Rick Macci joins the podcast to preview this year's US Open. Rick is a 7-time USPTA national coach of the year and has coached some of the best players in the history of the game, including the Williams sisters and Andy Roddick.

We talk:

1:09 What makes Novak so great

3:46 How you can handle pressure more efficiently

6:20 Alcaraz movement

11:28 Fundamentals of the Sinner groundstrokes

14:16 Why Iga isn't as dominant on hard courts

17:07 What he looks for when he's watching a slam

20:45 Billion Dollar Mind

23:12 Getting out of negative thinking loops

You can find more from Rick here

https://rickmacci.com/

Today's guest is Will Boucek. Will is the host of the Doubles Only Tennis Podcast and recently was part of the team that scouted for Team USA at the Olympics.

We talk:

1:13 Scouting for Team USA

4:42 Do players get surprised by the data

6:55 Understanding win percentages

10:52 How variables affect scouting

14:27 Scouting Carlos Alcaraz

16:12 Scouting Nadal

18:16 Scouting opponents on-site

21:09 Improving your reflex volleys

Click here for more great information from Will

https://www.thetennistribe.com/

Scott Fawcett is our guest for the 61st episode of Baseline Intelligence. Scott founded the golf analytics platform DECADE Golf, and has helped players win NCAA Championships and PGA Tour events.

We talk:

1:35 Who is Scott Fawcett?

3:49 Tiger 5 statistics

10:47 Managing expectations

15:24 Solving problems

26:45 Four pennies drill

29:12 Shot patterns

41:02 Optimal strategy

We talk:

1:33 Analyzing Krueger vs. Badosa

6:04 Adapting to different court conditions

14:32 Why depth is important for your rally ball

18:45 Maria Sharapova at the French Open

24:04 When you should change directions and go down the line

30:54 Taking your practice game to the match court

34:42 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Gaby Dabrowski is our guest for the 59th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Gaby is the 2023 US Open Women's Doubles Champion and has been ranked as high as 4th in the WTA rankings. She also won the 2017 French Open and the 2018 Australian Open in Mixed Doubles.

We talk:

1:35 Mixed vs. women's doubles

2:42 Returning a faster serve

4:10 Where to stand on a kick serve

5:00 Lobbing

6:24 Return targets

8:08 Players with weaker backhand volleys

10:12 Getting comfortable at the net

13:53 When to close the net

16:08 The close-lag structure

17:20 How to hit a better overhead

18:54 Communicating with your partner

21:28 Don't be a dickhead

25:10 What she wishes she knew at the beginning of her career

27:27 Best coaching advice she's ever received

29:02 What amateurs don't know about pro doubles

31:32 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel

https://youtube.com/@StokkeTennis?si=4RLwRvnRepGZZyXl

Dan Kiernan is our guest for the 58th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Dan hosts the popular podcast "Control the Controllables" and currently works with the reigning US Open doubles champions Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe.

We talk:

2:15 Lightning in a bottle with a doubles team

6:40 Learn how to communicate as a doubles partner

9:55 Creating stress for your opponents

14:07 What to do when you don't serve well

16:33 The extended warmup

19:33 Technique vs. tactics

23:08 The daily bill

26:03 Most transformational podcast idea

31:29 Rules of the US Open champions

32:51 Advice for the 4.0 doubles player

Click here to subscribe to bonus episodes

https://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/support

Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel

https://youtube.com/@StokkeTennis?si=FUgnTwHQ19DztP4C

Jay Berger joins us for the 57th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Jay was ranked as high as 7th on the ATP tour and won 3 singles titles throughout his career. He was the head men's tennis coach at the University of Miami, was the head of men's tennis at the USTA Player Development, and currently coaches Reilly O'Pelka.

