Baseline Intelligence with Jonathan Stokke

Emma Doyle joins us for the 63rd episode of Baseline Intelligence. Emma is a speaker, coach, trainer, and author of the book "What Makes a Great Coach".We talk:1:51 What makes a great coach9:19 Empowering your player to make decisions13:46 What makes a great question17:28 Five gaming principles21:25 Being a good listener28:50 Why the coach/player relationship matters33:22 Best advice for the 4.0 playerYou can find Emma at her websitehttps://www.emmadoyle.com.au/

Jeff Greenwald joins us for the 62nd episode of Baseline Intelligence. Jeff is one of the premiere sports psychologists and wrote the award winning book "The Best Tennis of Your Life". We talk:2:16 Why people get nervous5:57 Framing "not missing" in a positive way7:05 Step 1 to handling nerves8:59 How expectations affect nerves15:50 The stats he wished he knew when he was a player18:34 Permission slips20:33 Taking your practice game to the match court29:10 Building confidence30:36 Best advice for the 4.0 player** Click here if you're interested in my NYC doubles camp this August!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1iMPjmHuupuQhKSGkwEiP7hdXoqIgWMCXOn2aFE050t0wVg/viewform?usp=sf_linkYou can also email me directly with any questions you have about the NYC doubles camp at [email protected]

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 statistics10:47 Managing expectations15:24 Solving problems 26:45 Four pennies drill29:12 Shot patterns41:02 Optimal strategy

We talk:1:33 Analyzing Krueger vs. Badosa6:04 Adapting to different court conditions14:32 Why depth is important for your rally ball18:45 Maria Sharapova at the French Open24:04 When you should change directions and go down the line30:54 Taking your practice game to the match court34:42 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 doubles2:42 Returning a faster serve4:10 Where to stand on a kick serve5:00 Lobbing6:24 Return targets8:08 Players with weaker backhand volleys10:12 Getting comfortable at the net13:53 When to close the net16:08 The close-lag structure17:20 How to hit a better overhead18:54 Communicating with your partner21:28 Don't be a dickhead25:10 What she wishes she knew at the beginning of her career27:27 Best coaching advice she's ever received29:02 What amateurs don't know about pro doubles31:32 Best advice for the 4.0 playerClick here to subscribe to my YouTube channelhttps://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 team6:40 Learn how to communicate as a doubles partner9:55 Creating stress for your opponents14:07 What to do when you don't serve well16:33 The extended warmup19:33 Technique vs. tactics23:08 The daily bill26:03 Most transformational podcast idea31:29 Rules of the US Open champions32:51 Advice for the 4.0 doubles playerClick here to subscribe to bonus episodeshttps://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/supportClick here to subscribe to my YouTube channelhttps://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 intensity6:36 Pillars of his success9:48 Hitting without a coach11:45 Watch more tennis16:01 Learning from Jose Higueras18:34 Developing good habits on the court23:35 Best drills to improve consistency from the baseline26:22 Similarities between the 3.5 player and professionals29:13 Timing your poach31:46 Best advice for the 4.0 playerClick here to subscribe to bonus episodes through captivatehttps://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/supportClick here to subscribe to my Youtube Channelhttps://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 transforming5:00 Louis' values and beliefs10:52 What the world number ones have in common13:24 Joe Salisbury's climb to ATP #117:38 Playing the net when you're on defense20:49 Winning on defense23:30 What he's learned now that he didn't when he was younger26:42 Working with players who resist coaching29:21 Finding a good match with your doubles partner31:33 Best advice for the 4.0 player**Visit the link below to subscribe to bonus episodes through captivatehttps://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 tennis5:39 Three ways to get off to quicker starts7:40 Jessica Pegula on getting off to quick starts and closing out matches12:50 Bathroom breaks16:40 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 conditions2:22 Playing downwind5:23 Beating four straight top 10 players6:39 Describing her rally ball9:25 How fast she tries to hit her average rally ball12:25 Finding your rally ball14:58 Swing thoughts on her backhand 16:51 Backhands down the line18:58 How she aims her groundstrokes20:20 How she improved her serve in 202322:24 2024 Goals23:18 Staying calm on the court24:05 Turning points in her career26:44 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 change2:53 Andy Fitzell on hitting pure topspin4:29 Steve Johnson on his forehand5:52 Shelby Rogers on her backhand6:58 Brad Stine on the backhand slice9:03 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 communication2:48 Kelly Jones on basics of doubles5:14 Mark Gellard on returning against I formation6:42 On hitting the ball at it's highest point8:37 Kelly Jones on being active at the net10:56 Jessica Pegula on getting closer to the net12:44 Erin Routliffe on leaving her alley open

