Insider's Playbook: Smart Strategies for Competitive Senior Tennis Players Over 50

Recent episodes

1. Four Spine Surgeries in His 60s. He's Still Competing Nationally. I Eric Friedman

   Jul 21, 202622 min

   👉 Go Deeper with Coaches and Pros Who Actually Know Senior Tennis https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081 Episode Description: Four spine surgeries. A heart arrhythmia during a match. A herniated disc at the World Championships in Budapest. Most players would have quit. Eric Friedman didn't. At 63, Eric is still competing nationally — and what he learned navigating the medical system is something every senior tennis player needs to hear. Eric's story isn't about toughness for its own sake. It's about being smart — smart enough to ask harder questions, get second opinions, and refuse to accept a medical default that ends your tennis career prematurely. If you're an older player managing injuries, chronic pain, or facing a surgical decision, this conversation could change how you think about your options. Key Takeaways: Why he always explores non-surgical options first — and the specific questions to ask your doctor How regenerative therapies like stem cell treatment changed the calculus on joint pain What it means to be your own health advocate (and why the first surgeon isn't always the right one) How he returned to competition after each setback — and what kept him mentally in the game The moment at the World Championships in Budapest that tested everything he thought he knew about playing through pain ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up – Show Intro 01:31 Eric's Injury Timeline: How It Started at 60 04:45 Did He Think His Tennis Career Was Over? 05:55 Why He Refused Surgery First (And What He Tried Instead) 08:37 The Heart Arrhythmia That Put Him in an Ambulance 10:51 Post-Surgery Recovery: Getting Back on the Court 13:37 The Mental Side of Coming Back From Spine Surgery 13:51 His Exact Physical Therapy and Gym Routine 16:03 Advice for Senior Players Dealing With Injuries 19:36 Stem Cell Therapy for Knees, Hips, and Shoulders 20:51 Show Wrap Up #tennistips #tennistrategy #seniortennis

2. You're Too Old to Change? The Myth Holding You Back I Eric Friedman

   Jul 14, 202621 min

   👉 Be Match Ready as Soon as You're Get on the Court. https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081 Most senior tennis players believe they're too old to make major changes to their game — so they keep grinding the same strokes, hoping for different results. Eric Friedman didn't buy it. In this episode, Eric breaks down how he rebuilt his forehand into a weapon, switched from a one-handed to a two-handed backhand at an age where most players stop taking risks, and spent a full year losing matches on purpose to make it stick. We get into the real tennis strategy behind lasting improvement: why you need one true weapon instead of trying to fix everything at once (the "sword and shield" approach), how to survive the ugly plateau before a breakthrough, and why waiting for a new age group to "strike" is a myth that's holding players back. If you're looking for tennis tips that apply to competitive players 50+, or you've been told your two-handed backhand or forehand needs a real rebuild, this conversation lays out exactly what that process looks like — mentally and physically. This is tennis coaching from someone who's lived it, not theorized it. Key Takeaways: Real improvement means picking one shot to make your "weapon" and keeping the rest of your game solid — trying to overhaul everything at once leads to being mediocre everywhere. Expect to get worse before you get better. Committing to a new stroke often means losing matches for months while it becomes second nature. "I'm too old to change" is a belief, not a fact — the biggest barrier to improvement is usually ego and fear of short-term losses, not age. Waiting for the first year of a new age group to make changes is a trap. The work needs to start now, regardless of where you are in your current bracket. Breakthroughs happen after long plateaus, not steady progress — most players quit right before the jump that would've paid off. A new stroke has to be tested in real competition, not just practice, or you'll never trust it under pressure. There's no shortcut. The "one quick tip" videos aren't wrong, but they leave out the hours of repetition required to make it real. ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 – Coming Up / Show Introduction 2:04 – Why "More of the Same" Wasn't Enough (The Bill Tilden Story) 5:01 – Rebuilding a Weapon: Transforming the Forehand and Backhand 8:01 – Trust the Process: Testing New Strokes Under Competition Pressure 10:05 – The Age-Group Myth: Why Waiting for a Fresh Start Is a Trap 13:00 – One Thing at a Time: The Sword and Shield Approach 14:43 – "I'm Too Old to Change" — Is That True? 18:33 – Why "One Quick Fix" Videos Are Lying to You 19:11 – Final Advice: Find Your Weapon and Enjoy the Process 20:31 – Show Wrap Up