We talk:

2:05 Playing with intensity

6:36 Pillars of his success

9:48 Hitting without a coach

11:45 Watch more tennis

16:01 Learning from Jose Higueras

18:34 Developing good habits on the court

23:35 Best drills to improve consistency from the baseline

26:22 Similarities between the 3.5 player and professionals

29:13 Timing your poach

31:46 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Click here to subscribe to bonus episodes through captivate

https://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/support

Click here to subscribe to my Youtube Channel

https://youtube.com/@StokkeTennis?si=FUsbjorx61kb-S66

Louis Cayer is our guest for the 56th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Louis is the premiere doubles coach in all of tennis. He's a lead coach for the LTA and has helped several players to world #1 in the ATP doubles rankings including Jamie Murray, Neal Skupski and Joel Salisbury.

We talk:

1:48 Informing, forming and transforming

5:00 Louis' values and beliefs

10:52 What the world number ones have in common

13:24 Joe Salisbury's climb to ATP #1

17:38 Playing the net when you're on defense

20:49 Winning on defense

23:30 What he's learned now that he didn't when he was younger

26:42 Working with players who resist coaching

29:21 Finding a good match with your doubles partner

31:33 Best advice for the 4.0 player

**Visit the link below to subscribe to bonus episodes through captivate

https://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/support

On our first bonus episode we discuss second set letdowns and what we can do to get off to quicker starts in the second set.

We talk:

1:31 What is a second set let down?

2:51 The unique scoring system in tennis

5:39 Three ways to get off to quicker starts

7:40 Jessica Pegula on getting off to quick starts and closing out matches

12:50 Bathroom breaks

16:40 Tactics your opponent might use to bring your energy down

Jessica Pegula joins us for the beginning of the 2024 season of Baseline Intelligence. Jess had another incredible season, winning the Montreal WTA 1000 and the Korea Open, and finished top 5 in both singles and doubles on the WTA tour.

We talk:

1:25 Playing in difficult conditions

2:22 Playing downwind

5:23 Beating four straight top 10 players

6:39 Describing her rally ball

9:25 How fast she tries to hit her average rally ball

12:25 Finding your rally ball

14:58 Swing thoughts on her backhand

16:51 Backhands down the line

18:58 How she aims her groundstrokes

20:20 How she improved her serve in 2023

22:24 2024 Goals

23:18 Staying calm on the court

24:05 Turning points in her career

26:44 Best advice for the 4.0 player

We had a lot of great technical tips this year and today I'm sharing a few of my favorites.

1:12 Andy Fitzell on the time it takes to change

2:53 Andy Fitzell on hitting pure topspin

4:29 Steve Johnson on his forehand

5:52 Shelby Rogers on her backhand

6:58 Brad Stine on the backhand slice

9:03 Joel Myers on serve

We had so many great doubles tips this year and today I'm sharing a few of my favorites.

1:01 Paul Annacone on communication

2:48 Kelly Jones on basics of doubles

5:14 Mark Gellard on returning against I formation

6:42 On hitting the ball at it's highest point

8:37 Kelly Jones on being active at the net

10:56 Jessica Pegula on getting closer to the net

12:44 Erin Routliffe on leaving her alley open

On today's episode I share a sneak peak from the bonus doubles mailbag with 2024 NCAA Champion David Roditi.

We talk:

1:14 Working with Phillip Farmer

4:14 Should you respect when someone goes down the line

5:26 My All-American story

Rajeev Ram is our guest for the 52nd episode of Baseline Intelligence. Rajeev is the reigning 3-time US Open Doubles Champion, is currently ranked 6th in the world, and recently won the ATP Tour Finals with his partner Joe Salisbury.

We talk:

1:28 ATP Tour Finals

3:25 Deferring the toss

6:02 Being effective at the net

8:10 Covering the net

9:42 Tips for reflex volleys

12:24 I formation

15:31 Calling poaches

19:18 Turning the season around

20:11 Increasing his energy on the court

22:48 Communicating with his partner

27:57 What he sees from 3.5 doubles players

30:35 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Dr. Jon Finn is our guest for the 51st episode of Baseline Intelligence. Dr. Finn is the author of the best-selling book "The Habit Mechanic" and is the founder of the award-winning Tougher Minds consultancy.

