The Tennis Files Podcast

On Episode 221 of The Tennis Files Podcast, David Ramos, a performance analytics expert, reveals how you can analyze and improve your game through video.

David is a USPTA/PTR, P1 Professional with over 20 years of diverse professional experience. He is currently the Director of Coaching Education and Performance Analytics at USTA’s National Campus in Orlando, Florida. In his role, David’s primary responsibilities include implementing strategic initiatives of USTA’s Player Development including projects for the departments of Coaching Education, Sport Science and Talent Development. David is a Dartfish Certified Technician and Performance Analyst, and works closely with the USTA National Coaches and Training Center students to provide training and video analysis for technique and tactics.

On the show, you’ll learn exactly how David analyzes ATP and WTA Tour matches, the strategies he’s given top US pros to help them beat their opponents before matches, how you can use video analysis to take your game to the next level, the best apps and tools to help you examine your match play statistics, proven strategies that David has learned through watching thousands of hours of video that you can implement in your game for better results, and much more!

I hope you enjoy my interview with David! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!

And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!

Dartfish.com

Swing Vision

ProTracker Tennis App

Dartfish Instagram

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[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]

On Episode 392 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with actor and tennis coach Christopher Crabb about how he went from both competing on the court and acting at the highest level to coaching famous celebrities.

Chris is a tennis coach in Los Angeles with an A-list rolodex of clients. His tennis students include George Clooney, Alec Baldwin, Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Kline, Elle Fanning, Steve Carell, Pete Wentz from Fallout Boy, Dakota Fanning and Jeff Probst. Chris tutored Robert Downey Jr. for his Oscar-nominated role in the film "Chaplin," for which Chris also served as tennis coordinator. He began acting at the age of eight and has starred in many commercials, movies and series including the remake of "A Christmas Carol", "Danger Bay", "Life Goes On", "Rebel Highway", and many more. Chris was a highly-ranked junior tennis player and turned pro at the age of 16. He has defeated grand slam champions Michael Chang and Jim Courier.

On the show, you’ll learn how Chris developed his skills in tennis and acting and how he managed to do both at the highest level, the biggest challenges he faces when teaching celebrities, his unique green jacket approach of coaching, the biggest mistakes that amateur tennis players make, why players don't play well during competition vs. practice, and much more!

I hope you enjoy my interview with Chris! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!

And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!

Christopher’s Instagram

Inner Game of Tennis

Winning Ugly

The Magic Key to Tennis - Eric Sage

The Hollywood Reporter Article

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On today’s episode of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Mark Gonzalez from Alpha Racquet Sports about stringing machines. I asked Mark about the different types of stringing machines, how to choose the right one for you, and tips and tricks to become a great stringer. The International Alliance of Racquet Stringers (IART) has said that Mark’s knowledge of stringing machines ranks among the very best in the industry.

Mark wears many hats in the tennis world; he is a Sales Manager for Alpha Racquet Sports, an industry consultant for IART, and a Yonex rep. Mark has a reputation for being super responsive and has helped me figure out my stringing machine needs. When I did research on best value stringing machines, Alpha was the brand that popped up more often than all the others in the forums and everywhere else, which is why I decided to bring Mark on the podcast.

It was a pleasure having Mark on The Tennis Files Podcast, and I know this episode will help you choose the right stringing machine for your game and become a better stringer. You'll also save a lot of cash if you get a tennis machine which you can use to play more tennis, upgrade your racquets, and enjoy happy hour after your league matches (if you are of-age, anyway! :) )

I hope you enjoy this episode of TFP with Mark, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Time-Stamped Show Notes

Intro

[4:02] The biggest advantage of owning a stringing machine

[5:32] The biggest hesitation that players have when deciding whether to buy a stringing machine

[7:20] What sparked Mark’s interest into the world of stringing machines

[9:46] The stringing machines Mark has used throughout his tennis and stringing career?

Researching Stringing Machines

[11:47] The optimal approach to buying a machine

[14:30] When buying a stringing machine, do we plan for the short term or long term? i.e. space in apartment, stringing skill level, potential to string for others, etc.

[15:47] What are the biggest mistakes people make when buying a stringing machine?

Different Types of Stringing Machines

[17:31] What are the different types of stringing machines?

[20:42] The kind of machine Mark recommends for a player’s first machine, that plays 2-3 times a week and breaks strings once every 2-3 weeks?

