Tennis IQ Podcast
By: Tennis IQ Podcast
Language: en
Categories: Sports, Tennis
Ninety percent of tennis performance is mental and that's what makes the sport so difficult. Sport psychology professionals Brian Lomax and Josh Burger share their insights on mental performance in tennis, discuss current events in the world of tennis, and interview guests with a unique perspective on mental toughness. Whether you want to learn more about the mental game in tennis or you just have an interest in the sport, this is the podcast for you. Send your questions to tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com or via Twitter using #tennisiq.
Episodes
Ep. 234 - Do You Get Bored in Your Training?
Oct 23, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of embracing boredom and the mundane in an athlete’s journey towards improvement. They discuss a recent LinkedIn post by Alex Auerbach in which he noted that athletes who embrace boredom during training and competition tend to excel and have longer careers. The co-hosts share their responses to his post and include their own observations about the role of the "boring" aspects of training.
LinkedIn Post by Alex Auerbach - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alexauerbachphd_after-10-years-in-pro-sports-ive-seen-activity-7377311042604838912-kyaS/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_de...
Duration: 00:38:43Ep. 233 - Unwrapping the Gift of Greatness
Oct 14, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to attain greatness through adaptability and balance. The co-hosts discuss various chapters from Brian Johnson’s book Areté, which emphasize the importance of these two skills. Lastly, they review how tennis players can become more adaptable over time and find better balance in their tennis journeys.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gma...
Duration: 00:40:15Ep. 232 - Handling the Loss of Skill or Talent Level
Oct 02, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh talk about a recent article from the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport regarding "talent loss." The co-hosts outline the three central views of talent loss from the article, share personal experiences and discuss various pro tennis players who have navigated life changes and this type of loss. Additionally, they offer suggestions that tennis players can incorporate to prepare for this in advance.
Article - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/00948705.2024.2420364?needAccess=true
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10...
Ep. 231 - Reframing Situations to Improve Performance
Sep 22, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh cover how tennis players can build the skill of reframing situations and shifting perspective. The co-hosts discuss why reframing is an important skill for players, review situations where it’s important to be able to reframe, and offer suggestions for how tennis players can shift their perspective in the moment as well as for the long-term.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go...
Duration: 00:50:35Ep. 230 - Mental Performance Themes from US Open 2025 | Sabalenka, Anisimova, Alcaraz, Sinner
Sep 12, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh cover the 2025 U.S. Open Championships. They discuss various themes and sport psychology concepts that emerged from the tournament, particularly by champions and finalists Aryna Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast pl...
Duration: 00:35:48Ep. 229 - Are Double Faults a Purely Technical Issue?
Sep 05, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss whether double faulting is solely a technical issue, a mental issue, or a combination of the two. Recently Coco Gauff decided to start working with biomechanical expert Gavin MacMillan to help her overcome her increase in double faults. The co-hosts discuss the Gauff's coaching change, review the causes of double faults, and offer suggestions for how tennis players can approach their first serves and second serves in more effective ways.
Article: https://tennisnow.com/News/2025/news/gauff-fires-coach-daly-aims-to-sharpen-serve.aspx
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport...
Ep. 228 - The Necessity of Commitment and Enthusiasm on Your Tennis Journey
Aug 27, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the connection between commitment and enthusiasm. Using several quotes as inspiration, they review how tennis players can demonstrate commitment to their journey, show commitment to their goals, and how they can pursue their chosen journey and goals with enthusiasm and zest.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the...
Duration: 00:47:57Ep. 227 - Building Momentum and Breaking It
Aug 17, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of momentum in tennis. First, they define the term, then they discuss the research about momentum in tennis and question whether momentum objectively exists. They review ways for tennis players to build streaks of points, and also ways to approach things differently when momentum seems to be working against them.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and...
Ep. 226 - Developing Wisdom As A Competitive Skill
Aug 09, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh utilize a recent article about Taylor Fritz as inspiration to discuss the path of wisdom for elite competitors. In the discussion, they discuss specific aspects of Fritz's perspectives on success and achievement, and compare those to the perspectives of elite competitors like Kobe Bryant and Rafael Nadal. This episode also discusses a model of stages of wisdom for tennis players, and how to evolve to a place of enlightenment.
Interview with Taylor Fritz - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/25/taylor-fritz-wimbledon-tennis-grand-slam
Sponsored...
Duration: 00:52:24Ep. 225 - Handling Difficult Emotions Between Points
Jul 30, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh respond to a listener's question regarding resetting between points and handling emotions on the court. The co-hosts talk about how tennis players can focus on their competitive and fighting skills in addition to their tennis skills and strokes while playing. Additionally, they highlight the importance of the between-point routine, and discuss how using “green light” and “yellow light” routines can help players in different situations that come up.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more abo...
Ep. 224 - The Necessity for Rest and Energy Management
Jul 24, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how to handle training and rest leading up to tournaments. They review how players can approach their tournament schedule for the year to ensure that it aligns with their goals and vision for themselves. Additionally, they examine the importance of rest mentally and physically, and share anecdotes of professional and recreational players who chose to prioritize rest and recovery.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport...
Ep. 223 - Wimbledon 2025 Mental Performance Themes | Sinner, Alcaraz, Swiatek, Anisimova
Jul 17, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. Iga Świątek won the women’s singles title over Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6,0, and Jannik Sinner won the men’s singles title over Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The co-hosts discuss the women’s and men’s singles championship matches and review sport psychology themes that they observed from the tournament.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to Tieb...