We talk:

1:39 Why knowing doesn't lead to doing

4:54 The VUCA world

7:06 How to build positive habits

9:21 The nine factors that shape your behavior

18:16 Taking advice from other players

21:48 Triggers in a tennis match

25:18 Using court locations as a trigger

26:58 The best habit you can have as a tennis coach

29:11 How long it takes to form a new habit

Here's a link to Dr. Finn's book "The Habit Mechanic"

https://www.amazon.com/Habit-Mechanic-Fine-Tune-Brain-Supercharge/dp/1544528965

Here's a link to Dr. Fin's website

https://www.tougherminds.co.uk/

Dustin Taylor is our guest for the 50th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Dustin helped UVA win three consecutive NCAA championships as the associate head coach and is currently the head men's tennis coach at Oklahoma State University.

We talk:

1:38 Hands, eyes, and feet

4:42 Ball dropping vs. ball rising

7:20 Solving every ball

10:13 Hitting the outside of the ball

13:08 Creating space

17:58 Heavy and through

22:45 Discipline leads to freedom

25:58 Trusting your good is good enough

29:47 Best coaching advice he's received

31:15 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Erin Routliffe is our guest for the 49th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Erin is ranked 12th in the WTA tour doubles rankings and partnered with Gaby Dabrowski to win this year's US Open.

We talk:

1:23 Treating all matches the same

3:55 A losing record on the year

6:02 How she almost quit the game

11:27 Not covering her doubles alley

15:25 Net play when your partner returns

19:19 How to gel with a new partner

23:01 Poaching more often

25:49 Something people don't know about pros

28:04 Best coaching advice she's ever received

Mark Gellard is our guest for the 48th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Mark is currently the coach of WTA #23 Magda Linette. Magda has experienced one the best seasons of her career, having reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in singles and reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open in doubles.

We talk:

1:29 A normal day on tour

3:36 Using video to scout an opponent

6:38 Reviewing matches with a player

8:33 Coaching in pro matches

11:04 Magda's win vs. Azarenka

13:10 Avoiding the second set letdown

16:57 Keeping players confident

21:40 Accidental winners

26:26 Baseline tactics of the pros

29:44 What separates the good from the great

31:28 Best coaching advice you've ever received

32:31 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Click here to listen to Mark’s podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nFkd8bj7L5ky44qqzQqtK

Paul Annacone is our guest for the 47th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Paul has coached some of the best players in the history of the game, including Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Tim Henman, Sloane Stephens, and Taylor Fritz. A former top 15 ATP singles player, you can see him weekly as a regular analyst on the Tennis Channel.

We talk:

1:42 Why he rushed the net as a player

3:02 Mixing in serve and volley

5:30 Where to place your first volley

7:48 Height over the net

11:30 Doubles formations

15:15 Difference between hitting well and playing well

18:59 What he learned from Roger Federer

22:22 Evaluating and scouting opponents

26:50 Delayed effects of a successful tactic

31:38 Best coaching advice he's ever received

33:50 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Our friend Joel Myers joins the pod to talk about this year's US Open.

We talk:

1:12 Coco's breakthrough

6:00 How to compete against a consistent player

8:07 The Medvedev serve

11:31 Ben Shelton's game

16:30 The Shelton serve

19:30 Closing the net in doubles

25:58 What you can learn from pro doubles

Franco Herrero is our guest for the 45th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Franco is one of the premier fitness coaches in the tennis industry. He's worked with Reilly O'Pelka, Monica Puig, Sofia Lenin, and Tommy Paul.

We talk:

1:51 How he got started in strength and conditioning

4:10 Observing a player's movement

7:40 What makes Tommy so quick

10:07 Applying force

13:14 Training during tournaments

16:39 Recovering after a match

18:54 Ice baths

24:19 Body weight exercises

28:36 Changing directions

30:42 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Grant Chen is our guest for the 44th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Grant helped UCLA reach the elite 8 in five of his six seasons as an assistant/associate head coach and is currently the head coach at SMU. His teams have won back to back conference championships and he's earned AAC coach of the year honors two years in a row.

We talk:

1:38 His cell phone contacts

2:52 An epic NCAA final

6:34 Using a tough loss to spark growth

8:28 Helping his players become pros

10:06 Building a support team around a player

15:07 Who's on your bus?

