Podcasts by Tennis IQ Podcast

Ep. 157 - Learning from the Lifestyle Challenges of Professional Players from 2023-12-06T15:26:13

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the lifestyle challenges of professional tennis players. This conversation is based on an article in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psych...

Ep. 156 - The Performance Impact of Increasing Tolerance of Discomfort from 2023-11-29T14:36:36

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of tolerance as a mental skill. This includes both physical tolerance (pain, withstanding physical training, playing in heat, etc.) as well...

Ep. 155 - Becoming Grittier On and Off the Court from 2023-11-21T15:07:10

In recent years, the concept of Grit has been popularized in performance contexts through the work of Angela Duckworth. But what is grit? How can you become grittier? Is this actually a useful c...

Ep. 154 - Improving Your Motivation from 2023-11-13T22:24:09

Motivation is the driver of our energy and the source of our reward. It's not unusual for tennis players to experience issues with their motivation, and in this episode, Josh and Brian exami...

Ep. 153 - Matt Futterman of The Athletic | Narratives in Tennis from 2023-11-05T23:33:44

Matt Futterman is a staff writer at The Athletic where he covers tennis and Olympic sports. In addition to covering tennis, Matt delivered award-winning investigative reporting for The New York ...

Ep. 152 - Should I Vent My Anger On Court? from 2023-10-29T21:42:27

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss whether venting is an effective way to handle anger. They review research from Brad J. Bushman at Iowa State University on this topic and his paper “Does ...

Best of Tennis IQ- Ep. 51 - Dr. Laura Swettenham on Stress, Coping, and Think Aloud from 2023-10-22T21:29

Dr. Laura Swettenham is a sport and exercise psychologist from the UK, chartered with the British Psychological Society. She has experience working within a range of sports, predominantly profes...

Ep. 151 - Jan Mühlfeit and Unlocking Human Potential from 2023-10-16T15:24:31

In this episode, Brian and Josh interview Jan Mühlfeit. Jan Mühlfeit is a global strategist, executive coach, and the author of the bestselling business book “The Positive Leader” (Pearson, Oct ...

Ep. 150 - How to Train Decision Making from 2023-10-08T16:11:12

In the 150th episode of the podcast, Brian and Josh discuss how decision making on court can be improved through intentional decision training. The co-hosts reviewed a paper entitled “Effects of...

Ep. 149 - Kollman Gearhart - Who Are You Built to Be? from 2023-09-30T14:30:08

Kollman Gearhart is the founder and driving force behind the BTB Project (Built to Be Project), a dynamic podcast that empowers listeners to discover their purpose and live their best lives, reg...

Best of Tennis IQ: Ep. 30 - Marius Barnard and Self-Belief from 2023-09-23T15:29:05

Marius Barnard is a former ATP pro who spent 13 years on the tour, winning 6 titles, and reaching the men’s doubles quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. During his playing ca...

Ep. 148 - US Open 2023 Recap | Gauff, Djokovic, Sabalenka, Medvedev from 2023-09-15T00:35:26

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2023 U.S. Open where Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, and Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 to win the women’...

Ep. 147 - Using a Brief Serve Intervention to Improve Performance from 2023-09-10T19:15:21

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss a recent case study “Serving a Brief-Contact Cognitive Behavior Therapy Intervention” by Zoe Louise Moffat and Paul McCarthy of Glasgow Caledonian Univers...

Ep. 146 - Visualization for Decision Making from 2023-09-01T01:30:03

Visualization has many uses for improving tennis performance, and in this episode, Brian and Josh review how visualization can aid and train better decision making on the court. Listen in for ti...

Ep. 145 - The Connection Between Performance and Behavior from 2023-08-24T19:51:06

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the connection between a tennis player’s behavior and their performance. This conversation started with a quote from Frank Slootman, "Performance is ...

Ep. 144 - The Benefits of Optimism from 2023-08-16T23:40:43

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefits of optimism for tennis players. The co-hosts start by defining the differences between optimism and pessimism, and also outline misconception...

Ep. 143 - Believing in Yourself When You Aren't Getting Results from 2023-08-08T17:07:44

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss what tennis players can do when they feel that they're doing all the right things, but not getting the results that they desire. This could be occurri...

Ep. 142 - Wimbledon 2023 - Alcaraz, Djokovic, Vondrousova, Jabeur, Eubanks from 2023-08-01T14:04

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. On the women’s side Marketa Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4, and on the men’s side Carlos Alcaraz defeated Nova...

Ep. 141 - Dan McCain and 7 Shot Tennis from 2023-07-19T16:24:31

In this episode, Brian and Josh interviewed Dan McCain. Dan is an author and a former college coach and director who now serves as the Head Coach and Tennis Director at Cape Henry Racquet Club i...