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 Finals3:25 Deferring the toss6:02 Being effective at the net8:10 Covering the net9:42 Tips for reflex volleys12:24 I formation15:31 Calling poaches 19:18 Turning the season around20:11 Increasing his energy on the court22:48 Communicating with his partner27:57 What he sees from 3.5 doubles players30:35 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 doing4:54 The VUCA world7:06 How to build positive habits9:21 The nine factors that shape your behavior18:16 Taking advice from other players21:48 Triggers in a tennis match25:18 Using court locations as a trigger26:58 The best habit you can have as a tennis coach29:11 How long it takes to form a new habitHere's a link to Dr. Finn's book "The Habit Mechanic"https://www.amazon.com/Habit-Mechanic-Fine-Tune-Brain-Supercharge/dp/1544528965Here's a link to Dr. Fin's websitehttps://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 feet4:42 Ball dropping vs. ball rising7:20 Solving every ball10:13 Hitting the outside of the ball13:08 Creating space17:58 Heavy and through22:45 Discipline leads to freedom25:58 Trusting your good is good enough29:47 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 same3:55 A losing record on the year6:02 How she almost quit the game11:27 Not covering her doubles alley15:25 Net play when your partner returns19:19 How to gel with a new partner23:01 Poaching more often25:49 Something people don't know about pros28:04 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 tour3:36 Using video to scout an opponent6:38 Reviewing matches with a player8:33 Coaching in pro matches11:04 Magda's win vs. Azarenka13:10 Avoiding the second set letdown16:57 Keeping players confident21:40 Accidental winners26:26 Baseline tactics of the pros29:44 What separates the good from the great31:28 Best coaching advice you've ever received32:31 Best advice for the 4.0 playerClick here to listen to Mark’s podcasthttps://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 player3:02 Mixing in serve and volley5:30 Where to place your first volley7:48 Height over the net11:30 Doubles formations15:15 Difference between hitting well and playing well18:59 What he learned from Roger Federer22:22 Evaluating and scouting opponents26:50 Delayed effects of a successful tactic31:38 Best coaching advice he's ever received33:50 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 breakthrough6:00 How to compete against a consistent player8:07 The Medvedev serve11:31 Ben Shelton's game16:30 The Shelton serve19:30 Closing the net in doubles25:58 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 conditioning4:10 Observing a player's movement7:40 What makes Tommy so quick10:07 Applying force13:14 Training during tournaments16:39 Recovering after a match18:54 Ice baths24:19 Body weight exercises28:36 Changing directions30:42 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 contacts2:52 An epic NCAA final6:34 Using a tough loss to spark growth8:28 Helping his players become pros10:06 Building a support team around a player15:07 Who's on your bus?18:38 How to become a college player24:27 Favorite doubles drill29:16 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 tennis4:04 Skipping college for the pros7:13 Building belief9:54 Difficulties of being on the road11:35 Preparing for different surfaces13:44 Practicing at tournaments18:00 Playing different opponents20:35 How to play big points23:56 Her rapping career25:55 Backhand tips** Sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