3. Tennis Over 50: Stop Blaming Your Shots - Your Balance Is Killing Your Game I Richard Brice

   Jul 7, 202620 min

   👉 Take my FREE 5-Day Match Ready Challenge: https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081 and be match ready as soon as you're get on the court. You'd think good balance just means you don't tip over on changeovers. Richard Brice has assessed hundreds of senior players. Nearly every one of them has a balance problem — and most have no idea it's the reason their serve lost power, their nerves spike at 4-4, and that ache in their knees they keep blaming on age. In this episode, Richard breaks down why balance is the hidden system running everything on court — and what happens the moment your brain stops trusting it. Key Takeaways Richard's assessed hundreds of players over 50 for balance, and almost none of them came back clean — a handful, he wasn't sure it was even safe for them to keep playing. Your brain won't let you sprint or swing at full power if it doesn't trust your balance system, no matter how hard you try to push through it. There's a specific reflex tied to balance that decides whether you can keep your head still through contact — and most players can't force it. Feeling steady on your 3 a.m. walk to the bathroom tells you nothing about how your balance holds up mid-rally. A simple one-leg test says more about your on-court balance than you'd expect, and most players over 50 blow it in under 15 seconds. The focus and shot-selection problems you blame on nerves might actually be your brain running out of bandwidth for a different reason. Richard admits his own balance issues used to wreck his matches before he ever knew what was going on. Richard Brice – TennisHacker.net YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TennisHacker ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 - Coming Up & Show Introduction 02:15 - Why Almost No Senior Player Passes the Balance Test 03:10 - Your Brain Overrides Your Power, Rotation, and Head Stability 06:02 - Why Daily Balance Doesn't Mean Court Balance 07:29 - The Simple Test Most Players Fail in Under 15 Seconds 10:11 - Drills to Retrain Your Eyes and Balance System 11:54 - The Real Reason for Bad Shot Selection and Match Nerves 14:10 - How Movement Training Ties Back to Balance 15:47 - Why This Matters for Playing Into Your 80s 16:54 - Richard's Own Battle With Balance and Anxiety 18:34 - Where to Find Richard 19:12 - Show Wrap Up

4. Pain vs Injury: What Every Tennis Player Gets Wrong I Richard Brice

   Jun 30, 202620 min

   👉 Take my 5-Day Match Ready Challenge: https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081 and be match ready as soon as you're get on the court. Richard Brice spent 17 years in chronic pain before he figured out what was driving it — and it wasn't weak muscles or tight hamstrings. It was his brain. Richard joined me on Insider's Playbook to break down why most senior tennis players over 50 are fighting a nervous system that's trying to protect them — and what that means for every ache, every flare-up, and every time you've limped off court convinced something was broken when nothing was. If tennis elbow, back pain, or nagging joint pain keeps pulling you off court, this one's worth your time. Key Takeaways Why pain and injury are not the same thing — and why that matters every time something hurts on court The real reason modern technique causes so many shoulder, elbow, and forearm problems in senior players How your balance system is secretly driving most of your back, knee, and foot pain The one daily habit Richard says does more for joint health and injury prevention than anything else The simple head-tracking drill that reveals exactly how compromised your balance system is Why playing more tennis — even with strong gym muscles — can still wreck your tendons The coordination problem that causes most actual injuries, and why strength training alone won't fix it Richard Brice – TennisHacker.net YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TennisHacker ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 — Show Preview & Introduction 2:14 — Why Pain Doesn't Mean You're Injured 5:14 — The Real Cause of Shoulder, Elbow & Tennis Elbow Pain 7:29 — Why Volume & Off-Court Training Both Matter 8:45 — How Your Balance System Creates Back, Knee & Foot Pain 11:51 — The Head-Tracking Drill That Trains Your Balance System 14:11 — The One Daily Habit That Protects Every Joint 17:42 — Why Poor Coordination Causes Most Actual Injuries 18:56 — Show Wrap Up

5. The Week Before Your Tournament Is Your Biggest Mistake I Nathan Martin

   Jun 23, 202624 min

   Free Challenge - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Tired of taking a set to find your game? Try the free 5-day challenge that has you walking onto the court ready from the very first point. Episode Description: If you've ever dragged yourself onto the court the day after a grueling multi-match tournament day — singles, doubles, repeat — this episode is the debrief you needed. Nathan Martin from Tennis Fitness returns for his third appearance on Insider's Playbook to break down exactly how competitive players over 50 should approach tournament preparation, in-tournament fueling, and post-match recovery. This isn't general wellness advice. This is a system built for senior players who are still competing hard. Key Takeaways: How far out to start preparing — 6-10 weeks for a big one, 2-4 for smaller events Why training through smaller tournaments (instead of resting) can add 80-100 extra workouts to your year The simple bodyweight hydration formula every player should know What to eat before, during, and after matches (and whether a cold beer counts as post-match carbs) Why sleep and hydration are your two non-negotiables — and why sleep beats an ice bath every time The 20-minute nap rule and why you must set an alarm What to actually do the day after a heavy tournament weekend Nathan Martin – TennisFitness.com : www.tennisfitness.com Over 40’s Strength, Movement and Mobility Program https://www.memberstennisfitness.com/over-40-strength-movement-mobility ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — Coming Up — Show Introduction 00:39 — Tournament Prep: How Far Out Should Senior Players Start 08:28 — Nutrition and Hydration: What to Eat and Drink on Match Day 14:57 — Recovery: Why Sleep Beats Every Ice Bath and Sauna 17:43 — Managing Singles and Doubles in the Same Tournament Day 20:25 — Day After Recovery: Rest, Foam Roll, and Time 23:37 — Show Wrap Up #TennisOver50 #SeniorTennis #TennisFitness #TournamentPrep #TennisTraining #TennisRecovery #TennisHydration #TennisPerformance #SeniorAthlete #CompetitiveTennis #TennisHealth #TennisWorkout #NathanMartin #InsidersPlaybook #SeniorTennisUnpacked