Duration: 00:42:39Ep. 222 - The Benefits of Deep Breathing
Jul 03, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of deep breathing for tennis players. They review the benefits of breathing from a scientific perspective, discuss how tennis players can breathe more effectively during points, and cover how specific breathing exercises can be utilized off the court. The conversation was based on a recent article from The Athletic (linked below) which examined how elite athletes from different backgrounds are utilizing breathing in different performance contexts.
Article from The Athletic- https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6321893/2025/05/01/the-science-is-clear-deep-breathing-can-be-a-game-changer-for-anyone-elite-athletes-agree/
How To Breathe Perfectly In Tennis...
Duration: 00:43:45Ep. 221 - How to Use Time as a Tool to Benefit Your Game
Jun 23, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefit of going backwards or forwards in time to gain perspective and to perform better in the present. They talk about how looking back to one’s past journey can lead people to find perspective, give themselves more credit, and be proud of the path they’ve taken and progress they’ve made. Additionally, they discuss the benefits of being able to envision someone’s desired future self and to plan accordingly by taking steps today that their future self will be proud of.
To learn more abo...
Duration: 00:32:28Ep. 220 - Roland Garros 2025 | Gauff, Sabalenka, Alcaraz, and Sinner
Jun 13, 2025Roland Garros 2025 has wrapped up with Coco Gauff winning the women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, and Carlos Alcaraz winning the men’s singles title over Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the women’s and men’s singles championships, and review sport psychology themes that the co-hosts observed within the tournament and the championship matches.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or quest...
Duration: 00:41:44Ep. 219 - ADHD in Tennis with Dr Josephine Perry
Jun 08, 2025This episode focuses on ADHD in sport, and features an interview with Dr. Josephine Perry. Dr. Josephine Perry is a Chartered Sport Psychologist who works with record breaking athletes, performers on the stage and screen and senior leaders in business, medicine and law. She helps her clients understand themselves, their purpose and their values and teaches them the skills to overcome their mental barriers so they feel comfortable and confident when they perform. Josephine has a PhD from the London School of Economics in political communications and used these skills working in large corporations, charities and government as a...
Duration: 00:58:38Ep. 218 - The Benefits of Positive Affect on Your Mental Toughness
May 30, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefits of generating positive affect on and off the court. According to PositivePsychology.com, “positive affectivity refers to positive emotions and expression, including cheerfulness, pride, enthusiasm, energy, and joy. Negative affectivity is negative emotions and expression, which includes sadness, disgust, lethargy, fear, and distress”. Positive affect can be generated intentionally when players utilize certain behaviors prior to and during matches, including meditation and gratitude.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If y...
Duration: 00:38:52Ep. 217 - The Necessity of Mental Flexibility
May 17, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of mental flexibility. They review how mental flexibility can be a key to improving resilience, and they differentiate this concept from mental toughness. The co-hosts also discuss various ways that tennis players can utilize mental flexibility to help problem-solve and adapt to the circumstances that they’re facing within tennis matches.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis yo...
Duration: 00:40:03Ep. 216 - The Two Words That Spark Anxiety
May 07, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss an article from Psychology Today by Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein entitled “The 2 Words That Spark Anxiety—and the 8 Words That Calm It.” The co-hosts review the reasons why “what-if” questions can spiral into feeling more anxiety and fearing an uncertain future. To quell this anxiety and fear, Brian and Josh introduce mental tools to help players take control of the moment. Bringing focus back to the match and the process is the desired outcome.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10...
Duration: 00:37:44Ep. 215 - Comparing Self-centeredness and Self-Awareness
Apr 29, 2025Inspired by the book, Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy, Brian and Josh contrast the concepts of self-centeredness and self-awareness. The co-hosts review the issues of self-centeredness and how it can hold tennis players back in different situations. Self-awareness is discussed as an alternative approach that can be built through reflection, mindfulness, and deliberate practice.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to...
Duration: 00:47:10Ep. 214 - The Cardinal Virtue of Courage
Apr 20, 2025This episode's theme is the virtue of courage. Brian and Josh discuss courageous behaviors, why courage is an important virtue for tennis players, and the benefits of playing with courage. Included in the conversation is how courage is critical in pressure moments in matches such as tiebreakers and deuce/break points, as well as the moral courage required to act ethically and do the right thing.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and...
Duration: 00:50:40Ep. 213 - The Relationship Between Pressure and Errors
Apr 08, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh review an article from researchers at Exeter University who looked into how pro tennis players responded to high-pressure moments and how well they bounced back from errors in Grand Slam matches. The co-hosts discussed the research findings, and offered practical advice that tennis players can use during high-pressure moments and after mistakes.
Article: Psychological pressure and compounded errors during elite-level tennis - https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/125808/ORE.pdf?sequence=1
How Not To Lose - Brian Lomax Ed.D. - https...
Duration: 00:47:27Ep. 212 - The Dance of the Doomed
Mar 30, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “Dance of the Doomed." The Dance of the Doomed is a concept that Hall of Fame football coach Bill Walsh wrote about in his book, The Score Takes Care of Itself, in which athletes demonstrate through their body language and attitude that they have given up before an event finishes. The co-hosts discuss how tennis players can avoid doing this dance while losing, and offer practical suggestions that players can utilize when they’re in losing situations.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for...
Ep. 211 - Success Disease
Mar 21, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of Success Disease: a phenomena that can occur after achieving some level of success. Inspiration for this topic came from Hall of Fame football coach Bill Walsh's book, The Score Takes Care of Itself. The conversation focuses on the nature of Success Disease and how to cope with it.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for 10% Off - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych...