18:38 How to become a college player

24:27 Favorite doubles drill

29:16 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Shelby Rogers is our guest for the 43rd episode of Baseline Intelligence. She has career high rankings of 30th in singles and 40th in doubles on the WTA tour. She reached the quarterfinals of both the French and US Opens, and helped lead the US team to the 2017 Fed Cup title.

We talk:

1:32 Her start in tennis

4:04 Skipping college for the pros

7:13 Building belief

9:54 Difficulties of being on the road

11:35 Preparing for different surfaces

13:44 Practicing at tournaments

18:00 Playing different opponents

20:35 How to play big points

23:56 Her rapping career

25:55 Backhand tips

** Sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

On today's episode I share the top 4 things I learned from this year's Wimbledon.

One: You're never out of a match with the scoring system

Two: Matches are not won with winners

Three: Hard work pays off

Four: Attitude before performance

Our friend Joel Myers joins the pod to talk about the tactics, shots, and pressure points played by the best players in the world at this year's Wimbledon.

We talk:

1:24 The greatness of Alcaraz

7:35 Chris Eubanks' magical run

10:09 A great volley tip

11:45 The women's championship

13:45 Hanging in there when you're down

14:49 Returning a lefty serve

17:26 Playing on a faster court

21:49 Accelerating on your forehand

22:49 Surprising patterns of play

26:55 Bad execution vs. a bad decision

** Today's episode was brought to you by Online Tennis Instruction. Please visit moreservepower.com to redeem your free, four week all-access pass.

Steve Johnson is our guest for the 41st episode of Baseline Intelligence. Steve has been ranked as high as 21st in the world in singles and 39th in doubles, and won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics. He's also a four-time team NCAA champion and a two-time individual NCAA champion in singles.

We talk:

3:06 Jumping a level in college

5:43 How improving his fitness helped his mentality

12:06 Learning how to lose

16:15 Performance over outcome

21:15 Using his forehand as a weapon

27:12 Making his opponent uncomfortable

31:14 The best coaching advice he's ever received

35:21 His advice for the 4.0 player

Brian Kalbas is our guest for the 40th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Brian is a 3-time ITA National Coach of the Year and his teams have won 15 conference titles, 7 ITA National Indoor Championships and this year's 2023 NCAA Team Championship. He's coached 27 All-Americans and has helped three doubles teams win the NCAA Doubles Championship.

We talk:

3:16 Finally winning the NCAA Championship

8:31 How he helps his players relax

10:15 The character of his players

11:30 Keeping practice fun

14:23 What separates good from great

16:33 How to add a weapon to your game

19:51 Grandma's house

21:18 A normal team practice

23:16 When he decided to become a coach

29:08 SAP player

30:31 Doubles advice

** Today's episode was brought to you by Kyle Lacroix and SETS Consulting. To learn more please visit www.setsconsult.com or www.setsconsult.org. You can also DM Kyle directly on Instagram at @sets_consulting.

Our friend Joel Myers joins the pod to talk about the tactics, shots, and court positioning of the best players in the world at this year's French Open.

We talk:

2:34 Novak's sustained success

5:22 Playing on pressure points

8:55 Kick serve as a first serve

13:20 Iga's movement and return game

14:10 Best advice for improving court position

16:00 Attacking second serve returns

18:34 Ad side to ad side pattern

19:58 Getting out of the ad court pattern

22:12 What to do when receiving a drop shot

25:23 Moving on clay

27:49 Wrong footing opponents

30:38 Watching tennis on tv

32:46 Playing in the wind

37:14 Best tactic for the 4.0 player on clay

* Today's episode was brought to you by Kyle Lacroix and SETS Consulting. To learn more please visit www.setsconsult.com or www.setsconsult.org. You can also DM Kyle directly on Instagram at @sets_consulting.

Jermaine Jenkins is our guest for the 38th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Jermaine was an All-American at Clemson University and went on to spend three years as the hitting partner for Venus Williams. He coached Naomi Osaka in 2019 and 2020 and now works as a lead national women's coach for the USTA. He also recently served as a vice captain on the USA BJK Cup team in their win over Austria.