6. Why 'Watch the Ball' Is the Worst Advice in Senior Tennis I Richard Brice

   Jun 16, 202624 min

   7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community You've spent years fixing your forehand, tweaking your footwork, and drilling your backhand — and you're still making the same mistakes. Richard Brice, vision and brain-based training specialist, makes an uncomfortable case: the problem was never your strokes. The problem is your visual system is declining, you're "hit and admiring" instead of recovering, and you're wiring your brain to look at bright screens four to five hours a day — then wondering why you can't judge a 60-mph ball. We get into why watching the ball at contact is the last thing you should worry about, why your T-Rex forehand is a spacing problem not a technique problem, and what a string with a few beads on it can do for your game that no amount of drilling ever will. Key Takeaways: · Recovery beats vision every time. "Hit and admire" — watching your ball instead of resetting — is the #1 performance killer, and it throws everything that comes after it off. · Late prep, bad spacing, and mis-timed swings are all vision problems. Those aren't technique issues — they're almost entirely driven by how well your visual system is functioning. · Watching the ball at contact is the icing, not the cake. Djokovic has won more than anyone alive while already looking down the other end on half his forehands — fix the underlying problems first. · Screen time is wrecking your visual system. Four to five hours a day on phones and TVs trains your eyes for up-close bright screens, not for reading a tennis ball — ten minutes of distance gazing a day is the counter. · The Brock String is the one tool worth owning. A string with a few beads on it tests and trains whether your brain is fusing both eyes together — the foundation of depth perception and distance judgment on court. · Vision training structurally rewires your brain in 8–10 weeks. An hour a week is enough to produce measurable changes that stick for months — three 20-minute sessions a week gets you there. "So many of the best players in the world don't watch the ball at contact." — Richard Brice "The number one problem for most players is not recovering after the previous shot." — Richard Brice Richard Brice – TennisHacker.net YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TennisHacker ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 — Introduction 1:32 — What "using your eyes well" really means in senior tennis 3:02 — The #1 mistake players over 50 make (it's NOT watching the ball) 5:43 — How to tell if your vision is holding you back 7:06 — The truth about watching the ball through to contact 9:21 — Vision, spacing, and why your T-Rex forehand is a spacing problem 15:27 — Screen time is wrecking your game — here's the fix 16:44 — The Brock String explained — and how to use it 18:47 — How long does vision training take? 22:50 — Connect with Richard Brice / Show Wrap Up #SeniorTennis #TennisTips #TennisVision #Over50Tennis #TennisTraining #MastersTennis #TennisPerformance

7. Anticipation Beats Speed After 50 — Here's Why I Nathan Martin

   Jun 9, 202621 min

   7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community Your reaction time is only declining 2–6 milliseconds per decade — and that decline is trainable. The real reason you feel slow on court isn't age. It's anticipation. Tennis Fitness Coach Nathan Martin joins the Insider's Playbook to break down the science of reaction time and tennis agility after 50 — including the specific drills that can produce measurable improvement in as little as six to eight weeks. Key Takeaways: · Reaction time declines 2–6 milliseconds per decade and power output drops 3–5% per decade after 50 — but both are trainable · Anticipation beats raw speed because it covers for physical decline — Martina Hingis was living proof at the highest level · Neural gains (hand-eye coordination, reaction) can show up in as little as 2–4 weeks; movement and change-of-direction gains take 6–8 weeks · Agility training needs to be done at — or above — the intensity you want to compete at, or the body won't adapt · Combine non-reactive drills (cones, set patterns) with reactive drills (unpredictable ball release) in every session for the most bang for buck · The hunter mindset isn't motivational fluff — Nathan trained Lleyton Hewitt on it, and it's what drives anticipation up and self-doubt out · One strength session plus two agility sessions per week is Nathan's 90-day prescription for moving better on court Nathan Martin – TennisFitness.com : www.tennisfitness.com Over 40’s Strength, Movement and Mobility Program https://www.memberstennisfitness.com/over-40-strength-movement-mobility ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 Coming Up - Show Introduction 2:14 How Much Do Speed & Reaction Time Decline After 50? 7:01 Anticipation vs. Raw Speed — Which Matters More? 9:24 Can You Actually Train Anticipation? 10:28 The Urgency Mindset That Unlocks Anticipation 11:37 The Lleyton Hewitt Hunter Mindset 13:10 The Most Effective Agility Drills for Match Play 15:01 Reactive vs. Non-Reactive Drills — The Key Difference 16:49 Can You Train Anticipation Solo? 17:36 The 90-Day Plan to Move Better on Court 20:10 Show Wrap Up #TennisFitness #SeniorTennis #TennisTraining #Over50Fitness #TennisLife #AgilityTraining #SeniorAthletes #TennisTips #FitOver50 #MastersTennis

8. Miss Less, Win More: Consistency for Senior Players I Jonathan Stokke

   Jun 2, 202619 min

   7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community Episode Description Jonathan Stokke is back for his third appearance, and this time we're getting into the one thing that beats pace, power, and fancy shot-making at every recreational level — consistency. Not the "just keep it in play" advice you've heard a hundred times. Jonathan breaks down exactly why senior players give away points they should be winning, what speed you should be hitting at on any given day, and why your ego is probably your worst opponent on the court. Key Takeaways Winners don't happen on command — your opponents will miss for free if you stop helping them Your job number one from the baseline in doubles is simply to make the ball — everything else is job two and three The driving analogy: your shot speed needs to match conditions, not your ego You don't hit where you aim — and that's actually an argument for aiming middle, not against it The Stokke Six: the six most common ways recreational players give points away, and the three that show up most in doubles Hit as fast as you can and as close to the lines as you can — knowing you can still make the ball The 2% principle: you don't jump a level by thinking harder, you get there by earning slightly better reps Jonathan Stokke: www.stokketenniscoaching.com Stokke Doubles Academy: https://www.skool.com/stokke-doubles-academy/about ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — Coming Up - Show Introduction 01:42 — Winners Don't Happen on Command 02:46 — Help Them Miss: The Real Strategy 03:57 — Job One from the Baseline: Make the Ball 05:26 — Match Your Speed to Conditions 08:24 — Shot Selection: Do Less, Win More 11:36 — The Stokke Six: Where Points Go to Die 14:43 — The Ego Check: What It Really Takes to Level Up 15:50 — Hit As Fast as You Can — Knowing You Can Make It 17:49 — Show Wrap Up #SeniorTennis #TennisTips #ConsistencyWins #DoublesTennis #TennisStrategy #RecreationalTennis #JonathanStokke #InsidersPlaybook 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — 7 DAY FREE TRIAL Every match teaches you something. Senior Tennis Unpacked is where competitive 50+ players break down what went wrong and learn together what it takes to compete better and win more matches. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about