Duration: 00:49:37Ep. 210 - Tennis Parenting Part 3 | Supporting the Competition Needs of Players
Mar 10, 2025In part three of their series on tennis parenting, Brian and Josh discuss how parents can support the competition needs of players before, during, and after matches. They also reference additional resources that tennis parents can use from Positive Coaching Alliance and The Growth Equation Newsletter. Links for those resources are listed below.
The Growth Equation Newsletter - How to Save Youth Sports: A Manifesto - https://thegrowthequationnewsletter.substack.com/p/how-to-save-youth-sports-a-manifesto?triedRedirect=true
PCA Resource Zone - Parent/Caregiver Game Day Tips - https://positivecoach.org/resource-zone/parent-caregiver-game-day-tips/<...
Duration: 00:54:49Ep. 209 - Tennis Parenting Part 2 | The Educational Needs of Tennis Parents
Feb 28, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh move on to part two in a three-part series on tennis parenting. They discuss the educational needs of tennis parents including reasons for choosing and playing tennis, the financial and time demands of the sport, knowledge of tennis, and understanding the development system of the sport. The willingness of parents to learn is a critical component of the education process.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for listeners of the show. Use the code TennisIQ10 to get 10% off Geau Sport products.
<...
Ep. 208 - Tennis Parenting Part 1 | The Difficulties of Tennis Parenting
Feb 19, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh start a three-part series on tennis parenting. For Part 1, they review the difficulties of tennis parenting, talk about certain positive and negative behaviors of tennis parents, and lastly discuss the preferences that junior players have for how their parents behave. The upcoming two episodes in the series will focus on the educational needs of tennis parents, and how parents can support the competition needs of players.
Sponsored by Geau Sport - GeauSport.com - Exclusive Discount Code for listeners of the show. Use the code TennisIQ10 to get 10% off Geau...
Ep. 207 - The Characteristics of Self-Actualizers
Feb 12, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss specific “Characteristics of the Self-Actualizer” from the work of humanistic psychologist, Abraham Maslow. The co-hosts focus on five characteristics from Maslow’s list that they feel can help tennis players become the best tennis players they can be, become the best people they can be, and ultimately help them self-actualize.
This episode is sponsored by Geau Sport -GeauSport.com - Listeners can enjoy a 10% discount on Geau Sport products by using the discount code - TennisIQ10
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go toTiebreakerPsych.com an...
Ep. 206 - The Effects of Ratings and Rankings on Performance
Feb 04, 2025Thinking too much about ratings and rankings can cloud your focus on the court. It’s difficult to stay in the moment when you are worried about the consequences of winning and losing. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impacts of rating and ranking systems on players, especially in the 21st century. The dynamic nature of these systems can be problematic for many, but there are strategies for dealing with them. Brian and Josh review strategies that they have found to be effective with their clients.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds an...
Ep. 205 - Australian Open 2025 - Mental Performances Themes | Jannik Sinner, Madison Keys
Jan 28, 2025The 2025 Australian Open has wrapped up with Madison Keys winning the women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka 6–3, 2-6, 7-5, and Jannik Sinner winning the men’s singles title over Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3. In this episode Brian and Josh discuss the women’s and men’s singles championships, and review sport psychology themes that led to the successes of Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner.
Article about the mental toughness journey of Madison Keys.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If yo...
Ep. 204 - The Weight of Discipline vs. the Weight of Regret
Jan 23, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss a quote from motivational speaker, Jim Rohn (see quote below), on the topic of discipline and regret, and how these concepts apply to tennis players. They describe some thought exercises that players can work through to minimize regret in their careers. Furthermore, the co-hosts stress the importance of ensuring that an athlete’s actions match their stated goals for their future and tennis development.
Full quote by Jim Rohn - “We all say that we want to succeed, but sooner or later our level of activity must equal our leve...
Ep. 203 - Zest and Flourishing
Jan 13, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss zest as a primary virtue for flourishing in tennis and beyond. To begin, they define the virtue of zest and talk about the benefits of incorporating more zest into one’s life and tennis game. Furthermore, they offer practical suggestions for increasing zest in training and competition.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gm...
Duration: 00:34:11Ep. 202 - The Paradox of the Ego
Jan 04, 2025In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss a concept known as "the paradox of the ego." In short, the paradox is that it is necessary to have a strong ego in order to eventually let go of it. The co-hosts address how tennis players can eventually learn to put their own egos about results, rankings, ratings, and comparisons aside for the benefit of their future and development.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or...
Duration: 00:46:02Ep. 201 - How to Play With Equanimity (A Balanced Mind)
Dec 23, 2024In this episode, Josh and Brian draw inspiration from a quote by Marcus Aurelius related to recovering one's mental balance after being upset by circumstances. Practical applications of the concept are discussed as is a concept called 'The Equanimity Game.'
How to Play the Equanimity Game: https://youtu.be/eE-gv3uawZA?si=argOrcNZJvR1
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can e...
Duration: 00:37:55Ep. 200 - What We Learned from 200 Episodes
Dec 12, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss their most important takeaways from the first 200 episodes of the Tennis IQ Podcast. Let us know what you have learned on this journey!
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t fo...
Ep. 199 - Using the "4 i Framework" to Design Your Practices
Dec 04, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “4 i’s” of intentional practice. This is based on a model of intentional practice (article linked below) by Dan Abrahams in which intentional training is divided into four areas: interesting, intense, internalize and integrated. The co-hosts discuss how tennis players, coaches, and parents can incorporate these key elements into each practice to ensure that it is done in an intentional and deliberate way.