We talk:

1:46 His family's success on the tennis court

3:19 Starting tennis at age 14

4:25 How he got started with Venus

7:55 Learning from Venus

11:12 What he learned from David Witt

13:03 Coaching Naomi Osaka

16:04 Working with top junior players

20:03 Tournament training schedules

22:38 Calming yourself down when you're angry

25:02 Getting ready for big matches

28:00 Best coaching tip he's ever received

31:34 His best advice for the 4.0 player

sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Gil Reyes is our guest for the 37th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Gil was the longtime strength and conditioning coach for Andre Agassi, and has spent time training several world number 1s including Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, Ash Barty, Simona Halep and Angie Kerber.

We talk:

1:45 How he got started with Andre

6:58 Creating a program for Andre

8:47 Starting and stopping

13:57 Inspiration, information and application

18:34 His special equipment

23:16 Variable resistance

28:26 Using bands

30:54 Weak legs command, strong legs obey

35:24 How many workouts a week for an amateur

38:45 Common traits among champions

**Sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Andy Fitzell is our guest for the 36th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Andy is a USPTA Elite professional who spent several years learning from and working alongside legendary tennis icon, Vic Braden. He is currently the coach for Kimberly Birrell, who is ranked 111 in the latest WTA rankings.

We talk:

1:41 How he met Vic Braden

5:00 His favorite tennis myths

8:05 Wrist position on forehand contact

10:23 Fundamentals for pure topspin

13:35 The geometry of the court

16:08 Why players try so many angles

17:33 Angle of the racket face on the volley

19:07 The volley grip

21:55 Optimal height for a serve toss

25:20 Changing your technique

27:03 Myelin

30:20 Brain typing tennis players

35:18 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Thomas Johansson is our guest for the 35th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Thomas was ranked 7th on the ATP tour and won 9 titles, including the 2002 Australian Open. He won a silver medal in doubles at the 2008 Olympic Games, and has gone on to coach David Goffin and Sorana Cirstea.

We talk:

1:22 His start in tennis

5:41 Sustaining his success from juniors to the pros

8:35 Working towards the top 10

13:39 Knowing yourself as a player

15:41 Winning the 2002 Australian Open

19:02 Poor play leading up to the tournament

21:49 His game plan vs. Marat Safin

24:37 Transition to coaching

27:11 Deciding what to work on

32:00 His toughest opponent

35:18 What he looks for in a double partner

39:00 His best advice for the 4.0 player

**Sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Craig O'Shannessy is our guest for the 34th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Craig is the leading strategy analyst for the ATP Tour and spent three year as the data analyst for Novak Djokovic. He is the founder of braingametennis.com, an educational website with multiple courses for the avid tennis player.

We talk:

1:31 Where mistakes are made

10:21 How to limit errors in position A

13:27 What type of error is "unforced"

17:53 What is considered a bad error

20:56 Thinking about your opponent

22:43 Forcing your opponent into more errors

27:26 What pros do exceptionally well

29:01 How to win more points on your second serve

34:18 Making your first serve on a big point

37:06 Simplifying analytics

39:07 Weirdest data anomaly

40:34 Best advice for the 4.0 player

**sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Lindsay Davenport is our guest for the 33rd episode of Baseline Intelligence. Lindsay won 55 WTA singles titles and 38 WTA doubles titles, including 3 singles grand slams and 3 doubles grand slams. She won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 and was ranked number 1 in the world in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014 and Tennis Magazine voted her as the 29th greatest tennis player of all time.

We talk:

1:32 How she got into the game

4:30 Working with Robert Lansdorp

6:45 The X factor

8:53 Being accountable for your effort

9:55 Finding her style of play

12:18 How to hit a better return

16:10 Deep middle returns

17:47 The Williams sisters

19:54 Anxiety before matches

21:57 Dealing with different game styles

26:30 Connecting with players as a coach

28:48 What she wishes she could tell herself at age 18

30:50 Her greatest accomplishment

33:19 Approaching big points

35:31 Winning ugly matches

38:16 Advice for the 4.0 player

**Sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Sam Querrey joins us for the 67th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Sam reached a career high ranking of 11th in singles and 23rd in doubles on the ATP tour. He reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2017 and the quarterfinals of the US Open later that year.