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 Alcaraz7:35 Chris Eubanks' magical run10:09 A great volley tip11:45 The women's championship13:45 Hanging in there when you're down14:49 Returning a lefty serve17:26 Playing on a faster court21:49 Accelerating on your forehand22:49 Surprising patterns of play26:55 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 college5:43 How improving his fitness helped his mentality12:06 Learning how to lose16:15 Performance over outcome21:15 Using his forehand as a weapon27:12 Making his opponent uncomfortable 31:14 The best coaching advice he's ever received35:21 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 Championship8:31 How he helps his players relax10:15 The character of his players11:30 Keeping practice fun14:23 What separates good from great16:33 How to add a weapon to your game19:51 Grandma's house21:18 A normal team practice 23:16 When he decided to become a coach29:08 SAP player30:31 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 success5:22 Playing on pressure points8:55 Kick serve as a first serve13:20 Iga's movement and return game14:10 Best advice for improving court position16:00 Attacking second serve returns 18:34 Ad side to ad side pattern19:58 Getting out of the ad court pattern22:12 What to do when receiving a drop shot25:23 Moving on clay27:49 Wrong footing opponents30:38 Watching tennis on tv32:46 Playing in the wind37:14 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 court3:19 Starting tennis at age 144:25 How he got started with Venus7:55 Learning from Venus11:12 What he learned from David Witt13:03 Coaching Naomi Osaka16:04 Working with top junior players20:03 Tournament training schedules22:38 Calming yourself down when you're angry25:02 Getting ready for big matches28:00 Best coaching tip he's ever received31:34 His best advice for the 4.0 playersound 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 Andre6:58 Creating a program for Andre8:47 Starting and stopping13:57 Inspiration, information and application18:34 His special equipment23:16 Variable resistance28:26 Using bands30:54 Weak legs command, strong legs obey35:24 How many workouts a week for an amateur38:45 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 Braden5:00 His favorite tennis myths8:05 Wrist position on forehand contact10:23 Fundamentals for pure topspin13:35 The geometry of the court16:08 Why players try so many angles 17:33 Angle of the racket face on the volley19:07 The volley grip21:55 Optimal height for a serve toss25:20 Changing your technique27:03 Myelin30:20 Brain typing tennis players35:18 Best advice for the 4.0 playerSound 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 tennis5:41 Sustaining his success from juniors to the pros8:35 Working towards the top 1013:39 Knowing yourself as a player15:41 Winning the 2002 Australian Open19:02 Poor play leading up to the tournament 21:49 His game plan vs. Marat Safin24:37 Transition to coaching27:11 Deciding what to work on32:00 His toughest opponent35:18 What he looks for in a double partner39:00 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 made10:21 How to limit errors in position A13:27 What type of error is "unforced"17:53 What is considered a bad error20:56 Thinking about your opponent22:43 Forcing your opponent into more errors27:26 What pros do exceptionally well29:01 How to win more points on your second serve34:18 Making your first serve on a big point37:06 Simplifying analytics39:07 Weirdest data anomaly40:34 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 game4:30 Working with Robert Lansdorp6:45 The X factor8:53 Being accountable for your effort9:55 Finding her style of play12:18 How to hit a better return16:10 Deep middle returns17:47 The Williams sisters19:54 Anxiety before matches21:57 Dealing with different game styles26:30 Connecting with players as a coach28:48 What she wishes she could tell herself at age 1830:50 Her greatest accomplishment33:19 Approaching big points35:31 Winning ugly matches38:16 Advice for the 4.0 player**Sound effects by https://www.zapsplat.com