9. Stop Playing Old, Weak Tennis - This Is All It Takes I Nathan Martin

   May 26, 202620 min

   7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community If you're over 50 and skipping the weight room because you think it'll wreck your joints or wear you out before match day — this episode is going to change your mind. Nathan Martin from Tennis Fitness breaks down exactly why strength training isn't optional anymore at our age, why the light-weight-high-rep approach most of us default to is keeping us on the decline, and how just two focused sessions a week can stop the muscle loss, improve your balance, and actually make you a more powerful player on the court. No bro-science, no six-day splits — just what works for competitive senior players who want to stay in the game. Key Takeaways: You're losing up to 3% of your muscle mass every decade after 50 — and most of what we do in the gym isn't enough to stop it Light weight, high reps is a maintenance myth — if you're not fatiguing by rep 8-10, you're still on the decline train Two strength sessions a week is the target — done right, that's enough to build muscle, improve balance, and boost on-court power Free weights and bodyweight beat pin-loaded machines — machines reduce the joint stability work your tennis game actually depends on Taper into tournaments, don't stop lifting — shift to unilateral, rotation-based work as match day approaches Six to eight weeks to start seeing real gains — but only if you're progressively overloading, not just going through the motions Nathan Martin – TennisFitness.com : www.tennisfitness.com Over 40’s Strength, Movement and Mobility Program https://www.memberstennisfitness.com/over-40-strength-movement-mobility #tennistips #tennistrategy #seniortennis #seniorfitness #tennisstrengthtraining #over50fitness #tennisfitness #tennisworkout #tennisover50 ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Show Introduction 01:52 Why Strength Training Is Non-Negotiable After 50 03:03 How Strength Training Fixes Your Balance 05:20 The Muscle Groups That Matter Most for Senior Tennis 06:32 How Often Should You Actually Be Lifting 08:51 Free Weights vs. Machines vs. Bodyweight 10:01 The Mistakes Senior Players Make in the Gym 11:25 Coming Back From Injury — Where to Start 12:31 How to Balance Lifting With Match Play and Tournaments 14:55 How Long Until You See Real Gains 18:04 Show Wrap Up 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — 7 DAY FREE TRIAL Every match teaches you something. Senior Tennis Unpacked is where competitive 50+ players break down what went wrong and learn together what it actually takes to compete better and win more matches. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about

10. Fix Your Overhead: Neutralize the Most Annoying Shot I Jonathan Stokke

    May 19, 202618 min

    7 Day Free Trail - https://bit.ly/stu-skool Senior Tennis Unpacked Community 📄 Episode Description We all know the feeling: you're at the net, feeling like a pro, until that high, slow ball goes up and suddenly you're backpedaling like a panicked crab. Most of us hate lobs because we're terrified of our own overheads, but the truth is, we're making it way harder than it needs to be by taking dangerous technical shortcuts. In this episode, Jonathan Stokke breaks down why the "lobber" isn't actually your enemy — your overhead is — and shares a simple spacing rule that allows even players with limited mobility to turn that "annoying" shot into a point-ending smash. ✅ Key Takeaways · The "Secret" Source of Hate: Why your frustration with lobbers is actually a "bad overhead" problem in disguise. · The Shortcut Trap: Why backpedaling is the "number one" technical mistake that ruins your balance and your overhead. · The Serve Hack: A simple visualization to turn your overhead from a "swat" into a controlled, abbreviated serve. · The One-Yard Rule: How getting just one yard behind the service line allows you to cover 90% of lobs without ever needing to jump. · Predicting the Future: How to "read the mail" and know a lob is coming before your opponent even hits it. Jonathan Stokke: www.stokketenniscoaching.com Stokke Doubles Academy: https://www.skool.com/stokke-doubles-academy/about ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up / Introduction 01:52 The "Secret" Source of Hate: It's Really a Bad Overhead Problem 05:12 The One-Yard Rule: Cover 90% of Lobs Without Jumping 06:29 The Shortcut Trap: Why Backpedaling Destroys Your Balance 07:31 The Serve Hack: Turn Your Overhead Into an Abbreviated Serve 13:47 Key Takeaways: Lob Strategy + Predicting the Future 16:11 Show Wrap-Up 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — 7 DAY FREE TRIAL Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. 👉 https://bit.ly/stu-skool