We talk:

1:34 Developing as a junior player

4:31 Committing to a grip change

5:46 How he worked on his serve

12:01 How returners could mess with his serve

14:10 Beating Murray at Wimbledon

18:01 Beating Djokovic at Wimbledon

22:25 Wimbledon grass

24:24 HIs thoughts on doubles

26:53 Best coaching advice he ever received

29:30 Playing big points in a match

31:23 What the average player doesn't know about pro tennis

32:32 Best advice for the 4.0 player

JY Aubone is our guest for the 32nd episode of Baseline Intelligence. JY was a 2-time All-American and ACC Player of the Year at Florida State University. As a professional he won 3 singles titles, 14 doubles titles and represented the US in the Pan-American Games. He worked with USTA Player Development and went on to travel with Reilly O'Pelka from 2018-2021.

We talk:

1:30 Traveling with Reilly

3:23 Overcoming difficult times

5:10 Focusing on yourself vs. the opponent

7:36 How to spot your opponent's weakness

10:54 Being mentally tough

13:03 Handling nerves

18:11 Figuring it out for yourself

22:34 The biggest mistake he sees in matches

25:48 Scouting Reilly's opponents

28:35 His best drill for consistency

29:56 What he learned from being on tour

30:58 His best advice for the 4.0 player

You can find JY at https://www.aubonetennis.com

**sound effects by https:www.zapsplat.com

Kelly Jones is our guest for the 31st episode of Baseline Intelligence. He won two NCAA doubles titles at Pepperdine University and went on to become world number 1 in doubles in 1992. He won 8 career ATP doubles titles, 2 ATP singles titles and has coached top pro players like James Blake, Mardy Fish, Sloane Stephens, Rajeev Ram, and his daughter Makenna, who also won an NCAA doubles title in 2021.

We talk:

2:16 The foundation of his coaching philosophy

8:09 Volleying cross court more often

12:59 Technical fundamentals of the volley

16:47 Split stepping

20:21 Teaching first volley movement

22:31 The volley grip

25:33 The basics of doubles

29:26 Applying strengths and weaknesses

31:38 How to anticipate at the net

33:09 Watching more doubles

33:45 His best doubles tip

35:41 The biggest doubles mistakes he sees

36:30 Doubles advice for the 4.0 player

**sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Allistair McCaw is our guest for the 30th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Allistair is the author of several books, including "Champion Minded" and "Winning Attitude and Mindset". He has worked with olympic gold medalists, grand slam champions, Fortune 500 companies, and several top Division I collegiate teams on developing a winning mindset and maximizing performance.

We talk:

1:43 How the big 3 personify an elite mindset

4:57 Self discipline

7:45 Champion minded

9:30 Mental toughness

12:47 Caring, but "not caring"

16:40 Building confidence

18:53 Preparation

21:48 What separates good from great

24:46 How parents can help their kids with nerves

26:02 Visualization

28:27 How to start being champion minded

Find Allistair at https://www.allistairmccaw.com/

** sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Our friend Joel Myers comes back on the pod to talk about the tactics, shots, and movement patterns the best players in the world used during this year's Australian Open.

We talk:

2:07 Why Novak dominates tiebreakers

6:35 How you can play better tiebreakers

8:07 How the pros play break points

10:55 Thinking in terms of two balls

12:38 How to flip pressure

14:56 Best serve + 1 patterns

16:05 Training your wide serve

19:04 The role of the forehand and the backhand

21:38 How the best players were using their backhands

25:30 Reading short balls

**sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Brad Stine is our guest for the 28th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Brad is one of the most accomplished coaches on the ATP tour, having helped Jim Courier reach world number 1 while also winning 4 grand slams. He also spent time coaching Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson, Mardy Fish, Sebastien Grosjean, and currently works with ATP #35 Tommy Paul.