Article - https://tinyurl.com/2uv636m6
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. I...
Ep. 198 - Roger Writes a Letter to Rafa | Thoughts on Nadal's Legacy
Nov 24, 2024Prior to Rafael Nadal's last match at the 2024 Davis Cup, Roger Federer penned a letter in tribute to Rafa's legendary career and their shared journey. Josh and Brian discuss Federer's thoughts on Rafa as well as the legacy that Nadal leaves in tennis as one of the sports greatest champions.
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re en...
Duration: 00:37:00Ep. 197 - Coaching and Self-Reliance on the Court
Nov 19, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the importance of self-reliance on the tennis court. They talk about how tennis players can take responsibility for themselves and their actions in practice and matches which ultimately can lead to better results long-term. They also referenced a recent Forbes article (link below) that Josh was quoted in regarding this topic and potential changes to coaching in professional tennis.
Forbes article - https://www.forbes.com/sites/timellis/2024/10/23/is-off-court-coaching-a-necessary-support-for-tennis-players/
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.co...
Ep. 196 - Dominik Hrbatý | Developing Your Brain & How to Beat Great Players
Nov 09, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh interview Dominik Hrbatý. Dominik Hrbatý is a former professional tennis player from Slovakia. He reached the semifinals of the 1999 French Open, and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 in October of 2005. Hrbatý is one of only three players, alongside Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt, to have beaten each member of the Big Three (Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal) the first time he played them. During his playing career, he had over 30 wins vs top 10 players. In this conversation, we discuss Dominik's upbringing in the sport, the key role his fat...
Duration: 01:13:49Ep. 195 - The Benefits of Slowing Down
Nov 03, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the benefits of slowing down. Slowing down begins as a perspective that then translates into action. The process and benefits of slowing down apply in the long-term (your career), as well as in a match, and between points. Players can also benefit from the idea that “slow is smooth, smooth is fast."
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the sh...
Ep. 194 - Embracing Pain, Uncertainty, and Hard Work
Oct 21, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can embrace pain, uncertainty, and hard work. The inspiration for this topic came from the chapter titled ‘“I LOVE PUH” (YOU?)’ on pages 600 and 601 from the book Areté by Brian Johnson. The co-hosts reviewed how tennis players can embrace the challenges of life and competitive sport including the necessary pain, uncertainty, and hard work that come along with the journey. They offered practical suggestions that tennis players can implement to embrace the challenges they encounter head-on, and learn to love these challenging aspects of life and tennis.
Ep. 193 - Bob Litwin and Living the Best Story of Your Life
Oct 09, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh talked with Bob Litwin about how to use storytelling and writing to improve your tennis and your life. Bob Litwin is an executive, sports and life performance coach and author of the best selling book, Live the Best Story of Your Life: A World Champion’s Guide to Lasting Change. He was the first non ATP tour, non Division 1 college tennis player inducted into the USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame, and was a recipient of the Vitas Gerulaitis Community Service Award. His tennis career includes being an ITF World Champion, ITF #1 world ra...
Duration: 01:17:44Ep. 192 - Playing Against Weaker Opponents and With Weaker Partners
Sep 29, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh respond to two questions from a listener. The first question was about how to handle playing against weaker opponents, and the second question was about how to play with a partner that is weaker than you. The co-hosts discuss each question in detail and provide some guidance on both of these common scenarios.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the...
Ep. 191 - Tough Losses
Sep 20, 2024Some losses are tougher to digest than others, and in this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can handle tough losses in the best possible way. They start by defining different types of tough losses such as losses in big events, losses in close matches, losses when it feels personal, losses against weaker players, and losses when a player feels like they let their team down. Next, the co-hosts discuss how players generally don’t handle tough losses in the best way through making excuses, not wanting to address the loss or talk about it, and avoiding fu...
Duration: 00:36:08Ep. 190 - US Open 2024 | Sinner, Sabalenka, Fritz, and Pegula
Sep 12, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2024 US Open through the lens of sport psychology and mental skills. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win the women's singles championship while Jannik Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to win the men's singles championship. The hosts talk about the various upsets of the tournament including the losses of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff. They also review the breakthroughs of Taylor Fritz, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and Jack Draper.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/m...
Duration: 00:48:22Ep. 189 - Commit to Your Game Plan
Sep 09, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the necessity of trust and commitment to a game plan by looking at the concept in three ways: 1) how players can develop their playing style and game plan long-term, 2) committing to a game plan going into a match, and 3) trusting the game plan and committing to it between points.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show...
Duration: 00:51:03Ep. 188 - Beware! Anger is a Pleasurable Emotion
Aug 31, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss anger and what people often get wrong about it. The conversation is based on an article entitled “4 Things About Anger Everyone Should Know." The co-hosts review their thoughts on each of the four things noted in the article and provide practical implications of understanding anger for tennis players.
Article: https://www.thefriendlymind.com/4-things-about-anger-everyone-should-know/
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to Tiebr...
Duration: 00:50:58Ep. 187 - Is the SMART Goals Framework Overrated?
Aug 21, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the differences between “SMART goals” and “open goals”. They outlined the benefits and drawbacks of the popular “SMART goals” approach and introduced open goals as an alternative. Additionally, they reviewed process goals, learning goals, and other concepts related to the goal setting and attainment process.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis y...
Ep. 186 - How Your Brain Actually Works
Aug 06, 2024Is it true that each of us has a 'reptilian' brain within our human brain? Where do our emotions come from? In this episode, Josh and Brian debunk some myths about the brain and explain how emotions are constructed. Knowing how this actually works can be very beneficial for tennis players.