11. The Tennis Footwork Myth Killing Senior Players (Do This Instead) I John Craig

    May 12, 202619 min

    📋 Episode Description Most senior players think they move badly because they're slow. John Craig says that's the wrong diagnosis entirely. In this episode, John — whose "Footplay" system has transformed movement for players well into their 70s — reveals why chasing speed is a trap, and why the real unlock is rhythm, continuous motion, and learning to touch the court instead of hit it. Whether you're stuck flat-footed at the baseline or losing the net battle in doubles, this conversation will completely reframe how you think about your feet — and why your strokes have been suffering for it. 🎯 Key Takeaways "Footwork" is the wrong word. It implies effort and strain. John calls it "footplay" — and that mindset shift alone changes how your body moves on court. Your strokes follow your feet, not the other way around. If your groundstrokes are breaking down, the problem probably isn't your swing. The #1 mistake senior players make: Standing still. Movement isn't about speed — it's about staying in motion. The moment you stop, your athletic switch turns off. Learn to "touch" the court, not "hit" it. Soft knees, soft ankles, springboard feel — this is what keeps you light, balanced, and injury-resistant as you age. The split step doesn't have to leave the ground. A small weight shift on opponent contact is enough to keep your athletic switch on and your reaction time sharp. Contact John Craig: https://performanceplustennis.com/john-craig-director/ http://www.youtube.com/@PerformancePlusTennis ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up - Introduction 02:14 Why "Footwork" Is the Wrong Word 04:09 It's Not About Speed — It's About Rhythm 05:34 Mastering the Up-and-Back Game 08:13 How to Train Movement Without Getting Hurt 13:10 Transition Shots: The Approach and Mid-Court Ball 14:41 Off-Court Training and the Float Like Ali Mindset 17:15 Show Wrap-Up 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — FREE Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. Find your people. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about 🎾 ABOUT SENIOR TENNIS UNPACKED The go-to resource for competitive tennis players over 50 who want to win smarter and compete longer. 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

12. Your Net Position Is Wrong — The Real Reason Your Doubles Poaches Fail I Jonathan Stokke

    May 5, 202622 min

    📄 Episode Description Most doubles players think poaching is a gamble — a wing-and-a-prayer lunge you attempt when you "feel it." Jonathan Stokke says that's exactly backwards. In this episode of Insider's Playbook, Stokke breaks down why 99% of his poaches are pre-planned before the ball is struck, why standing near the singles sideline is quietly killing your net game, and why the real default at the net isn't "hold your position" — it's move . If you've ever gotten burned down the line and retreated to your corner, this conversation will rewire how you think about your entire role as a net player. ✅ Key Takeaways · Poaching is a decision, not a reaction — Stokke commits to the cross-court before his opponent swings. If you're waiting to "read" the ball, you're already late. · The math is on your side — 75–90% of returns go cross-court at every level. You don't need to be a mind reader. You need to trust the percentage. · Your starting position is probably wrong — Standing close to the singles sideline forces you to run to the poach. Move your inside foot 5–6 feet from the center service line and suddenly it's a step and a half, not a sprint. · Flip the default — Poaching should be your go-to; staying is the mix-up. Most rec players have this exactly reversed, and it's why they never build real poaching confidence. · Getting burned is part of the deal — Every bad rep is a rep off your learning curve. Stokke's mindset: five missed poaches means five fewer standing between you and doing it well. · with the wrong pattern just grooves the wrong pattern 250 times. Jonathan Stokke: www.stokketenniscoaching.com Stokke Doubles Academy: https://www.skool.com/stokke-doubles-academy/about #TennisTips #DoublesStrategy #SeniorTennis #TennisCoaching #USTATennis #TennisLife #NetPlay #RecreationalTennis ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro: Reactor or Decider 01:58 What a True Poach Actually Is 03:50 The 75-90% Rule: Why Math Favors You 07:06 Your Real Job at the Net 09:53 Where to Stand: The Position Most Players Get Wrong 12:45 When to Poach During a Live Rally 14:42 How to Start Adding This to Your Game 17:59 The 4.5 Move Any 3.5 Can Use 19:53 Find Stokke online 20:52 Show Wrap Up & Key Takeaways 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — FREE Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. Find your people. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about 🎾 ABOUT SENIOR TENNIS UNPACKED The go-to resource for competitive tennis players over 50 who want to win smarter and compete longer. 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

13. Why Your Serve Is Getting Worse — And It Has Nothing to Do With Your Arm I John Craig

    Apr 28, 202622 min

    If your serve has quietly gotten shorter, slower, and less reliable over the last few years, you've probably blamed your shoulder, your elbow, or just "getting older." John Craig has coached hundreds of senior players over 40 years and says the real culprit is almost never what you think — and the fixes most players are chasing are making it worse. In this episode, we get into what breaks down first as we age, why stability beats jumping every time, how grip tension is silently killing your racket head speed, and why hunting serve tips on YouTube is basically building a jalopy out of junkyard parts. Key Takeaways: Stability over jumping — You lose almost no power by keeping your feet on the ground. What you lose is control when you don't. Tension is the silent killer — The death grip doesn't just hurt your speed, it masks every other problem in your serve. Fix this first. The racket drop isn't a move — it's a byproduct — Stop trying to manufacture it. Relax, sequence correctly, and it happens on its own. The frying pan grip has a ceiling — If you're still serving Eastern forehand, John explains exactly why your serve will never get where you want it — and how to test whether your mobility even allows the transition. Quality over buckets — Shadow your serve before you touch a ball, and separate technical work from target practice. Hitting 250 balls with the wrong pattern just grooves the wrong pattern 250 times. Contact John Craig: https://performanceplustennis.com/john-craig-director/ http://www.youtube.com/@PerformancePlusTennis #tennistips #tennistrategy #seniortennis #tennisserve #tennisover50 ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:17 What Actually Breaks Down as We Age 03:14 Control Over Power: The Senior Serve Mindset 05:49 Grip Tension: The Silent Serve Killer 07:12 Trophy Position, Racket Drop & Toss Mechanics 11:27 How to Practice Your Serve the Right Way 13:14 The Frying Pan Grip: Can You Actually Make the Switch? 17:20 Fitness, Patience & Stop Building a Jalopy 19:13 What John Is Working On + How to Find Him 21:21 Show Wrap up & Key Takeaways 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — FREE Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. JOIN FREE 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about 🎾 ABOUT SENIOR TENNIS UNPACKED The go-to resource for competitive tennis players over 50 who want to win smarter and compete longer. 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

