If you HATE playing doubles with a weak partner who doesn’t know where to stand, where to aim, or how to avoid your opponents then this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is exactly for you! You’ll learn how to take matters into your own hands, dictate play, and be a hero to your weaker partner.…

If you’re tired of never getting the ball at the net in doubles and points lasting forever until a baseline player finally misses then this is the episode you've been waiting for. You’re about to learn how to magically appear in exactly the right place at exactly the right time so you can STEAL points from your opponents and level up your game.…

If you feel like you’re trying hard on your forehand but just can't hit a powerful shot then this is the episode you've been waiting for. That’s what my recent student told me was happening to her, but when I took my first look at her contact position it didn’t make any sense. Here's how I discovered the root of her problem and the steps you can fo…

How would you like to play your BEST tennis in the BIGGEST moments instead of crumbling under pressure? That’s exactly what you’re going to learn how to do as I deconstruct the recent video by Karue Sell from MyTennisHQ. He had an incredible result in a set against Taylor Fritz, the current world #12, and his reaction to that result speaks volumes …

There’s a 90% chance your ready position SUCKS based on the tens of thousands of hours I’ve spent coaching everyday tennis players like you. Without checking all four boxes needed you’ll never move around the court as quickly or smoothly as you should. Find out what they are in today’s special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.…

Novak Djokovic is one of the most mentally tough tennis players of all time but it’s not for the reason most people think. Find out what the secret is in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast so you can become a better competitor during matches, play your best when it matters most and level up your game.…

If you’ve EVER tried to keep your tossing arm up on your serve then you MUST listen to this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast because that tip might be ruining your tennis results. Find out how long is too long to keep your arm up and how to hit your serves with the most power, smoothness and athleticism possible!…

What if you could make your best swings, hit your best shots and play your best level completely on auto pilot? Without thinking about it at all? That’s what the best competitors at ALL levels are able to do: play on instinct and habit instead of a merry go round of constant reminders and thoughts. Find out EXACTLY how to do that in this special ep…

What if you could make your best swings, hit your best shots and play your best level of tennis completely on auto pilot? Without thinking about it at all? That’s what the best competitors at ALL levels are able to do: play on instinct and habit instead of a merry go round of constant reminders and thoughts. Learn how to do that and much more in th…

If you’re an adult competitive tennis player that feels stuck with the same game, the same strokes, year after year, and you’re starting to feel like giving up - DON’T. This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast will reveal how to use the Improvement Circle to break out of the rut of bad habits, advance your game and reach the next level as quick…

The last 18 months have been a struggle and I wanted to let you know why I haven’t been posting new episodes of the Essential Tennis Podcast. Thank you so much for all your support over the years. I appreciate it tremendously.By Essential Tennis LLC

The thing holding you back from the next level of tennis is something truly unexpected. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been playing, what level you are, how many lessons you’ve taken or how many matches you’ve won. Every player across the globe has yet to master this ONE thing and it’s keeping them from the quality tennis they’re capable of. Fin…

Often times tennis lessons ARE a waste of money because they simply don’t provide the type of service that students were expecting. Today’s special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast features a candid conversation between Ian and a player who felt ripped off. Was it warranted or did he make a mistake signing up for the coaching he did? Find ou…

Pickleball is all the rage right now so I got some coaching and played some matches to see if it’s as great as so many people think. In this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast you’ll hear my candid thoughts about what Pickleball is nailing, what the tennis community can learn from it, and whether I’ll be sticking with tennis or transit…

The mental side of tennis used to be my biggest weakness and now it’s one of my biggest strengths. I’ve gone from being angry, self critical and spiraling out of control match after match to perfectly balancing my thoughts, feelings and mental energy. How was I able to do it? In this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast I look back over …

If you’re sick of playing better in practice than you do in matches then this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast can’t be missed. You’ll learn the two big problems holding players back from their best performance when the pressure is really on, and most importantly, how to break free of those traps and finally become the competitive pl…