Papers noted in this episode:
The Theory of Constructed Emotion: https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/12/1/1/2823712
Your Brain is not an Onion with a Tiny Reptile Inside: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0963721420917687
If you ha...
Duration: 00:42:08Ep. 185 - Peter Clarke on the Transition from Tennis to Business
Jul 28, 2024Peter Clarke is a former professional tennis player who was born in Ireland, and moved to Australia at the age of 6 where he developed his game to become one of the best juniors in the country. He went on to play professional tennis on the ATP Tour, and as a professional player, he achieved a career high world ranking of 229 in 2002. It was during his playing career that Pete began his transition to coaching and business as a means of funding his journey on tour. Once his playing days were complete, Pete had developed the skills necessary to become...
Duration: 01:02:07Ep. 184 - Wimbledon 2024 Recap | Alcaraz, Djokovic, Krejčíková, Paolini
Jul 18, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejčíková defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, and on the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4). The co-hosts review various sport psychology themes relating to the champions, the finalists, and other top players in the tournament.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about th...
Duration: 00:34:10Ep. 183 - Addressing Irrational Beliefs and Self-Talk
Jul 09, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of irrational self-talk. Examples of this type of self-talk involve words and phrases such as ‘have to’, ‘need to’, ‘supposed to’, ‘should’, ‘must’, etc. These phrases add pressure and make it harder for tennis players to be at their best. The hosts reviewed how irrational self-talk originated, and offered strategies that players can use to improve their self-talk in matches.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com an...
Ep. 182 - Lessons from Roger Federer at Dartmouth
Jun 29, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss Roger Federer’s recent commencement address at Dartmouth College. His address included three “lessons” which are: 1) “effortless” is a myth, 2) it’s only a point, and 3) life is bigger than the court. The co-hosts examine how these three “lessons” relate to various sport psychology themes that tennis players can apply to their games.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on...
Ep. 181 - Rick Macci and Champion Mindsets
Jun 20, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh were joined by Rick Macci, and their conversation touched on a number of topics related to sport psychology and the mental aspect of tennis. Over the past 40 years, Rick Macci has had the distinction of having trained and worked with a “Who’s Who” of tennis players including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, Jennifer Capriati, Mary Pierce, Anastasia Myskina and many more. In that time, he has had the privilege of working with five players that have reached number one in the world on the ATP and WTA Tours along with e...
Duration: 01:07:36Ep. 180 - Thoughts on Roland Garros 2024 - Alcaraz and Świątek
Jun 12, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss their thoughts on the 2024 French Open (Roland-Garros). They review Iga Świątek's performance in the tournament which culminated with a 6-2 6-1 victory in the women's championship match over Jasmine Paolini. Additionally, the co-hosts talked about Carlos Alcaraz’s win in the men's final over Alexander Zverev 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2. They also addressed the tournaments of Naomi Osaka, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. For both the champions and the finalists, their mindsets and mental games were a key contributing factor in their success in Paris, and the co-hosts examined various them...
Duration: 00:50:35Ep. 179 - Developing Your Mental Scorecard
Jun 10, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the concept of creating and using a “mental scorecard”. This concept is popular in golf. and the co-hosts discuss how tennis players can apply it to their own games. By using a mental scorecard, players can remind themselves of the main controllable factors that they’re trying to focus on, and can also hold themselves accountable about following through with these main factors to their success.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychol...
Ep. 178 - Be More Concerned with Your Present Than Your Past or Future
May 28, 2024"Never confuse yourself by visions of an entire lifetime at once. That is, do not let your thoughts range over the whole multitude and variety of the misfortunes that may befall you, but rather, as you encounter each one, ask yourself, ‘What is there unendurable, so insupportable, in this?’ You will find that you are ashamed to admit defeat. Again, remember that it is not the weight of the future or the past that is pressing upon you, but ever that of the present alone." - Marcus Aurelius In this episode, Brian and Josh consider the above quote from the...
Duration: 00:44:14Ep. 177 - Don't Fake It Till You Make It. Instead, "Act As If."
May 18, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discussed the role of identity and self-image on tennis and performance. The co-hosts examined the connection between identity, behavior and feelings, and differentiated between two pathways and the consequences of each. The two pathways are 1) starting with developing our identity which leads to certain behaviors and feelings vs. 2) starting with our feelings in a situation which leads to certain actions and identity as more of an afterthought rather than a priority.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and B...
Ep. 174 - The Stockdale Paradox and Tennis
May 18, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “Stockdale Paradox” and how it relates to tennis. The co-hosts review the background of Jim Stockdale and consider whether they believe this “paradox” is in fact a paradox or not. They talk about the link between accepting reality and optimism, and the necessity for tennis players to be able to do both.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or ques...
Ep. 176 - Dave Bailey - The Impact of Footwork on the Mental Game
May 09, 2024Dave Bailey is the world’s leading expert in tennis movement and footwork, and the creator of The Bailey Method. In his professional career, Dave has spent over 30 years studying the footwork and movement patterns of the top tennis professionals, viewing more than 18,000 video clips of professional players in action – carefully observing and documenting their precise movements. Through this process, Dave designed the Bailey Method of tennis footwork which identifies and provides solutions to more than 50 of the most common problems associated with movement, footwork and balance while playing tennis. Last but not least, Dave has been the footwork and...