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 Reilly3:23 Overcoming difficult times5:10 Focusing on yourself vs. the opponent7:36 How to spot your opponent's weakness10:54 Being mentally tough13:03 Handling nerves18:11 Figuring it out for yourself22:34 The biggest mistake he sees in matches25:48 Scouting Reilly's opponents28:35 His best drill for consistency29:56 What he learned from being on tour30:58 His best advice for the 4.0 playerYou 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 philosophy8:09 Volleying cross court more often12:59 Technical fundamentals of the volley16:47 Split stepping20:21 Teaching first volley movement22:31 The volley grip25:33 The basics of doubles29:26 Applying strengths and weaknesses31:38 How to anticipate at the net33:09 Watching more doubles33:45 His best doubles tip35:41 The biggest doubles mistakes he sees36:30 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 mindset4:57 Self discipline7:45 Champion minded9:30 Mental toughness12:47 Caring, but "not caring"16:40 Building confidence18:53 Preparation21:48 What separates good from great24:46 How parents can help their kids with nerves26:02 Visualization28:27 How to start being champion mindedFind 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 tiebreakers6:35 How you can play better tiebreakers8:07 How the pros play break points10:55 Thinking in terms of two balls12:38 How to flip pressure14:56 Best serve + 1 patterns16:05 Training your wide serve19:04 The role of the forehand and the backhand21:38 How the best players were using their backhands25:30 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 Courier5:34 Backhand slice fundamentals 9:30 How the slice helped Jim get to 1 in the world12:54 Four situations to use your slice16:56 Kevin Anderson's Wimbledon run24:23 Questioning yourself as a coach29:47 Footwork fundamentals36:18 Best advice for the 4.0 player37:07 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 podcast2:15 What her off-season looks like5:53 Working on her heavy forehand7:28 Getting worse before you get better10:04 How she tries to hold serve13:00 Going up against other top 10 players18:05 One to one comparison21:18 Reading her opponent's strategy23:22 How David Witt has helped her28:30 Our time together in Birmingham31:07 Shots she hits in doubles that help her in singles34:42 Getting close to the net in doubles40:00 Her best return tips41:45 What she's learned on tour this year43:08 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 shots4:58 Rick Macci's best ball striking tip7:45 Tom Gullikson's 3 keys for Agassi at the olympics10:37 Dr. Mark Kovacs on serve power14:40 John Isner and his serve tips16:42 Michael Joyce talks Sharapova beating Henin19:02 Alistair Higham on momentum21:12 Carlos Goffi's traffic light system24:55 Dr. Larry Lauer talks staying in the present26:56 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 milestone2:42 Building self confidence5:25 How she handles losing 6:39 Her post match process8:28 Playing in pressure situations9:37 What her preseason looks like12:00 Off court training for doubles13:18 What she needs to improve16:00 What she looks for in a partner21:46 Moving more at the net22:55 Why the fake signal is overused 24:20 Where to return against an aggressive opponent25:08 What she does when she's playing poorly27:15 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 background3:32 When he knew he wanted to be a coach4:46 Coaching influences7:08 How to know if you're getting good information10:23 Learning discipline at an early age14:14 Learning from pro tennis15:32 Fundamental laws of topspin19:01 Serving fundamentals19:54 Where he likes his toss22:59 Returning deep through the middle29:54 Non-negotiable rules for practice30:40 Best advice for the 3.0/4.0 player31:49 Biggest pet peeve32:42 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 coach4:53 How to perform consistently 6:54 Power of visualization9:02 His week of preparation for an NFL game11:45 How preparation calms nerves16:11 Goal setting19:49 Be your own best friend20:45 Why people are afraid of lofty goals22:45 Staying calm when emotions run high26:01 Sticking to what works28:20 Common sense coachhttps://alecingold.com/foundation**sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.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 story3:53 What he looks for in a recruit6:08 Why players focus on their hitting instead of competing9:52 The difficulties of recruiting16:28 How to make your opponent play worse20:32 Cam Norrie's indoor lesson24:07 What made Cam special27:48 Working on strengths vs. weaknesses29:03 Underrated skill needed as a head coach31:35 Best advice for the 3.5/4.0 player36:03 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 IMG2:33 Why IMG has male and female programs4:15 Character traits she values8:12 Teaching players to compete10:51 The difference between boys and girls15:55 Saying too little vs. saying too much18:10 Why she became a coach22:08 Why there are more male coaches24:08 Bollettieri sets the standard26:59 Advice she wished she knew earlier29:19 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 player4:25 A pivotal invasion call at Kalamazoo6:48 Why he chose the college path9:19 Learning to work hard at UGA11:30 Our match at national indoors15:32 Playing Federer at the US Open19:10 The most challenging member of "the big 3"23:12 Jumping into the top 10 in the world25:16 Advice for playing tiebreakers26:48 What his experience on tour has taught him30:20 One coaching experience that helped him33:34 The epic Wimbledon match39:33 His best serve tips42:00 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 tennis7:01 His time at Saddlebrook10:45 What linked Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati and Justine Henin12:44 Why he's the "king of failure"15:43 Why people struggle with failure17:34 Connecting with players22:01 Coaching other coaches23:49 Improving coaching professionalism26:36 Coaching pet peeves29:40 Player accountability34:09 Why players lean towards the negative38:14 Advice for the 3.5 player41:32 "Kyle-isms"** sound effects from https:www.zapsplat.comYou can find Kyle and Specialized Educational Tennis Solutions (SETS Consulting) online at www.setsconsult.org.