We talk:

2:21 Coaching Jim Courier

5:34 Backhand slice fundamentals

9:30 How the slice helped Jim get to 1 in the world

12:54 Four situations to use your slice

16:56 Kevin Anderson's Wimbledon run

24:23 Questioning yourself as a coach

29:47 Footwork fundamentals

36:18 Best advice for the 4.0 player

37:07 Double reverse Sydneys

**sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Jessica Pegula is our guest for the 27th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Jessica reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, French Open and the US Open in 2022 and won her first WTA 1000 event in Guadalajara. She's currently ranked 6th in the world in singles and 3rd in the world in doubles with her partner Coco Gauff.

We talk:

1:32 What it's like to be a two-time guest on the podcast

2:15 What her off-season looks like

5:53 Working on her heavy forehand

7:28 Getting worse before you get better

10:04 How she tries to hold serve

13:00 Going up against other top 10 players

18:05 One to one comparison

21:18 Reading her opponent's strategy

23:22 How David Witt has helped her

28:30 Our time together in Birmingham

31:07 Shots she hits in doubles that help her in singles

34:42 Getting close to the net in doubles

40:00 Her best return tips

41:45 What she's learned on tour this year

43:08 Best advice for the 4.0 player

**sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

This episode marks the end of season 1 of Baseline Intelligence. In this episode I'll share some of the clips I found the most insightful and entertaining from the first season of the podcast.

1:05 Craig O'Shannessy on the first four shots

4:58 Rick Macci's best ball striking tip

7:45 Tom Gullikson's 3 keys for Agassi at the olympics

10:37 Dr. Mark Kovacs on serve power

14:40 John Isner and his serve tips

16:42 Michael Joyce talks Sharapova beating Henin

19:02 Alistair Higham on momentum

21:12 Carlos Goffi's traffic light system

24:55 Dr. Larry Lauer talks staying in the present

26:56 Rajeev Ram on being a great performer

**sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Desirae Krawczyk is our guest for the 25th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Des has won four mixed doubles major championships and seven doubles titles on the WTA tour. She's currently ranked 16th in the world and reached a career high ranking of 10th in the world this past summer.

We talk:

1:52 Reaching the top 10 milestone

2:42 Building self confidence

5:25 How she handles losing

6:39 Her post match process

8:28 Playing in pressure situations

9:37 What her preseason looks like

12:00 Off court training for doubles

13:18 What she needs to improve

16:00 What she looks for in a partner

21:46 Moving more at the net

22:55 Why the fake signal is overused

24:20 Where to return against an aggressive opponent

25:08 What she does when she's playing poorly

27:15 Advice for the 4.0 player

**sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Joel Myers is our guest for the 24th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Joel was a 3x All-American for Point Loma Nazarene University and was the 2010 national player of the year. He is currently a USPTA elite professional teaching out of San Diego and his educational instagram page has well over 100,000 followers.

We talk:

1:36 His tennis background

3:32 When he knew he wanted to be a coach

4:46 Coaching influences

7:08 How to know if you're getting good information

10:23 Learning discipline at an early age

14:14 Learning from pro tennis

15:32 Fundamental laws of topspin

19:01 Serving fundamentals

19:54 Where he likes his toss

22:59 Returning deep through the middle

29:54 Non-negotiable rules for practice

30:40 Best advice for the 3.0/4.0 player

31:49 Biggest pet peeve

32:42 Who would win a match between us

**sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold is our guest for the 23rd episode of Baseline Intelligence. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin and was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent. He scored the first touchdown ever in Allegiant Stadium and was the Raiders' nominee for the Walter Payton man of the year award in 2020. In his free time he helps athletes across the country improve their mental performance by utilizing goal setting, visualization and breathing exercises.

We talk:

2:32 How he became a mental performance coach

4:53 How to perform consistently

6:54 Power of visualization

9:02 His week of preparation for an NFL game

11:45 How preparation calms nerves

16:11 Goal setting

19:49 Be your own best friend

20:45 Why people are afraid of lofty goals

22:45 Staying calm when emotions run high

26:01 Sticking to what works

28:20 Common sense coach

https://alecingold.com/foundation

**sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

David Starbuck Smith joins us for the 65th episode of Baseline Intelligence. David wrote the popular book "Ageless Painless Tennis" and specializes in overall health and performance.