Duration: 01:05:40Ep. 175 - Becoming a Relentless Competitor Like Rafael Nadal
May 02, 2024Relentlessness is a virtue that all tennis players should practice, and it is a virtue that Rafael Nadal (and others) has embodied throughout his playing career. Never giving up, and playing your game no matter the score are examples of relentlessness in action. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss what it means to be relentless, the challenges to being this way in matches, and some tips to coach yourself or others in the pursuit of becoming a relentless competitor.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more a...
Ep. 173 - Athlete Centered to Athlete Ownership
Apr 18, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the transition from an athlete-centered perspective to one of athlete ownership. This concept is particularly important for junior players as they strive to take more ownership of different aspects of their tennis journey while they progress. By taking more of an athlete ownership approach, young athletes learn to be responsible for their training, tournament schedule, and ultimately their journey as a tennis player overall. Parents and coaches are integral in this process.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about J...
Ep. 172 - Why You Need to Commit to Your Routines
Apr 09, 2024In tennis, there are a number of routines and rituals that players can use to bring out their best performances. However, not all players use routines as effectively as they could. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss some of the challenges with using routines, and offer suggestions for how to commit to these important practices.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback abou...
Duration: 00:36:35Ep. 171 - What to Do When Things Are Not Working
Apr 02, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss what tennis players can do when nothing is working for them in a match. The co-hosts examine different strategies and tools that tennis players can use in these moments, and also consider broader mindsets and perspectives that can be helpful to apply in these situations. Topics discussed include going back to a player’s fundamentals, targeting an opponent's weakness, and finding ways to relax and relieve physical tension.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Jos...
Duration: 00:39:07Ep. 170 - Ryan Harrison and the Philosophy of Better Player, Better Results
Mar 23, 2024Ryan Harrison is a former professional tennis player and Head Coach at Harrison Tennis Academy. With a playing career spanning over 15 years on the ATP Tour, Ryan Harrison stands as a Grand Slam Champion, clinching the Roland Garros men’s doubles title in 2017 with Michael Venus. His journey in professional tennis has seen him reach a career-best singles ranking of No. 40 in the world and No. 16 in doubles. Ryan has showcased his prowess on the global stage, competing in the ATP World Tour Finals in doubles and proudly representing the United States in both the Olympics in London in 2012 an...
Duration: 01:00:24Ep. 169 - Dr. Cathy Utzschneider on Goal Achievement and a Fulfilling Life
Mar 17, 2024Dr. Cathy Utzschneider is the founder of the coaching practice, MOVE! - a method of goal achievement that helps all kinds of coaches and executives assist others with their goals. Cathy's 25 years of experience as a national- and world-class masters athlete, as well as her doctoral dissertation on goal achievement and excellence, support the method. A certification program for the MOVE! method has created a community of professionals focused on helping others. Cathy is also the lead faculty for sports leadership and coaching for performance at Boston College. A professor since 2005, she is a national expert in goal achievement...
Duration: 00:56:53Ep. 168 - Motivation and Self-Determination Theory
Mar 08, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss different aspects of motivation relative to self-determination theory, and how tennis players can be clear about what motivates them in terms of competence, autonomy, and relatedness (basic psychological needs). They also examine how people are generally motivated by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, rather than being wholly intrinsically or extrinsically motivated.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback abou...
Ep. 167 - The Value of Studying Your Success
Feb 29, 2024It's commonly believed that tennis players learn more from their losses than their wins. But is that actually true? In this episode, Josh and Brian highlight the benefits of studying your wins and your best performances. Don't take those successes for granted; learn to replicate them.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us a...
Ep. 166 - The Value of Experimentation in Your Training
Feb 22, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discussed how tennis players can be experiments and students on their tennis journey. The co-hosts examined the ways that tennis players can benefit by experimenting more, and how experimenting rather than committing to changing/fixing things tends to be easier because it doesn’t present a permanent change. This protects the player’s identity and doesn’t threaten their ego in the same way as the feeling that they have to make major permanent changes. Additionally, the co-hosts considered how players can commit to being a lifelong student, and how it is helpful to go...
Duration: 00:42:10Ep. 165 - Wanting to Win and Playing to Win Are Not the Same
Feb 14, 2024Before a match begins, everyone wants to win, but maintaining that desire throughout the match is not easy. Similarly, we all want to play to win during a match, but that has its own challenges. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the relationship between the "desire to win" and "playing to win," and the challenges associated with each.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the...
Ep. 164 - What You Can Learn from the Netflix Movie Hustle
Feb 06, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss various sport psychology themes from the Netflix movie Hustle. The movie stars Adam Sandler as a NBA scout who identifies a talented basketball player from Spain, and then brings him to the United States. The movie includes various themes related to mental performance including work ethic needed to get to the next level, the improvement and development process of an athlete, the coach-athlete relationship, the importance of moving on after missed shots, and that competition is about YOU vs. YOU.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.c...
Duration: 00:34:40Ep. 163 - Australian Open 2024 | Sinner, Medvedev and Sabalenka
Jan 30, 2024The 2024 Australian Open has wrapped up with Aryna Sabalenka winning the women’s singles title over Zheng Qinwen 6–3, 6-2, and Jannik Sinner winning the men’s singles title over Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the finals of the women’s and men’s singles championships, review the performances of other top players, and comment on mental performance themes that emerged from the tournament.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses...