Ep. 140 - Good Questions for Post-Match Reflection from 2023-07-11T13:34:54

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss developing a process to reflect on and learn from matches. The co-hosts review various questions that tennis players can answer after their matches in ord...

Ep. 139 - How to Use Quiet Eye Theory to Improve Your Game from 2023-07-03T13:46:36

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss quiet eye theory and gaze control as a means of helping players perform better physically and mentally. The discussion was based on three research studies...

Ep. 138 - The Psychological Profile of Champions from 2023-06-25T14:07:07

In this episode, Brian and Josh review a research article entitled “Building A Psychological Profile of Olympic Medalists and World Champions” by Robert M. Nideffer, Ph.D., Jeffrey Bond, Alberto...

Ep. 137 - Roland Garros 2023 | The Locker Room Power of Djokovic and Swiatek from 2023-06-17T12:54:10

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2023 French Open. On the women’s side Iga Świątek defeated Karolína Muchová 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to win the women’s singles championship, and on the men’s si...

Ep. 136 - The Challenge of Changing Surfaces from 2023-06-11T15:58:45

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the various challenges of changing surfaces. In a comparable way to how professional players change surfaces throughout the tournament season, non-profess...

Ep. 135 - The Preparation Episode from 2023-06-02T14:14:22

In this episode, Brian and Josh answer a listener question about creating an episode that can be listened to prior to matches. The co-hosts discussed how tennis players can be clear about their ...

Ep. 134 - Finishing Matches from 2023-05-25T20:22:54

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the difficulties faced in finishing sets and matches. The co-hosts examine why these moments in matches are so mentally challenging for tennis players. Ad...

Ep. 133 - Using Rules to Make Better Decisions from 2023-05-19T00:43:16

In this episode, Brian and Josh examine how tennis players can utilize rules for making better decisions during matches. The co-hosts discuss ways that tennis players can simplify their decision...

Ep. 132 - Embrace Uncertainty to Become a Better Player from 2023-05-11T14:07:56

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can embrace and accept uncertainty. Uncertainty is an inevitability in tennis and in life, and the co-hosts review strategies and tools...

Ep. 131 - Why Practicing Acceptance Is Important from 2023-05-03T00:01:03

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss why the concept of acceptance is necessary within a tennis player’s development, and during matches. They review situations in a tennis player’s career wh...

Ep. 130 - The Good and Bad of Perfectionism in Tennis from 2023-04-27T00:44:18

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss perfectionism in tennis. Due to the individual nature of the sport as well as the demands and time requirements of tennis, it is a sport that tends to att...

Ep. 129 - The Value of Consistency in All Things from 2023-04-18T20:02:30

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefits of consistency in tennis. Oftentimes, consistency is brought up in reference to players being able to make as many shots in a row as possible...

Ep. 128 - Suffering Is a Key to Success from 2023-04-11T14:06:34

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the philosophical concept of suffering and how it applies to persevering and focus in a match. The more that players understand they must suffer through t...

Ep. 127 - Carrie Jackson on Mindset and Injury Recovery from 2023-04-03T19:58

Carrie Jackson is a performance and mental training expert, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and the author of On Top of Your Game: Mental Skills to Maximize Your Athletic Performance....

Ep. 126 - Perform Better Through Discipline from 2023-03-28T14:52:12

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how discipline with good habits tend to decreases over time. The co-hosts review why this can happen to players, and suggest mindsets and mental tools tha...

Special Announcement from Josh and Brian from 2023-03-24T20:35:49

We are very excited to announce a new model of support for the Tennis IQ Podcast through Patreon along with some great benefits!

1. Fan level - $3 per month
2. Supporter level ...
   Listen

Ep. 125 - How to Perform Well in Team Tryouts from 2023-03-19T23:47:16

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can excel in tryout situations. These tryouts could include evaluations for high school, college, or club teams, and the experience can...

Ep. 124 - Differences Between Practice and Competition from 2023-03-13T12:53:39

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the psychological differences between practice and playing competitive matches. Often, players will report that they have a tougher time playing as well d...

Ep. 123 - You gotta relax! Building body awareness through relaxation training from 2023-03-05T23:03:34

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss developing body awareness via relaxation training. Many tennis players experience physical tightness while playing in matches and struggle to release the ...

Ep. 122 - Themes from Break Point on Netflix from 2023-02-26T16:39:21

In this episode, Brian and Josh review Break Point, a recent documentary series on Netflix about the ATP and WTA tours. The co-hosts discussed multiple sport psychology themes that emerged throu...