If you’re sick and tired of bad line calls in tennis matches then this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a must listen. You’ll learn the surprising reason behind why they happen so frequently, what you can do about it in the moment, and even how you can keep them from sabatoging your level of play and destroying your results. If yo…

One thing more than any other keeps players from immproving level after level in tennis. It’s not technique or strategy related, or even access to good coaching. Without addressing it you’ll eventually plateau and then stay stuck for the rest of your playing career. Find out what it is and how to break free from the trap in today’s special episode …

Out of all the cliché, overused tennis coaching the instruction to “finish your follow through!” is one of the worst. Find out why and what you should be doing instead in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast. You’ll learn how a long, smooth, full follow through can actually happen automatically, without you thinking about it at all,…

What’s happening inside the mind of an elite competitor like Roger Federer right as things are looking most dark and pessimistic during a match? Is he visualizing holding a trophy, saying positive affirmations or some kind of special mantra? This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast reveals the answer along with 4 huge takeaways that we can all …

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your tennis game then this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a must listen. It features four stories from Ian’s past as a player and coach where things felt very wrong and how he was able to navigate through those tough periods. If you’ve ever lost your tennis happiness then this is a must listen!…

A huge chunk of the practice tennis players do is a total waste of time. It’s a waste because the same bad habits are getting repeated again and again and again. How do you get off that merry go round of non-improvement? Find out in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast. It’s time to finally break free and make meaningful improvement…

There’s a shocking truth about how points are won and lost in tennis. It’s true for the most elite professional players in the world and also true for the rest of us. Failing to understand the reality of this insight will leave you frustrated, angry and ineffective on the court. Find out what it is in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Po…

Tennis players blame all kinds of things for not improving as fast as they want including lack of time, money, training partners and quality coaching. Unfortunately there’s a much bigger, more important reason that nobody ever talks about. Find out what it is and how you can overcome it in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.…

I recently took a tennis lesson in which I wasted my coach’s time. It could have easily been avoided by taking some simple steps before the lesson started but I failed to see it coming. Find out what that mistake was and how you can learn from it to take charge of your tennis improvement and advance as quickly as possible in this special episode of…

It doesn't matter how long you've been playing, what level you've risen to or how high your tennis IQ is; you're probably living this lie on the court right now. Find out what it is and the two solutions you can deploy right away in today’s episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast.By Essential Tennis LLC

As we get older adjusting our training, mindset and expectations on the tennis court can be a huge challenge! Today’s special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast features an open, candid conversation between two lifelong tennis coaches (Ian Westermann and Nate Brolling) about how they’re finding success in competition after many years away from…

Ever have an off day on the tennis court? Of course you have! How you react and respond to those days may very well determine if you continue to improve, stay stuck, or even regress back to lower levels. Today’s special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast highlights a key mindset hack that will allow you to embrace less than ideal training sess…

All my life my serve has been smooth, flowing and natural. Now, over just the last few months, it has become jerky, tight and slow. Why?? The answer reveals tennis improvement truths that are critical for all players to understand if they want to continue developing their games and reaching the next level. Find out what it is in this special episod…

Are you wasting time and money on your current tennis coach? This special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast dives deep into the signs and signals that it may be the case and also provides a clear blueprint for what you SHOULD be looking for during your lessons. Every tennis player has different goals and every coach provides a slightly differ…

A year ago I challenged myself to get back into competitive tennis after focusing exclusively on my coaching for over a decade. Now, after high performance training sessions, drilling, playing league matches, doubles tournaments and singles tournaments I realize I had SO much to learn about myself and my game. This episode of the Essential Tennis P…

A lot has happened since the last episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast so I wanted to post a quick explanation about where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to. If you’re curious then listen in. If you’re looking for instruction then skip this post!By Essential Tennis LLC

Do you get nervous during tennis matches causing you to play worse, get tight, and choke? If so this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is a must listen because you'll discover a step by step process for dealing with anxiety, finding peace with competitive situations, and truly performing your best.…