We talk:

1:31 Getting older doesn't mean getting weaker

5:32 How active is active enough?

9:45 Developing good posture

12:45 What is core strength?

17:48 Elbow pain

20:40 Clay vs hard court for injury prevention

22:55 Where to look for increased performance

27:27 How long should you warmup for?

28:42 Secret to maintaining your level as you get older

29:32 How sleep impacts your health

30:55 Best advice for the 4.0 player

David's book link

https://www.amazon.com/Ageless-Painless-Tennis-Limitations-Potential-ebook/dp/B081TNQF1T

David's website

https://davidstarbucksmith.com/

David Roditi is our guest for the 22nd episode of Baseline Intelligence. David is the head coach for the TCU men's tennis team. Over his 12 years as head coach the Horned Frogs have won 4 Big 12 titles, made a final four, and won the 2022 ITA National Indoor Championship. Roditi was named the 2015 ITA National Coach of the Year and also served as the Mexican Davis Cup Captain.

We talk:

1:40 A funny recruiting story

3:53 What he looks for in a recruit

6:08 Why players focus on their hitting instead of competing

9:52 The difficulties of recruiting

16:28 How to make your opponent play worse

20:32 Cam Norrie's indoor lesson

24:07 What made Cam special

27:48 Working on strengths vs. weaknesses

29:03 Underrated skill needed as a head coach

31:35 Best advice for the 3.5/4.0 player

36:03 Throwing his racket bag into a lake (and missing)

**sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

Margie Zesinger is our guest for the 21st episode of Baseline Intelligence. Margie is the head of female tennis at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida and was the 2021 PTR member of the year. She has coached numerous players to ITF titles, grand slam championships, and NCAA championships.

We talk:

1:55 Her role at IMG

2:33 Why IMG has male and female programs

4:15 Character traits she values

8:12 Teaching players to compete

10:51 The difference between boys and girls

15:55 Saying too little vs. saying too much

18:10 Why she became a coach

22:08 Why there are more male coaches

24:08 Bollettieri sets the standard

26:59 Advice she wished she knew earlier

29:19 Advice for the 3.5/4.0 player

**sound effects by https:www.zapsplat.com

John Isner is our guest for the 20th episode of Baseline Intelligence. John has reached a career high rankings of 8 in the world in singles, and 14 in the world in doubles. He's won 24 ATP titles and has amassed 29 wins against top 10 ATP opponents. He has 5 career wins over "the big 3" and reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2018.

We talk:

2:56 His first leap as a junior tennis player

4:25 A pivotal invasion call at Kalamazoo

6:48 Why he chose the college path

9:19 Learning to work hard at UGA

11:30 Our match at national indoors

15:32 Playing Federer at the US Open

19:10 The most challenging member of "the big 3"

23:12 Jumping into the top 10 in the world

25:16 Advice for playing tiebreakers

26:48 What his experience on tour has taught him

30:20 One coaching experience that helped him

33:34 The epic Wimbledon match

39:33 His best serve tips

42:00 Back to back fantasy football championships

**sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Kyle Lacroix is our guest for the 19th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Kyle is the Chief Education Officer of SETS Consulting, a coaching and educational service for elite coaches, competitive players and tennis institutions/federations. He is certified by the USPTA and PTR as well as the ITF. He has been a featured speaker at numerous industry conferences and has extensive on court work with ATP and WTA players, as well as top collegiate players.

We talk:

3:25 His background in tennis

7:01 His time at Saddlebrook

10:45 What linked Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati and Justine Henin

12:44 Why he's the "king of failure"

15:43 Why people struggle with failure

17:34 Connecting with players

22:01 Coaching other coaches

23:49 Improving coaching professionalism

26:36 Coaching pet peeves

29:40 Player accountability

34:09 Why players lean towards the negative

38:14 Advice for the 3.5 player

41:32 "Kyle-isms"

** sound effects from https:www.zapsplat.com

You can find Kyle and Specialized Educational Tennis Solutions (SETS Consulting) online at www.setsconsult.org.