Ep. 121 - Why You Should Play the Back Draw from 2023-02-19T20:05:38

In this episode, Brian and Josh answer a recent listener question about playing in the back draws of tournaments. The co-hosts discuss some of the main factors that cause players to withdraw fro...

Ep. 120 - Getting Through Fatigue/Pain in Matches from 2023-02-10T14:03:36

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss strategies that tennis players can utilize when they’re playing while tired or in pain. Strategies discussed include visualization methods, utilizing self...

Ep. 119 - Australian Open 2023 Recap | Thoughts on Sabalenka, Rybakina, Djokovic, and Tsitsipas from 2023-01-30T23:31:28

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2023 Australian Open. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to win the women's singles championship while Novak Djokovic defeated Stef...

Ep. 118 - Adopting a Beginner's Mind from 2023-01-30T01:57:05

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the idea of approaching situations with a “beginner's mind”. This concept was discussed in depth in the book Zen and The Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel ...

Ep. 117 - Improving Your Game by Increasing Self-Awareness from 2023-01-22T16:57:45

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the Resonance Performance Model as a way for tennis players to increase self-awareness and improve aspects of their game. This episode touched on various ...

Ep. 116 - The Value of Good Mistakes from 2023-01-14T12:29:07

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the value of making good mistakes. The co-hosts reviewed what they mean by “good mistakes” and how they differ from “bad mistakes”, and talked about how t...

Ep. 115 - The Importance of Developing Your Character from 2023-01-05T10:52:48

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss why tennis players should prioritize developing good character and make it an explicit goal of their training. Results such as winning, rankings, and rati...

Ep. 114 - The Wisdom of Nick Saviano from 2022-12-27T15:05:28

Widely regarded as one of the world’s preeminent tennis coaches and experts in the field of coaching education, Nick Saviano emphasizes the importance of approaching the game with joyous passion...

Ep. 113 - The Psychology of Doubles from 2022-12-19T02:10:55

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the psychology of doubles. This topic was addressed in one of the first episodes of the podcast, episode 9, which focused mostly on communication patterns...

Ep. 112 - The Dangers of Being Judgmental from 2022-12-09T22:57:32

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the dangers of being judgmental. Tennis players have the tendency to be judgmental about a number of different things when they are playing including of t...

Ep. 111 - Make Learning Your Top Priority from 2022-12-01T21:10:55

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can prioritize learning and developing their game instead of just focusing on results. The co-hosts talked about how tennis players can...

Ep. 110 - Tennis as a Fighting Sport from 2022-11-24T19:54:14

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss tennis as a fighting sport and as a combat sport. This conversation was inspired by The Fighter’s Mind, a book by Sam Sheridan that outlines the mental de...

Ep. 109 - Brian Teacher and Using Technology to Improve Your Game from 2022-11-14T00:20:07

Brian Teacher is a former top professional tennis player and coach as well as the founder of the Full Court Tennis app. As a player, Brian won the 1980 Australian Open and had career highs of #7...

Ep. 108 - Using Visualization to Improve Performance from 2022-11-06T16:14:01

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can utilize visualization as part of their overall training. Previously, in episode 18, the co-hosts reviewed on-court methods of using...

Ep. 107 - Max Newlon and Training Your Attention with FocusCalm from 2022-10-29T15:51:02

Max Newlon is the President of BrainCo USA. Max spent several years working in top hospitals conducting research on the impact of neuro-technology and mind-body approaches to wellbeing and perfo...

Ep. 106 - The Best Version of You from 2022-10-22T12:42:51

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can focus more on who they are becoming as a way to take pressure off of themselves. The co-hosts discuss moments when tennis players f...

Ep. 105 - When to Copy the Pros from 2022-10-14T13:41:17

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss whether club players and juniors should emulate professional tennis players. Topics discussed include how to learn from watching pros play on television, ...

Ep. 104 - Self-Compassion Is Good for You! from 2022-10-07T18:50:14

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss self-compassion. Self-compassion is a process that tennis players can/should embrace during matches, practices, and throughout their tennis development. T...

Ep. 103 - Mylène Steinhardt and Maximizing Your Energy from 2022-10-01T15:45:34

Mylène Steinhardt is a NASM & PPSC certified health coach who specializes in helping high-school and college tennis players make the cut by rounding out their off court training protocols - ...

Ep. 102 - Reflections on Roger Federer and Serena Williams from 2022-09-22T15:41:51

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the careers of Serena Williams and Roger Federer. Both players have recently announced their retirements from the sport and they are both consistently ran...

Ep. 101 - US Open 2022 Recap | Alcaraz, Ruud, Świątek, and Jabeur from 2022-09-14T20:59:25

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2022 US Open. Iga Świątek defeated Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6(5) to win the women's singles championship while Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, ...