14. Before You Let Them Cut: Protecting Your Tennis Career After 50 I Dr. William Kang

    Apr 21, 202617 min

    Every competitive tennis player over 50 will eventually sit in a surgeon's office. Most walk in completely unprepared. In this episode, orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Kang — who plays and treats tennis players — gives you the exact questions to ask before agreeing to surgery, the truth about PRP and whether it's worth your money, and the recovery timeline reality that most players get completely wrong. What you'll learn: The 3 questions to ask any surgeon before going under the knife Why PRP beats steroid injections for tennis injuries The "year after the year" recovery truth no one tells you How to read your body's signals before things get serious Dr. Will Kang is an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Black Tie Orthopedics, a practice specializing in non-operative treatment of tennis injuries. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktieortho/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@BlackTieOrthopedics #SeniorTennis #TennisInjuries #TennisFitness #Over50Tennis #TennisHealth #OrthopedicSurgeon #TennisRecovery #CompetitiveTennis #USTA #SeniorAthletes ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Before You Let Them Cut (Intro) 01:18 Why 50 is Young in an Orthopedic Office 03:05 The 3 Questions to Ask Before Any Surgery 07:26 Mike's Toe Surgery — What He Wish He'd Known 08:08 PRP vs. Steroid Injections — What's Actually Worth Your Money 12:13 Where Most Players Go Wrong in Recovery 14:29 What Your Surgeon Wishes You Knew Before Walking In 15:59 Recap + How to Find Dr. William Kang 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — FREE Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. Find your people. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about 🎾 ABOUT SENIOR TENNIS UNPACKED The go-to resource for competitive tennis players over 50 who want to win smarter and compete longer. 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

15. Stop Ignoring These Injuries Before They End Your Tennis Career I Dr. William Kang

    Apr 14, 202618 min

    What ends senior tennis careers isn't one big injury — it's the slow accumulation of small ones you kept playing through. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Will Kang explains exactly what to watch for before it's too late. In this episode, Dr. Kang breaks down the three most career-threatening injuries for players over 50 — tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears, and knee degeneration — and delivers some hard truths your regular doctor probably hasn't told you. What you'll learn: → Why your tennis elbow brace is making things WORSE (and the simple band exercise that fixes it) → The truth about rotator cuff pain — why it's often a "red herring" and what it's really telling you → The meniscus surgery warning every senior player needs to hear before going under the knife → How injury patterns change as your game improves — and what that means for protecting your knees → Why replacing one joint sets off a cascade of problems in nearby joints The Copenhagen Heart Study says tennis adds 10 years to your life. But only if you're still playing. Dr. Will Kang is an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Black Tie Orthopedics, a practice specializing in non-operative treatment of tennis injuries. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktieortho/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@BlackTieOrthopedics #TennisElbowTreatment #TennisElbowExercises #TennisElbow #RotatorCuffTennis #TennisInjuries #KneePain #SportsInjuries #TennisInjuryPreventionOver50 #SeniorTennisTips #SeniorTennis #TennisTips #OrthopedicSurgeonTennis #MeniscusSurgeryRecovery ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro - How Senior Tennis Careers Really End 01:17 The Injury Cascade: Why It's Never Just One Thing 03:04 Does Playing Sports Your Whole Life Help or Hurt? 03:55 Tennis Elbow: Catch It Early or Pay the Price 07:05 Rotator Cuff: The Injury You Don't See Coming 10:15 Why Better Players Get the Knee Problems 11:34 Knees - Meniscus, Arthritis, and What Your Doctor May Not Tell You 15:18 Tennis Adds 10 Years to Your Life — If You Stay on the Court 16:45 Show Wrap Up 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Get Fit, Get Strong A performance guide built specifically for senior tennis players who want to move better and last longer on court. 👉 https://subscribe.seniortennisunpacked.com/GFGS1 🔑 THE MATCH INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM™ A complete framework for early opponent reads and in-match adjustments — built for senior tennis doubles and singles players who want to play smarter, not harder. 👉 http://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com/match-system