Alistair Higham is our guest for the eighteenth episode of Baseline Intelligence. Formerly the head of coaching education for the LTA, Alistair is now a leading expert on momentum in sport. He advises professional tennis players, football teams, and coaches on matchplay and momentum. We talk:2:11 What is momentum?6:03 Creating momentum early in the match9:23 Four performance factors11:32 Creating momentum on your own14:45 Limiting turning points against you19:33 Awareness of turning points22:57 Momentum between events25:40 Using tactics to maintain momentum29:16 Using tactics to stop negative momentum34:04 The best pros who use momentum37:58 Why we have a fantastic scoring system**sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.comFor interactive, engaging online courses on matchplay and momentum visit www.coachingedgeuk.com. Mobile and tablet friendly, there are courses for players and coaches. For coaches, there is also an online resource call the "match pack", a step by step guide to deliver his content in your own coaching program. You can find Alistair on his social media channels or can contact him by email at [email protected].

Alison Riske-Amritraj is our guest for the seventeenth episode of Baseline Intelligence. Alison reached a career high of 18 in singles and 40 in doubles on the WTA tour. She's won three singles titles and reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon where she beat then world number 1 Ash Barty. We talk:3:39 How she's maintained her level for over a decade6:20 The danger or comparing yourself to your peers8:37 Skipping college for the pro tour11:11 Never doubting herself13:58 Being yourself in new/challenging situations18:26 Why she has success on grass20:20 Differences between hard courts21:50 How the surface affects her tactics23:23 How the score affects her tactics25:53 The 30 second tempo drill28:15 Her love for Primanti Brothers sandwiches29:03 Her favorite place to play30:16 Her best advice to a junior player** Sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Tom Gullikson is our guest for the sixteenth episode of Baseline Intelligence. Tom reached a career high of 34 in singles and got as high as 4 in the world in doubles on the ATP tour. He reached the doubles final of Wimbledon in 1983, and then went on to coach the US Olympic team, the US Davis Cup team, and was one of the founding coaches of the USTA Player development team. We talk:1:28 How grass courts differ from hard courts5:29 Timeless tactics at Wimbledon7:11 How to hold serve more often8:16 How to break serve more often10:31 What we can learn from Nadal14:49 Overcoming mental hurdles22:38 What Dr. Jim Loehr taught him25:04 Coaching the US Davis Cup team30:13 His best doubles advice31:10 His best singles advice** Sounds effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Dr. Larry Lauer is our guest for the fifteenth episode of Baseline Intelligence. Larry is the mental skills specialist for the USTA Player Development program. He was also an assistant coach for Michigan State and helped the team reach the NCAA tournament in 2013.We talk:1:14 What is a mental skills coach?3:07 Mental toughness5:07 Resilience 10:30 Making your practices challenging15:39 Handling match nerves21:35 Seeing the big picture24:26 Taking time to practice mental skills29:59 Why people neglect working on their mindset32:43 Taking practice skills to the match35:19 Maintaining focus during a match36:21 Handling cheaters40:35 Differences between pros and amateurs**sound effects from https:www.zapsplat.com