Ep. 100 - Answering Your Questions on Our 100th Episode! from 2022-09-12T00:42:51

For this milestone episode, Brian and Josh answered various questions from listeners of the podcast and shared feedback from listeners in different parts of the world and tennis community. Addit...

Ep. 99 - The Gold Medal Profile and Improving Your Mental Game from 2022-09-08T00:57:51

Dr. Natalie Durand-Bush is a sport psychology professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. She specializes in mental skills training and assessment, mental health, and ...

Ep. 98 - A Strengths Based Approach to Tennis from 2022-09-01T14:03:40

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss taking a strengths-based approach to tennis. This episode was inspired by a paper titled “The Strengths-Based Performance Profile (SBPP): A Method for Str...

Ep. 97 - UTR and Aspiring College Tennis Players from 2022-08-23T17:29:58

Universal Tennis Rating, more commonly known as UTR, has become ubiquitous in tennis over the last several years, and it has been especially prominent in the world of college tennis. In this epi...

Ep. 96 - The Art of Playing Badly Well from 2022-08-14T12:33

In this episode, Brian and Josh reflect on a quote by golf legend Jack Nicklaus: “The worse you’re performing, the more you must work mentally and emotionally. The greatest and toughest art in g...

Ep. 95 - Playing Against an Injured Opponent from 2022-08-06T17:51:38

In this episode Brian and Josh discuss how to handle playing an injured opponent. The co-hosts review various mental challenges related to playing an injured opponent including how to handle inj...

Ep. 94 - Integrating Mental Skills into Practice from 2022-07-29T14:16:45

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to integrate mental skills into practice. A number of strategies are covered that players and coaches can utilize in order to practice in a deliberate...

Ep. 93 - Howard Bryant on the Mental Game in Tennis, and more from 2022-07-21T21:56:52

Howard Bryant is an award winning author and journalist who has been a senior writer for ESPN since 2007. Although he writes about a number of sports and topics within sport, he is an astute obs...

Ep. 92 - Wimbledon 2022 | Perspectives from Rybakina, Djokovic, Jabeur, and Kyrgios from 2022-07-12T01:27:03

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. Elena Rybakina defeated Ons Jabeur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to win the women's singles championship while Novak Djokovic defea...

Ep. 91 - Triumph and Disaster from 2022-07-09T01:12:16

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same"

This quote appears above the door leading to Wimbledon's Centre Court and it is ...

Ep. 90 - The Value of Mini-Wins from 2022-07-04T14:54:54

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of mini-wins and mini-celebrations. Tennis players can look to celebrate controllable sources of “mini-wins” that they successfully complete i...

Ep. 89 - Thoughts on Playing in Extreme Heat from 2022-06-24T00:52:35

In this episode, Brian and Josh respond to a listener question about playing in the extreme heat. Topics discussed include the importance of preparation, the need to control the controllables, a...

Ep. 88 - Strategies For Automatic Negative Thoughts from 2022-06-16T21:36:44

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss self-talk strategies to handle Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANT’s). Certain strategies mentioned were inspired from the book Chatter by Ethan Kross includ...

Ep. 87 - Lessons from Roland Garros 2022 via Swiatek, Gauff, Nadal, and Ruud from 2022-06-06T23:07:48

In this episode, Brian and Josh review the 2022 French Open. They discuss Iga Swiatek and her performance in the tournament which culminated with a 6-1 6-3 victory in the championship match over...

Ep. 86 - How To Deal With Slumps from 2022-06-02T13:36:55

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss strategies for how tennis players can handle slumps. Slumps are times when players have a losing streak, lose more matches than they are accustomed to, or...

Ep. 85 - Marcus Daniell and Making an Impact from 2022-05-29T12:59:04

Marcus Daniell is a professional tennis player from New Zealand and the Founder & Executive Director of High Impact Athletes (https:...

Ep. 84 - Brian Park and Apeak Tennis from 2022-05-22T15:06:22

Brian Park is the CEO & Founder of Apeak and is a Sports Psychology Performance Consultant. He has a Master's in Sport Psychology and worked as a high-performance coach and Sport Psychology ...

Ep. 83 - The Rise of Carlos Alcaraz from 2022-05-10T22:02:44

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the mental attributes of Carlos Alcaraz that have led to his rise in the rankings. The co-hosts consider the confidence, humility, and work ethic that he ...

Ep. 82 - Thoughts on Parenting Young Tennis Players from 2022-05-08T14:55:30

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the challenges of parenting tennis players, and offer some good practices to assist in the journey. Topics reviewed include having a clear purpose for why...

Ep. 81 - Why is it so hard to close matches? from 2022-04-28T14:03:59

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the challenges of closing out a match. Topics reviewed include loss aversion, the benefits of practicing being a closer, and how you can use a self-talk c...