16. Top 10 Reasons Most Seniors Never Reach 4.0 (And Stay Stuck at 3.5) Part 2 I Peter Freeman

    Apr 7, 202634 min

    Attention 50+ tennis players, we're picking up right where we left off — no small talk, no warm-up, straight into Reason 6. In Part 2 of this conversation with Peter Freeman, we finish the list: serve clarity, the hunter vs. hunted trap, second serve domination, the difference between Dr. Feel Good and Dr. Feel Bad practices, and the one doubles mindset shift that most senior players never make. If Part 1 was about what's going on in your head, Part 2 is about what's going on in your matches — and why the same things keep going wrong no matter how much you practice. Key Takeaways: Most seniors don't have a real second serve — and at the 3.5 level, that's the single biggest line of demarcation between where you are and where you want to be. You think you're attacking when you come to the net on a short ball. Your counter-punching opponent thinks you're walking into a trap. There's a difference between being the hunter and being the hunted — and most players don't know which one they are. There are only three returns you need to master to dominate on second serves in doubles — and most players practice none of them. Dr. Feel Good practices build rhythm and confidence. Dr. Feel Bad practices build match toughness. Most senior players only do one of them. Winning doubles isn't about how good you feel on the court — it's about how good you make your partner feel. That's not soft advice. It's the actual strategy. Peter Freeman’s Slice Serve MD https://crunchtimecoaching.com/tennis-thrive/slice-md-op/ Chapter Timeline: 00:00 Episode 27 Introduction 01:09 #6 Seniors Have Not Serve Clarity 08:59 #7 Most Seniors Unknowingly Become the Hunted, Not the Hunter 15:06 #8 Seniors Don't Practice Second Serve Domination 20:16 #9 Only Have Dr. Feelgood Practices! 26:01 #10 Focus on How You Feel About Your Game & Your Experience 31:13 Slice Serve MD 33:17 Episode Wrap Up & Key Takeaways 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Get Fit, Get Strong A performance guide built specifically for senior tennis players who want to move better and last longer on court. 👉 https://subscribe.seniortennisunpacked.com/GFGS1 🔑 THE MATCH INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM™ A complete framework for early opponent reads and in-match adjustments — built for senior tennis doubles and singles players who want to play smarter, not harder. 👉 http://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com/match-system

17. Top 10 Reasons Most Seniors Never Reach 4.0 (And Stay Stuck at 3.5) Part 1 I Peter Freeman

    Mar 31, 202635 min

    Peter Freeman has coached players at every level — and after years of watching obsessed adult players hit a wall at 3.5, he built a list of exactly why they stay stuck. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Peter breaks down the first five reasons most senior players never make the jump to 4.0 — and none of them are about your strokes. We're talking limiting beliefs that were wired into you before you ever picked up a racket, the patience trap that's quietly killing your development, the Tin Cup problem that's costing you matches you should be winning, why your footwork is broken in a way you can't see, and the singles obsession that's sabotaging your doubles game. Key Takeaways: The "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" belief isn't just discouraging — it's the #1 reason players stop developing, and most seniors don't even realize they're carrying it into every match. Five minutes of focused shadow strokes daily will outperform hours of unfocused ball-hitting — and most players will quit before they see it working. The Tin Cup trap: having beautiful strokes means nothing if you're using them at the wrong moment. Knowing when to go for it versus when to put it in play is the real skill. Footwork and foot speed are not the same thing — and seniors who confuse them are leaving the single biggest competitive edge on the table. If you mostly watch singles to get better at doubles, you're studying the wrong game entirely. Peter Freeman’s Slice Serve MD https://crunchtimecoaching.com/tennis-thrive/slice-md-op/ Chapter Timeline: 00:00 Episode 27 Introduction 01:38 Introduction and Background 06:35 #1 Limiting Beliefs 11:10 #2 No Patience for Real Change 14:32 #3 Not Realistic On How to Use Advanced Technique You Developed 20:14 #4 Seniors confuse Footwork with Footspeed 29:08 #5 Most Seniors Study Singles but Play Doubles 32:11 #6 Seniors Have Not Serve Clarity 32:12 Slice Serve MD 34:16 Show Wrap Up 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Get Fit, Get Strong A performance guide built specifically for senior tennis players who want to move better and last longer on court. 👉 https://subscribe.seniortennisunpacked.com/GFGS1 🔑 THE MATCH INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM™ A complete framework for early opponent reads and in-match adjustments — built for senior tennis doubles and singles players who want to play smarter, not harder. 👉 http://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com/match-system

18. Stop Beating Yourself Up: The Mental Shift for 50+ Tennis I Tommy Rounds

    Mar 24, 202615 min

    Most senior players walk off the court replaying every missed shot like a personal failure — but pro poker player Tommy Rounds says that's exactly the thinking that's costing you matches before you even pick up your racquet. In this episode, Tommy breaks down the concept of expected value and how thinking like a poker pro — evaluating the quality of your decisions rather than the outcome of any single shot — can flatten your emotional swings, sharpen your shot selection under pressure, and finally get you out of that post-match spiral where every error feels like proof your game is falling apart. Key Takeaways A missed shot isn't automatically a bad decision — outcomes and decision quality are not the same thing Chasing "safe" results on big points often costs you more in the long run than playing your game You can't control whether the ball goes in, but you can control whether you made the right call Emotional steadiness isn't a personality trait — it's a byproduct of trusting a process You bring what you bring into a match that day — train it, trust it, and stop prosecuting yourself for the rest Contact Tommy Rounds 📧 email: tommy@gamesetmatchanalytics.com 🖥️ Website: https://www.gamesetmatchanalytics.com Chapter Timeline: 00:00 Insider's Playbook Intro 01:01 Understanding Expected Value (EV) 01:49 Managing Emotions in the Heat of the Moment 02:21 The Long Game vs. Single Outcomes 03:21 Applying Poker Logic to Tennis Break Points 04:46 Psychological Costs of Results-Oriented Thinking 06:07 Evaluating Decision Quality in Real-Time 08:01 Building Trust in Strategy During Slumps 09:19 Emotional Control and Staying in the Moment 10:37 Shot Selection and Risk Management 11:23 Mindset Shift: Process Over Results 12:17 Trusting Your Skill Level on Match Day 13:59 Episode Wrap Up 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Get Fit, Get Strong A performance guide built specifically for senior tennis players who want to move better and last longer on court. 👉 https://subscribe.seniortennisunpacked.com/GFGS1 🔑 THE MATCH INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM™ A complete framework for early opponent reads and in-match adjustments — built for senior tennis doubles and singles players who want to play smarter, not harder. 👉 http://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com/match-system