Ep. 162 - Ryan Redondo and his Tennis Mission/Purpose
Jan 23, 2024Ryan Redondo is CEO/GM of Youth Tennis San Diego and the Barnes Tennis Center, as well as Tournament Director of the San Diego Open WTA 500. He comes from a long tradition of tennis players in his family, and he is a former college and professional player. After his playing career, he went into coaching, both privately and at the collegiate level. He joined the Barnes Tennis Center as CEO in May of 2020. Ryan is passionate about transforming the tennis experience for players in the San Diego area, and has made that a major part of his life purpose.<...
Duration: 00:56:11Ep. 161 - The Benefits of Viewing Tennis as a Team Sport
Jan 15, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the different contexts that tennis can be understood as a team sport. They discussed three main situations in this episode. First, they talked about situations where training is done as a team which includes in academies, high school teams, college teams, and adult league teams. Next, they discussed the roles within a performance team and the important support system that it creates. Lastly, they talked about viewing the tennis community as a team, and discussed how tennis can be used to help others and make a positive impact.
Ep. 160 - Addressing Self-Limiting Beliefs and Attitudes
Jan 04, 2024In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss common self-limiting beliefs that tennis players often hold, and approaches that players can take to address and change these beliefs over time. The co-hosts talk about the importance of awareness of self-talk, the benefits of journaling, and detail the process that tennis players can go about to adjust and improve their self-limiting beliefs.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback abou...
Ep. 159 - Top Things We Learned in 2023
Dec 26, 2023In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the top things they learned from 2023 and their top takeaways from the year. These include tennis-specific learnings and takeaways from 2023, as well as general lessons from the past year. They also announced a special event on December 28th at 8 pm EST / 5pm PST. This event will include an "Ask Me Anything" session with the co-hosts as well as a discussion of the book, Mindset by Jackie Reardon and Hans Dekkers. This free event will be open to anyone who wishes to attend, and we hope to be joined by as many listeners...
Duration: 00:55:07Ep. 158 - Is Your Self-Worth Based on Performance?
Dec 17, 2023In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss an article from Fast Company, written by Kevin Lake and Dr. Michael Gervais , “The psychological pitfalls of tying self-worth and happiness to performance”. The co-hosts outline the main points from the article, talk about the benefits of establishing a purpose-based identity, and discuss the practical implications for tennis players.
The article can be accessed here: https://www.fastcompany.com/90974474/the-psychological-pitfalls-of-tying-self-worth-and-happiness-to-performance
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to Tiebrea...
Duration: 00:41:08Ep. 157 - Learning from the Lifestyle Challenges of Professional Players
Dec 06, 2023In 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 Psychology by Saul J. Shrom, Jennifer Cumming & Sarah-Jane Fenton titled “Lifestyle Challenges and Mental Health of Professional Tennis Players: an Exploratory Case Study”. The study analyzed current and former professional tennis players of various levels and the challenges that they faced on the professional tours. It looked at views shared on the Behind the Racquet Instagram page which was started by Noah Rubin. The co-hosts analyzed the research article, discussed certa...
Duration: 00:50:23Ep. 156 - The Performance Impact of Increasing Tolerance of Discomfort
Nov 29, 2023In 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 as emotional tolerance. The co-hosts discuss how applying mental tools such as self-talk, visualization, and journaling can be helpful for building tolerance.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game...
Ep. 155 - Becoming Grittier On and Off the Court
Nov 21, 2023In 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 concept for tennis? Josh and Brian discuss these questions and more so that you can take practical steps toward developing a healthier brand of grit on and off the tennis court.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If y...
Ep. 154 - Improving Your Motivation
Nov 13, 2023Motivation 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 examine ways for players to strengthen their purpose and drive for playing tennis. Purpose, passion, and goals are a few of the topics discussed.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or ques...
Ep. 153 - Matt Futterman of The Athletic | Narratives in Tennis
Nov 05, 2023Matt 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 Times, writing a series in 2020 called “Sledhead” that examined the dangers that sliding sports, particularly bobsled and skeleton, pose to the brain. Matt has also covered seven Olympics, a role he will continue to play at The Athletic. Matt joined The New York Times as a deputy sports editor in 2017 before moving back to reporting. Before that, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Star-Ledger of New Jersey and...
Duration: 01:06:19Ep. 152 - Should I Vent My Anger On Court?
Oct 29, 2023In 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 Venting Anger Feed or Extinguish the Flame? Catharsis, Rumination, Distraction, Anger, and Aggressive Responding”. The co-hosts examine whether this research and past research has demonstrated the effectiveness of venting, and they offer suggestions for how tennis players can handle angry moments when they occur. If you’d like to read the research article you can send us an email at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com and we will s...
Duration: 00:33:04Best of Tennis IQ- Ep. 51 - Dr. Laura Swettenham on Stress, Coping, and Think Aloud
Oct 22, 2023Dr. 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 professional football (soccer), youth tennis, and e-sports. In her practice, Laura uses acceptance and mindfulness approaches, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, to support athletes and coaches so they can thrive in and out of their performance environment. Currently, Laura works at Cultiv8 Academy, the Yorkshire regional player development center for tennis, and is the sport psychology and coach development lead at the federation of e-sports coaches. She is also an...
Duration: 01:09:31Ep. 151 - Jan Mühlfeit and Unlocking Human Potential
Oct 16, 2023In 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 2016, Jan Mühlfeit &; Melina Costi). His personal mission is “helping individuals, organizations and countries around the world to unlock their human potential”. Jan has a proven track record in building and leading successful teams, acquired through an extensive 22-year career at Microsoft Corporation where he served in various executive positions. His last role with the high-tech giant was as Chairman of Europe (2007–2014). Jan teaches his courses on a worldwide s...