Ep. 80 - Swupnil Sahai and A.I. in Tennis from 2022-04-19T18:11:05

Brian and Josh chat with Swupnil Sahai, the co-founder and CEO of SwingVision, about the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in tennis and how the data extracted can relate to the mental side ...

Ep. 79 - Self-talk Strategies To Optimize Your Internal Dialogue from 2022-04-08T15:36:08

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss self-talk strategies for tennis players to optimize their internal dialogue. Strategies discussed include utilizing a self-talk log, cognitive restructuri...

Ep. 78 - Cheating in Tennis from 2022-03-31T12:51:30

This episode is a follow-up to an earlier conversation on the topic of cheating in tennis. In Ep. 24, Brian and Josh discussed how players can respond to instances of cheating as well as how to ...

Ep. 77 - Why Tennis Is So Tough | The Unique Challenges Of The Sport from 2022-03-24T12:39:51

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the unique challenges of tennis. Topics discussed include a conversation on why the scoring system in tennis can lead to constant judgement and riding an ...

Ep. 76 - How To Play At The Highest Level of Tennis IQ from 2022-03-17T15:21:43

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to play Level 3 in the Tennis IQ model developed by USPTA Master Professional Jorge Capestany. Level 1 of this model involves the player and the ball ...

Ep. 75 - What To Do When You Are Supposed To Win/Lose from 2022-03-10T16:12:44

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss what to do when a tennis player is “supposed” to win or lose a match. The co-hosts review things to avoid when you are supposed to win or lose, along with...

Ep. 74 - Playing From Behind | Lessons from Barty, Djokovic, Medvedev, and Nadal from 2022-03-01T13:22:25

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players should handle trying to come back when they are losing. Topics discussed include learning from top pros on how they deal with playing f...

Ep. 73 - Building Your Confidence from 2022-02-22T17:23:43

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can systematically develop their confidence. Topics discussed include how to set up reminder systems about your sources of confidence (...

Ep. 72 - Finding Your Optimal Intensity from 2022-02-11T01:04:03

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can find their optimal level of intensity on the practice court and in matches. The co-hosts outline some of the research concepts rela...

Ep. 71 - Australian Open 2022 Recap | Barty & Nadal from 2022-02-02T01:26:55

The 2022 Australian Open has wrapped up with Ashleigh Barty winning the women’s singles title over Danielle Collins 6–3, 7–6(2), and Rafael Nadal winning the men’s singles title over Daniil Medv...

Ep. 70 - Thoughts On Being Coachable from 2022-01-26T15:15:52

In this episode, Brian and Josh talk about the concept of being coachable. Lack of coachability is often cited as a key factor that holds athletes back from fulfilling their goals and making pro...

Ep. 69 - Responding to a Tough Loss from 2022-01-17T16:23:45

In this episode, Josh and Brian discuss how tennis players can respond after a tough loss. Whether that loss is a blowout, a match that a player feels that they lost to a weaker player, or a close ...

Ep. 68 - What It Means to Be Competitive from 2022-01-10T17:57:27

In this episode, Brian and Josh explore what it truly means for an athlete to be "competitive," and misconceptions surrounding the concept. The co-hosts explain the difference between simply bei...

Ep. 67 - The Best of 2021 from 2021-12-30T17:13:26

In this episode, Brian and Josh review highlights from a number of episodes in 2021.

Ep. 25 - Mindfulness in Tennis

Ep. 26 - The Power of Routines

Ep. 27 - Cristina Rolo and...

Ep. 66 - How to Deal with Self-Limiting Beliefs from 2021-12-19T17:20:17

This episode discusses examples of self-limiting beliefs that tennis players place on themselves and some strategies for dealing with those beliefs. Examples of self-limiting beliefs are perfect...

Ep. 65 - Todd Martin on Passion and Focus from 2021-12-10T15:06:33

Todd Martin is the CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., a position he has held since September 2014. In addition to his role as CEO, Martin serves as Tournament Chairma...

Ep. 64 - How To Use Mental Contrasting To Perform Better from 2021-12-03T20:58:34

This episode is a discussion on mental contrasting, a self-regulation strategy related to goal-achievement based on the work of Gabriele Oettingen. Mental contrasting and WOOP (wish, outcome, ob...

Ep. 63 - Getting to Know Brian Lomax from 2021-11-29T19:17:22

In this episode, Josh interviews Brian about his start in tennis, how he transitioned careers to sport psychology, and how he approaches working with clients.

For more on Brian, visit Listen

Ep. 62 - Getting to Know Josh Burger from 2021-11-21T22:28:49

In this episode, Brian interviews Josh about his background and philosophy as a sport psychology professional. Josh is the founder and sport psychology coach of Tiebreaker Psych, which provides ...