[21:55] The drop weight machine is the cheapest kind generally - why is that?

[23:53] Who would you suggest a drop weight machine for?

[25:06] Why drop weights can be one of the most accurate types of stringing machines despite the price

[25:47] Is an electric machine worth it, and if so, what type of players would you suggest get one?

[27:58] 2 point vs 6 point machines - what does this mean, and does it matter?

Stringing Accessories

[29:38] The most helpful stringing tools for stringing raquets

[32:29] What part of the stringing machine tends to break the fastest and what to do about it

[34:55] What is the WISE electronic tensioner head and what type of benefit would we gain from getting one? Is it worth it?

Stringing Racquets at this year’s Australian Open

[37:33] Mark’s experience stringing at the Australian Open and the ATP/WTA players he strung racquets for

Stringing Technique

[40:19] The biggest mistakes novice and intermediate stringers make

[41:40] The best way to measure how much string you need to string your racquet and the “4-Wingspan Rule”

Alpha Stringing Machines

[42:57] The awesome stringing machines Alpha has in its lineup and a cool story about customer service

[49:46] Are there any new machines planned for Alpha in the near future, and how we can get an Alpha stringing machine if we are interested in...

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On today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Greenwald, an internationally recognized sports psychology consultant and licensed therapist who specializes in the mental game of tennis. Jeff gave us some fantastic advice on how we can play better tennis by improving the way we think on court and about the game on Episode 46 of The Tennis Files Podcast. If you haven't listened to Episode 44 with Neil Endicott on Mindfulness-Based Tennis Psychology yet, definitely check that one out as well.

Jeff is author of a fantastic book entitled The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Strategies for Fearless Performance. He is also a speaker and a former world-ranked pro on the ATP Tour who went on to reach the No. 1 ITF ranking in the world and U.S in the men’s 35-age division.

The mental game is such an important part of tennis and I am really excited to bring you this interview with Jeff. We discuss the most important lessons Jeff has learned about the mental game, his biggest struggles on the court, advice that he'd give his younger college/ATP pro playing self, tips on how to improve your mental approach, and much more. Jeff's advice will help you deal with pressure during matches so you can play better tennis. Click the play button above to listen to the interview. Enjoy!

Time-Stamped Show Notes:

[1:11] How did Jeff got to where he is today in his tennis career

[1:55] What Jeff learned most from The Bollettieri Academy

[3:10] Jeff's most difficult moment as a professional tennis player that pushed him mentally?

[5:27] Jeff's advice to himself as a 20-year old college/ATP pro player

[7:47] What can we do to strengthen our mental game?

[10:15] What are a few things we can do during a match to help us reset for the next point?

[13:12] How can we stay positive after a series of losses?

[15:45] Strategies from Jeff’s book that will make a substantial impact on your performance

[18:36] Books Jeff recommends you read to improve your mental game

The Power of Full Engagement - Jim Loehr

Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman

Winning Ugly - Brad Gilbert

Open - Andre Agassi

Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl and William J. Winslade

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success - Carol S. Dweck

[22:02] One key tip from Jeff to help you improve your tennis game

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My guest today is Jeff Rothschild, a Registered Dietitian (RD) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with a Master’s degree in Nutritional Science. Jeff’s clients include Mike Bryan, Stefan Kozlov, and James Valentine from Maroon 5. He has also worked with other elite ATP and NCAA tennis players, endurance athletes, boxers, swimmers, and a number of touring musicians at TriFit in Santa Monica, CA.

On this episode, Jeff gives our audience a ton of amazing advice about nutrition, sleep, meal timing, protein bars, supplements, and hydration. You will take your game to the next level if you follow Jeff’s tips about preparing your body to perform at its best.

Jeff also has a fantastic website at http://www.eatsleep.fit and has authored several scientific papers that have been published in peer-reviewed nutrition and food science journals. He has presented his research at national nutrition conferences. Jeff spent five years as the assistant tennis coach at CSU Los Angeles and helped the Golden Eagles earn national Top-25 rankings each of those years. Jeff is also a two-time winner of Assistant Coach of the Year for the West Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Jeff has competed as a cyclist and continues to play competitive tennis.

Mike Bryan calls Jeff an encyclopedia of knowledge, and he proved it during our interview! Thanks to Jeff for speaking with me on The Tennis Files Podcast!

Note: The medical and/or nutritional information in this episode is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding this information.

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