19. They Know Your Next Shot Before You Hit It I Tommy Rounds

    Mar 17, 202619 min

    What does poker strategy have to do with your tennis game? More than you think. In this episode of Insider's Playbook, Mike Rogers sits down with Tommy Rounds — professional poker player and tennis strategy analyst — to explore one of the most overlooked problems in competitive senior tennis: predictability. Most players over 50 spend their match prep time studying opponents. Tommy argues you're missing half the equation. The best poker players in the world spend 80 to 90 percent of their preparation analyzing their own tendencies — and the strongest tennis players do the same thing. In this episode you'll discover: Why predictable players are essentially competing with their cards face up — and how opponents use that against you The "scout yourself" exercise: how to build your own scouting report before your opponent does it for you How Alcaraz uses the drop shot as a strategic bluff — and what that means for your game at any level The critical difference between pattern-based weaknesses and structural weaknesses, and why it changes how aggressively you should exploit each one One simple serve adjustment that makes you significantly harder to read starting in your very next match Why always going to the backhand on big points can quietly make you the most predictable player on the court Whether you're competing in USTA League play, senior tournaments, or just trying to finally beat that one guy at your club who seems to read everything you do — this conversation will change how you think about match preparation. Contact Tommy Rounds 📧 email: tommy@gamesetmatchanalytics.com 🖥️ Website: https://www.gamesetmatchanalytics.com Chapter Timeline: 0:00 – Intro: Are You an Open Book on the Court? 1:31 – Meet Tommy Rounds 1:42 – What Does "Exploitable" Mean in Poker? 2:27 – How Pro Poker Players Balance Their Game 3:30 – What Happens When You're Too Predictable? 4:19 – How Predictability Shows Up in Tennis 5:40 – The Scout Yourself Exercise 7:21 – Scouting vs. Beating Yourself Up 8:03 – Even the Pros Have Tells 8:42 – Why We Keep Repeating What's Comfortable 0:09 – How to Bluff in Tennis (The Alcaraz Drop Shot) 12:08 – The Serve Variation Nobody Uses Enough 12:28 – Why Always Going to the Backhand Can Backfire 13:19 – Pattern Weaknesses vs. Structural Weaknesses 14:47 – One Simple Adjustment for Your Next Match 16:38 – Tommy's Final Advice 17:27 – Key Takeaways + Outro 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Get Fit, Get Strong A performance guide built specifically for senior tennis players who want to move better and last longer on court. 👉 https://subscribe.seniortennisunpacked.com/GFGS1 🔑 THE MATCH INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM™ A complete framework for early opponent reads and in-match adjustments — built for senior tennis doubles and singles players who want to play smarter, not harder. 👉 http://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com/match-system

20. Stop Getting Fooled: Poker Strategy That Makes 50+ Tennis Players Unbeatable I Tommy Rounds

    Mar 10, 202619 min

    Learn how to read opponents like a poker pro and win more senior tennis matches by spotting real patterns instead of falling for fake “hot streaks.” In this episode, former college tennis player and 20‑year high‑stakes professional poker player Tommy Rounds breaks down the difference between emotional “tells” and true statistical tendencies, then shows you how to apply game theory, probability, and data‑driven decision making to your serve, return, and rally patterns. If you’re a competitive player over 50 who wants smarter strategy, better shot selection, and higher‑percentage tactics without needing younger legs or bigger weapons, this conversation will change how you see every match. Contact Tommy Rounds 📧 email: tommy@gamesetmatchanalytics.com 🖥️ Website: https://www.gamesetmatchanalytics.com Key Takeaways: How to tell the difference between a fake “hot streak” and a real, repeatable pattern in your opponent’s game Why emotional “tells” and body language can mislead you—and what to pay attention to instead Simple ways to track serve, return, and rally patterns without overthinking during points When to trust your gut instinct versus when to rely on actual data from the match How to use poker-style game theory and probability to make smarter, higher‑percentage decisions in senior tennis A practical rule of thumb for reading opponents more accurately and making them uncomfortable on court Chapter Timeline: 00:00 Episode & Guest Introduction 01:20 Reading Patterns vs. Reading People 08:58 Fake Hot Streak vs Real Strength 13:39 One Simple Rule to Read Opponents 18:24 Understanding Opponent Patterns 18:24 Final Thoughts 19:12 Insiders Playbook Outro.mp4 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Get Fit, Get Strong A performance guide built specifically for senior tennis players who want to move better and last longer on court. 👉 https://subscribe.seniortennisunpacked.com/GFGS1 🔑 THE MATCH INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM™ A complete framework for early opponent reads and in-match adjustments — built for senior tennis doubles and singles players who want to play smarter, not harder. 👉 http://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com/match-system