Ep. 61 - The Performance Equation from 2021-11-13T18:27:52

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “Performance Equation” inspired by Tim Gallwey: Actual Performance = Potential - Interference.

Tim Gallwey, the author of The Inner Game of Ten...

Ep. 60 - Mardy Fish Documentary on Netflix from 2021-11-04T16:50:48

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the recently released Netflix documentary on Mardy Fish "Untold: Breaking Point".  This documentary tells the story of Mardy Fish's rise to the highe...

Ep. 59 - The Importance of Full Focus from 2021-10-25T22:55:52

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the topic of full focus. The ability to fully focus during tennis matches is often cited as a critical factor to success, however many tennis players stru...

Ep. 58 - Learning to Love the Stress of Competition from 2021-10-19T00:47:40

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can learn to enjoy the stress of competition. The co-hosts talk about the need to embrace the “battle” in competition, and ultimately e...

Ep. 57 - Improving Your Tennis Team's Performance from 2021-10-14T19:02:08

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss tennis performance in various team settings such as adult teams, college teams, and high school teams. Within these teams, it is important to develop a te...

Ep. 56 - David Sammel and Developing Your Locker Room Power from 2021-10-04T19:36:36

David Sammel is a world prominent tennis coach based in the UK who has coached dozens of professional players and international junior players. He’s also the author of the book Locker Room Power...

Ep. 55 - The Yips and Double Faults from 2021-09-27T23:50:28

This episode includes a brief discussion on the yips in tennis. The yips has been described as “a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced athletes”, and t...

Ep. 54 - US Open 2021 | Lessons from Radacanu, Fernandez, Medvedev, and Djokovic from 2021-09-17T14:22:38

Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the 2021 US Open through the lens of sport psychology. First, they discuss Emma Raducanu’s victory over Leylah Fernandez in the women's fina...

Ep. 53 - How to Deal With Losing from 2021-09-13T22:21:54

In this episode, Brian and Josh review how to deal with losing. Losing is a necessary and inevitable part of competition and the development process. Discussion points are how to respond to lost...

Ep. 52 - Improving Your Game Through Recovery Routines from 2021-08-30T00:13:53

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can establish and utilize post-practice and post-match routines to enhance future performance. The co-hosts review recovery routine ele...

Ep. 51 - Dr. Laura Swettenham on Stress, Coping, and Think Aloud from 2021-08-19T21:50:18

Dr. Laura Swettenham is a sport and exercise psychologist from the UK, chartered with the British Psychological Society. She has experience working within a range of sports, predominantly profes...

Ep. 50 - How To Be A Clutch Performer from 2021-08-09T14:49:49

During a tennis match, there can be several key moments that could determine the outcome. Do you perform well in these moments? Are you good at recognizing them?  

In this episode, B...

Ep. 49 - The Importance of Sportsmanship from 2021-08-04T00:25:10

At most levels of the game, tennis players are required to call lines and honor the rules of the game. It is a unique feature of the sport and it highlights the importance of sportsmanship when ...

Ep. 48 - Building Mental Fortitude in Tennis from 2021-07-26T19:13:22

This episode reviews how tennis players can build mental fortitude and resilience. Brian and Josh base their discussion on the study “Mental fortitude training: An evidence-based approach to dev...

Ep. 47 - Wimbledon 2021 | Lessons from Barty, Pliskova and Djokovic from 2021-07-16T18:57:45

Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the 2021 Wimbledon Championships through the lens of sport psychology. Topics included are Ash Barty and being the best person you can be, K...

Ep. 46 - Angelo Rossetti and the Power of Purpose from 2021-07-05T15:49:58

Angelo Rossetti is well-known in the tennis and coaching communities as someone who is very positive, very generous, and a wonderful influence on his students. He currently serves as the Directo...

Ep. 45 - Preparing for Matches from 2021-06-24T12:53:02

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can handle pre-match preparation. The co-hosts review how utilizing mental skills the day before and morning of a match can be the diff...

Ep. 44 - French Open 2021 Recap: Mental Health and Mental Toughness from 2021-06-18T13:15:38

Mental health and mental toughness were on full display at the 2021 French Open, and in this episode, Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the tournament through the lens of spo...

Ep. 43 - Steve O'Connell and Journaling from 2021-06-10T01:57:24

Steve O'Connell is an accomplished racquet sport professional and educator who is a USPTA elite certified pro, wheelchair tennis instructor, certified platform tennis instructor and a certified ...

Ep. 42 - Expectations at the Pro Level from 2021-06-02T15:26:05

Note: This episode was recorded on Sunday (5/30) which was before the news broke of Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the 2021 Roland Garros tournament.  

