pathway to making a lineup, and why “lifers” like Austin Krajicek and Jackson Withrow keep finding success. Along the way, you’ll hear rich Texas and Trinity tennis history, locker-room stories involving McEnroe and Connors, and Denton’s perspective on what parents and players should really value in the college and pro journey.

In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson sit down with Tim Ross, who spent over a decade at Ernst & Young before making a full-time leap into tennis coaching. Tim shares his early years at the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis, how mentors like Arvin Aravindhan and David Detweiler shaped his development, and how his corporate background now helps him approach coaching with structure and intention.

Tim also discusses his time volunteering with the Isha Foundation and how meditation, breathwork, and inner-work practices have transformed his emotional control and on-court performance. The conversation explores practical tools players can use, breathing patterns, mantras, routines, and daily habits, to develop calm intensity, stronger focus, and a healthier relationship with competition.

Episode 276 finishes with insight into junior tennis culture, the pressures young players face, and why mindset training must accompany technical training. Tim starts his new coaching role at Doylestown Tennis Club, and Steve and Dave offer advice, encouragement, and stories from decades of teaching and competing.

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson highlight the final two pillars of the GreatBase curriculum: Bill Jacobson, the pioneer of CompuTennis and modern match charting, and Vic Braden, whose scientific approach revolutionized how the game is taught. They discuss how both men were decades ahead of their time—using data, geometry, physics, and fact-based instruction long before the rest of the tennis world caught up.

teve and Dave share stories from the early days of charting, insights from Vic Braden’s research, and examples of how these principles still shape effective player development today. They also connect these lessons to the upcoming Tennis Golden Growth Opportunity workshop at Ave Maria University, where their goal is to honor past teachers and bring true tennis education back to the forefront.

Episode 275 is a must-listen for coaches, parents, players, and anyone who believes tennis should be taught with clarity, accuracy, and purpose.

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson continue their series on the eight pillars of the GreatBase curriculum, focusing on two coaching icons, Peter Burwash and Harry Hopman. They explore how Burwash set new standards of professionalism and service in coaching, while Hopman embodied fitness, discipline, and respect for the sport.

The hosts also discuss the upcoming Tennis Golden Growth Opportunity workshop at Ave Maria University, designed to honor the methods of these great teachers and pass their lessons on to today’s players, parents, and coaches.

More than a history lesson, episode 274 is a call to action, to bring back the work ethic, professionalism, and purpose that once defined tennis instruction.

In this episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss two of the most influential minds behind the GreatBase philosophy: Dr. Jim Leohr and Coach Jim Verdieck. Through stories, lessons, and personal experiences, they highlight why mental discipline, character, standards, and accountability remain essential in player development.

Episode 273 also previews the upcoming workshop in Ave Maria, focused on honoring tennis teaching traditions, preserving valuable coaching knowledge, and helping today's players and coaches build a stronger foundation. Great coaching endures, and this conversation is a reminder of why the fundamentals and values from the past still matter today.

In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson discuss the upcoming GreatBase Tennis workshop at Ave Maria University (Dec 18–20). They reflect on the enduring coaching philosophies of two key pillars of their curriculum: Welby Van Horn and Dennis VanderMeer.

From balance training to group dynamics, they explore what made these legendary teachers effective and why their methods are still needed today. The episode also highlights the cultural shift away from fundamentals and discipline in modern tennis instruction, and why this workshop aims to help fix that.

Episode 272's conversation ends with a call for preparation: listeners are encouraged to study in advance, come with questions, and participate fully in what promises to be an immersive three-day learning experience.