Duration: 01:11:14Ep. 150 - How to Train Decision Making
Oct 08, 2023In 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 Decision Training on Decision Making and Performance in Young Tennis Players: An Applied Research” by Luis García-González, Alberto Moreno, Alexander Gil, M. Perla Moreno & Fernando Del Villar. Both Josh and Brian provided their thoughts on the study and its findings, and they considered some of the practical applications that tennis players and coaches can utilize on court to instill better decision making over time. If you’d like t...
Duration: 00:41:50Ep. 149 - Kollman Gearhart - Who Are You Built to Be?
Sep 30, 2023Kollman 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, regardless of circumstances. With a rich background as a former athlete and motivational coach, Kollman has dedicated the last two decades to inspiring thousands through his personal journey. His mission is clear: to help individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their true potential. Kollman played Division 1 tennis at University of Northern Colorado, has coached dozens of players to receive scholarships to Division 1, 2, and 3 universities, and has coached numerous players...
Duration: 01:15:19Best of Tennis IQ: Ep. 30 - Marius Barnard and Self-Belief
Sep 23, 2023Marius 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 career, he also had doubles wins over 6 world number ones, including Roger Federer. While playing on the tour, Marius studied psychology and business management. After his career was over, he used his expertise in performance psychology and business to become a coach and mentor. Today, Marius is an executive coach helping CEOs, Directors, and Managers improve their performance with tailored development programs and managing their work pressures wi...
Duration: 01:02:00Ep. 148 - US Open 2023 Recap | Gauff, Djokovic, Sabalenka, Medvedev
Sep 15, 2023In 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’s and men’s singles championships. The co-hosts discussed the champions and finalists from a sport psychology perspective, and also discussed other top players including Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz.
Coco Gauff Final Interview Transcript - http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=190805
Aryna Sabalenka Final Interview Transcript - http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=190803
Novak Djokovic Final Interview Transc...
Ep. 147 - Using a Brief Serve Intervention to Improve Performance
Sep 10, 2023In 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 University. The co-hosts summarized the study findings and shared certain actionable takeaways for players. If you’d like to read the paper, please send us an email at TennisIQPodcast@gmail.com and we will send it to you.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have f...
Ep. 146 - Visualization for Decision Making
Sep 01, 2023Visualization 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 tips on how to create visualization plans and scripts that you can use for your game.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can emai...
Ep. 145 - The Connection Between Performance and Behavior
Aug 24, 2023In 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 something that we will give more time; behavior we won’t. And that’s because behavior is a choice, not a skill set.” The co-hosts discussed whether they believe that behavior is ultimately a choice, and talked about how tennis players can prioritize controlling the aspects of performance that they’re able to control and impact.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about...
Ep. 144 - The Benefits of Optimism
Aug 16, 2023In 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 misconceptions surrounding these concepts. Topics reviewed include the performance benefits of optimism within a match, the benefits of being optimistic about one’s overall training and development, and the connection between trusting the process and choosing to maintain a realistic yet optimistic outlook.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to ...
Duration: 00:50:51Ep. 143 - Believing in Yourself When You Aren't Getting Results
Aug 08, 2023In 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 occurring for a number of reasons, but often tennis players need to embrace that their results can at times lag behind the progress that they’re making. Topics discussed include the importance of patience, the impact of trust and belief, and the benefit of tracking process goals to measure progress over time.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To lea...
Ep. 142 - Wimbledon 2023 - Alcaraz, Djokovic, Vondrousova, Jabeur, Eubanks
Aug 01, 2023In 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 Novak Djokovic 1–6, 7–6 (6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4. The co-hosts review various sport psychology themes relating to the champions and finalists including resilience, self-belief, emotional control, and consistency.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in ten...
Ep. 141 - Dan McCain and 7 Shot Tennis
Jul 19, 2023In 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 in Virginia Beach, VA. Dan has published six books on tennis on topics such as raising a champion, goal-setting, movement fundamentals, tactics, and strategy. As a player he had a stand out career as a junior winning USTA gold and silver balls on his way to playing collegiate tennis at University of Michigan. Dan is also one of the principals at 7 Shot Tennis, and...
Duration: 01:02:07Ep. 140 - Good Questions for Post-Match Reflection
Jul 11, 2023In 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 order to process and learn from each match experience. These questions and exercises can be completed individually, or with a coach or parent.
Tennis IQ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/tennisiqpodcast/membership
To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the...
Ep. 139 - How to Use Quiet Eye Theory to Improve Your Game
Jul 03, 2023In 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 (below) and the co-hosts reviewed practical applications of these concepts for tennis players.
Research studies and videos mentioned:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233599263_Gaze_Control_DURING_the_hitting_phase_in_Tennis_a_Preliminary_Study
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00008/full
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29785858/
https://youtu.be/M1zuROicUbU
https://youtu.be/vhf8DMYNgi8<...
Ep. 138 - The Psychological Profile of Champions
Jun 25, 2023In 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 Cei, and Umberto Manili. The co-hosts discuss the research findings about the difference between athletes who have won multiple championships and those who were single championship winners, and then consider these findings in the context of professional tennis players. Additionally, they address how all tennis players can apply aspects of these findings to their own games.
Article: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265072003_Building_A_Psych...
Duration: 00:46:30Ep. 137 - Roland Garros 2023 | The Locker Room Power of Djokovic and Swiatek
Jun 17, 2023In 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 side Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5. The co-hosts review various sport psychology themes relating to the champions including the “locker room power” of Świątek and Djokovic, as well as their confidence, resilience, and ability to lock in and focus during the biggest moments.
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Duration: 00:45:29