This episode dives ...

Ep. 41 - Ryan Harry and Play from 2021-05-24T19:48:28

Ryan Harry has established himself as an industry leader within the tennis community. His 21-year career has presented opportunities to work at some of the most established clubs within the nati...

Ep. 40 - Goal Setting and Achievement from 2021-05-17T16:21:24

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss goal-setting strategies that can help tennis players further their development. The conversation starts by discussing the importance of crafting an identi...

Ep. 39 - Dealing with Choking from 2021-05-08T14:11:46

In this episode, Brian and Josh dive into the topic of choking and cover strategies that tennis players can utilize when they feel a match starting to slip away. First, the co-hosts discuss a fe...

Ep. 38 - Developing Your Potential from 2021-04-30T16:07:07

When it comes to developing your potential as a tennis player, there are a number of factors involved. In this episode, Brian and Josh review several of those factors including the relationship ...

Ep. 37 - How to Play One Point at a Time from 2021-04-25T18:49:52

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can embrace the mentality of playing one point at a time. Many players notice that when they buy in to a one point at a time mentality,...

Ep. 36 - Coming Back After an Injury or Break from 2021-04-18T17:42:53

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how athletes should approach returning back to tennis after an injury or break from the sport. Many athletes experienced the challenges of taking an exten...

Ep. 35 - Integrating Mental Skills into Practice from 2021-04-11T15:17:29

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis coaches and players can integrate mental skills on the practice court. It begins with utilizing deliberate and purposeful practice as a way to ...

Ep. 34 - Finding Flow in Tennis from 2021-04-03T14:33:13

Flow is a psychological concept that was named by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in 1975 and can be defined as a state of complete immersion in an activity. In this episode, Brian and Josh describe thi...

Ep. 33 - Fear of Failure from 2021-03-27T12:39:54

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of fear of failure. From their perspective, it is important to determine what it is exactly that is being feared, and how fear manifests itsel...

Ep. 32 - Positive Psychology Interventions for Tennis Players from 2021-03-20T12:44:52

In this episode, Brian and Josh explore the topic of positive psychology and offer some interventions that can be helpful for tennis players. Positive psychology takes a strengths-based approach...

Ep. 31 - Handling Pressure from 2021-03-16T15:45:44

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss handling pressure. Some common barriers to performing well under pressure, including unrealistic expectations, are reviewed. They break down higher-pressu...

Ep. 30 - Marius Barnard and Self-Belief from 2021-03-09T20:12:01

Marius Barnard is a former ATP pro who spent 13 years on the tour, winning 6 titles, and reaching the men’s doubles quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. During his playing ca...

Ep. 29 - Australian Open Recap - Osaka and Djokovic from 2021-02-27T16:20:10

The 2021 Australian Open has concluded with Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic claiming the singles titles. We discuss how dominant each of these champions have been (Djokovic is 9-0 in Australian O...

Ep. 28 - Focus on the Process from 2021-02-22T14:21:04

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of focusing on the process. First, they break down the improvement process of becoming a better tennis player, which is slow and gradual. N...

Ep. 27 - Cristina Rolo and Dave de Haan on the Importance of Mental Training from 2021-02-16T15:29:49

Cristina Rolo and Dave de Haan co-founded Rolo Mental Coaching in 2005, and their coaching focuses on performance enhancement and quality of life. Both Cristina and Dave are internationally reco...

Ep. 26 - The Power of Routines from 2021-02-08T16:21:54

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss routines and break down routines into three parts. First, they review pre-performance routines and how to prepare mentally and physically leading up to a ...

Ep. 25 - Mindfulness in Tennis from 2021-01-30T14:12:47

In this episode, Brian and Josh explore the topic of mindfulness. They broadly define and discuss the importance of the topic and discuss how mindfulness can be trained for tennis players. Addit...

Ep. 24 - Dealing with Cheating and Difficult Opponents from 2021-01-24T19:24:11

In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to handle playing against difficult opponents and cheating. They discuss the mentality needed leading up to the match to perform at a high level again...

Ep. 23 - What Makes a Mentally Tough Tennis Player? from 2021-01-18T22:21:01

In this episode, Brian and Josh explore the topic of "mental toughness" and break the concept into key attributes and characteristics of mentally tough tennis players and athletes. Mental toughn...

Ep. 22 - Senior Tennis and Why We Play from 2021-01-10T14:39:38

Episode 22 of the Tennis IQ Podcast discusses senior tennis through the perspective of self-determination theory (SDT). We discuss autonomy, competence (mastery), and relatedness as critical fac...