April 1st has a very deep and special meaning for me and in this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast I’ll reveal what it is. You’ll learn how it has shaped my growth as a tennis player, coach, business owner and much more. This single perspective and focus has done more to help me accomplish my goals on and off the court than anything else over…

Everybody knows Roger Federer as an elite tennis player but how did he gather those skills? What and where are his roots as a person and a competitor? My special guest on this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast has the answers after taking an incredible journey to dig deep and uncover Federer’s past.…

Do you get nervous before big tennis matches? Of course you do - you’re not a robot! The key to tennis success when the pressure is on isn’t removing nervousness but having the right relationship with it which is exactly what you’ll learn about in this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast. It’s time to play your best tennis when it really matter…

Do you feel stuck with your tennis development? If so you’re probably overlooking ONE big element of improvement. Unfortunately most tennis players skip it which leads to lots of time spent on elements that don’t really matter. To find the solution listen to this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast!…

If you want to play your best tennis then setting up healthy habits and routines is critical, especially around the “Big 3”: sleep, exercise and nutrition. In this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast you’ll hear what tips, tricks and rituals I use to maximize those three areas of my life so I can go into every day with the most energy, …

It's been a long time since I've uploaded an episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast. I'm sorry! I felt like I should explain where I've been so this is a quick update. No coaching or instruction. Just letting you know how things are going and what my plans are.By Essential Tennis LLC

Recently I took off my coach’s hat and put on my student hat as I took my first tennis lesson in two decades from a local high performance coach. It was an amazing experience and in this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast I’ll share how I dealt with him asking me to focus on different technical elements than what I was trying to do in my own t…

If you think old dogs can’t learn new tricks this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is for you! You’ll hear the story of a 76 year old coaching student that transformed his first and second serves within just a few hours of training. He even used his new technique in a match the very next day with amazing results. We can all learn from the at…

Have you invested in lots of online coaching only to feel overwhelmed and stuck? If so this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is exactly what you need to listen to! Ian uncovers his 7 step process for identifying what to work on, how to make steady, positive progress in the right direction, and knowing when to move on to something new. You’ll…

Do you have a bad tennis habit that’s been stuck for 10 years or more? So did John, but recently he made a huge breakthrough! Find out how he was able to do it and what steps he took that you can copy yourself. Hint: it did NOT involve hitting more balls, taking more lessons, or playing more matches. This episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast con…

Guess what you DON’T need to improve your tennis game: a coach, ball machine, hitting partner or even a tennis court! Sure, those things could all be helpful but often we’re restricted in our ability to access them which is why this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is so important. You’ll learn what other two things you need to advance your …

Millions of tennis players dedicate mental and emotional energy to the WRONG things every single time they play a match. The result is no bandwidth left over to focus on what really matters when it comes to playing great tennis! In this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast you’ll learn what your mind should be focused on, what it shouldn…

What do skateboarding tricks and tennis improvement have in common? You’ll find out in this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast! Any time you venture out and try new techniques, swings, or upgrades you’re making a risk. Time, energy, and money is on the line but so is one other BIG factor. Find out what that is so you can keep improving your te…

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been playing your whole life or picked up a racquet for the first time yesterday: tennis is chock full of challenges, obstacles and disappointments. What really matters is your response when you encounter them, which can have a tremendous effect on your success as a player and your enjoyment of the game. In this episode …

In life we’re frequently put in situations that feel hopeless. Where it doesn’t seem like there’s anything we can control and everything is working against us. I was recently put in an uncomfortable position exactly like that and some people around me wondered if I was going to throw in the towel. Thankfully tennis has taught me valuable lessons an…

Have you had a long break away from the court and you’re wondering how to transition back in an effective way? If so this episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast is critical listening! You’ll learn how to mentally, physically, and technically ease back into high quality tennis without overdoing it, injuring yourself, or setting unrealistic expectat…

Most tennis players have terrible feel because they view “touch” as being an on/off switch. Find out how you should approach it instead in this special episode of the Essential Tennis Podcast! You’ll even learn a feel drill that you can do right now with a racquet and ball to help develop your awareness of an element critical to developing soft tou…