Ep. 21 - Jeff Greenwald and Fearless Tennis from 2020-12-20T15:03:42

Jeff Greenwald is an internationally recognized sport psychology consultant and licensed therapist. For over twenty years he has been helping athletes and professionals around the world transfor...

Ep. 20 - Nikola Milinkovic and Managing Your Anxiety from 2020-12-12T15:25:59

Nikola Milinkovic has extensive work experience in sport and performance psychology and leadership coaching across a variety of high-performing environments. Nikola works with team and individua...

Ep. 19 - Some of Our Favorite Books from 2020-12-04T23:05:40

In this episode of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Josh and Brian share their favorite books related to sport/performance psychology and tennis. With the holidays right around the corner, this is a great...

Ep. 18 - Use Visualization like Djokovic and Andreescu from 2020-11-29T17:07:45

For the 18th episode of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Brian and Josh discuss visualization and imagery and how these tools can be used to improve performance. To begin, they discuss how visualization/i...

Ep. 17 - Preparing for 2021 from 2020-11-21T23:15:24

As 2020 comes to a close, Brian and Josh discuss how to review the year of 2020 and how to plan for the year to come. Despite how challenging of a year 2020 was, it is important to highlight acc...

Ep. 16 - Dr. Stephen Walker and Getting Competition Ready from 2020-11-13T18:52:54

Dr. Stephen Walker has been involved in the sport and performance psychology field since 1983 when he began at the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Colorado. He is board certifi...

Ep. 15 - The Importance of Motivation for Tennis Players from 2020-11-06T16:43:29

For the 15th episode of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Brian and Josh discuss motivation and the importance of having a clear idea of what motivates each individual as tennis players and as performers. ...

Ep. 14 - Sean Brawley and The Inner Game from 2020-11-02T13:13:30

Sean Brawley is a former Top 150 world ranked tennis professional who competed at the highest level of the game including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. After the tennis tour, Sean met and began w...

Ep. 13 - Bill Tym and the Evolution of a Champion from 2020-10-22T13:10:38

Coach Bill Tym was an All-American at the University of Florida where he won 2 Southeastern conference singles titles, and is also in the UF Athletics Hall of Fame. He went on to compete on the ...

Ep. 12 - Nadal, Swiatek, and Mental Toughness from 2020-10-15T18:05:05

The 2020 French Open has concluded with Rafael Nadal winning an astonishing 13th French Open title and record-tying 20th major in the men’s championship, and Iga Swiatek winning her first French...

Ep. 11 - Dr. Judy Van Raalte and Self-Talk in Tennis from 2020-10-09T15:33:05

Dr. Judy Van Raalte is a Professor of Psychology at Springfield College, a Certified Consultant (CMPC) for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and is listed in the United States Olympi...

Ep. 10 - Bob Dallis and Team Environment in College Tennis from 2020-10-02T17:02:18

Bob Dallis is in his 19th season as the Head Coach of the Dartmouth College Women's Tennis Team. Prior to Dartmouth he was the Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Colgate University and was t...

Ep. 9 - Team Dynamics and Communication in Doubles from 2020-09-24T20:22:37

Tennis is generally considered an individual sport because of the emphasis on singles, especially at the professional level. However, doubles in tennis is extremely popular and prevalent in the ...

Ep. 8 - William Boe-Wiegaard - What It Means To Be A Good Competitor from 2020-09-17T12:47:16

William Boe-Wiegaard is in his fourth season as Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Prior to Sacred Heart, William was a highly successful p...

Ep. 7 - 2020 US Open: Djokovic, Tsitsipas, and Serena from 2020-09-11T16:41:43

The 2020 US Open is reminding us once again that even the best players in the world are human and they can struggle with mental toughness. At the same time, there are also reminders of how incre...

Ep. 6 - Jorge Capestany from 2020-09-02T23:37:21

Coach Jorge Capestany is our guest for Episode 6 of the Tennis IQ Podcast. Jorge is one of only eleven people worldwide that has earned the distinction of Master Professional with the USPTA and ...

Ep. 5 - Managing Emotions on the Court from 2020-08-26T22:29:05

For episode 5 of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Josh and Brian address their first listener question: How can tennis players improve their ability to handle emotions? As we all know, tennis players ofte...

Ep. 4 - Jeff Bearup and Tim Donovan from 2020-08-18T18:37:44

Jeff Bearup and Tim Donovan are the guests for Episode 4 of the Tennis IQ Podcast. Jeff has received numerous accolades and awards within the tennis coaching field including USPTA Coach of the Y...

Ep. 3 - Stages of a Set/Match from 2020-08-12T19:44:12

In this episode of the Tennis IQ Podcast, Josh and Brian discuss how tennis players should approach various stages of a set/match through a sport psychology perspective. These stages of ...