Baseline Intelligence with Jonathan Stokke

Jeff Greenwald joins us for the 62nd episode of Baseline Intelligence. Jeff is one of the premiere sports psychologists and wrote the award winning book "The Best Tennis of Your Life". We talk: 2:16 Why people get nervous 5:57 Framing "not missing" in a positive way 7:05 Step 1 to handling nerves 8:59 How expectations affect nerves 15:50 The stats he wished he knew when he was a player 18:34 Permission slips 20:33 Taking your practice game to the match court 29:10 Building confidence 30:36 Best advice for the 4.0 player ** Click here if you're interested in my NYC doubles camp this August! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1iMPjmHuupuQhKSGkwEiP7hdXoqIgWMCXOn2aFE050t0wVg/viewform?usp=sf_link You can also email me directly with any questions you have about the NYC doubles camp at jonathan@stokketennis.com

Scott Fawcett is our guest for the 61st episode of Baseline Intelligence. Scott founded the golf analytics platform DECADE Golf, and has helped players win NCAA Championships and PGA Tour events. We talk: 1:35 Who is Scott Fawcett? 3:49 Tiger 5 statistics 10:47 Managing expectations 15:24 Solving problems 26:45 Four pennies drill 29:12 Shot patterns 41:02 Optimal strategy

We talk: 1:33 Analyzing Krueger vs. Badosa 6:04 Adapting to different court conditions 14:32 Why depth is important for your rally ball 18:45 Maria Sharapova at the French Open 24:04 When you should change directions and go down the line 30:54 Taking your practice game to the match court 34:42 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Gaby Dabrowski is our guest for the 59th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Gaby is the 2023 US Open Women's Doubles Champion and has been ranked as high as 4th in the WTA rankings. She also won the 2017 French Open and the 2018 Australian Open in Mixed Doubles. We talk: 1:35 Mixed vs. women's doubles 2:42 Returning a faster serve 4:10 Where to stand on a kick serve 5:00 Lobbing 6:24 Return targets 8:08 Players with weaker backhand volleys 10:12 Getting comfortable at the net 13:53 When to close the net 16:08 The close-lag structure 17:20 How to hit a better overhead 18:54 Communicating with your partner 21:28 Don't be a dickhead 25:10 What she wishes she knew at the beginning of her career 27:27 Best coaching advice she's ever received 29:02 What amateurs don't know about pro doubles 31:32 Best advice for the 4.0 player Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@StokkeTennis?si=4RLwRvnRepGZZyXl

Dan Kiernan is our guest for the 58th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Dan hosts the popular podcast "Control the Controllables" and currently works with the reigning US Open doubles champions Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe. We talk: 2:15 Lightning in a bottle with a doubles team 6:40 Learn how to communicate as a doubles partner 9:55 Creating stress for your opponents 14:07 What to do when you don't serve well 16:33 The extended warmup 19:33 Technique vs. tactics 23:08 The daily bill 26:03 Most transformational podcast idea 31:29 Rules of the US Open champions 32:51 Advice for the 4.0 doubles player Click here to subscribe to bonus episodes https://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/support Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@StokkeTennis?si=FUgnTwHQ19DztP4C

Jay Berger joins us for the 57th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Jay was ranked as high as 7th on the ATP tour and won 3 singles titles throughout his career. He was the head men's tennis coach at the University of Miami, was the head of men's tennis at the USTA Player Development, and currently coaches Reilly O'Pelka. We talk: 2:05 Playing with intensity 6:36 Pillars of his success 9:48 Hitting without a coach 11:45 Watch more tennis 16:01 Learning from Jose Higueras 18:34 Developing good habits on the court 23:35 Best drills to improve consistency from the baseline 26:22 Similarities between the 3.5 player and professionals 29:13 Timing your poach 31:46 Best advice for the 4.0 player Click here to subscribe to bonus episodes through captivate https://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/support Click here to subscribe to my Youtube Channel https://youtube.com/@StokkeTennis?si=FUsbjorx61kb-S66

Louis Cayer is our guest for the 56th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Louis is the premiere doubles coach in all of tennis. He's a lead coach for the LTA and has helped several players to world #1 in the ATP doubles rankings including Jamie Murray, Neal Skupski and Joel Salisbury. We talk: 1:48 Informing, forming and transforming 5:00 Louis' values and beliefs 10:52 What the world number ones have in common 13:24 Joe Salisbury's climb to ATP #1 17:38 Playing the net when you're on defense 20:49 Winning on defense 23:30 What he's learned now that he didn't when he was younger 26:42 Working with players who resist coaching 29:21 Finding a good match with your doubles partner 31:33 Best advice for the 4.0 player **Visit the link below to subscribe to bonus episodes through captivate https://baseline-intelligence-w.captivate.fm/support

On our first bonus episode we discuss second set letdowns and what we can do to get off to quicker starts in the second set. We talk: 1:31 What is a second set let down? 2:51 The unique scoring system in tennis 5:39 Three ways to get off to quicker starts 7:40 Jessica Pegula on getting off to quick starts and closing out matches 12:50 Bathroom breaks 16:40 Tactics your opponent might use to bring your energy down

Jessica Pegula joins us for the beginning of the 2024 season of Baseline Intelligence. Jess had another incredible season, winning the Montreal WTA 1000 and the Korea Open, and finished top 5 in both singles and doubles on the WTA tour. We talk: 1:25 Playing in difficult conditions 2:22 Playing downwind 5:23 Beating four straight top 10 players 6:39 Describing her rally ball 9:25 How fast she tries to hit her average rally ball 12:25 Finding your rally ball 14:58 Swing thoughts on her backhand 16:51 Backhands down the line 18:58 How she aims her groundstrokes 20:20 How she improved her serve in 2023 22:24 2024 Goals 23:18 Staying calm on the court 24:05 Turning points in her career 26:44 Best advice for the 4.0 player

We had a lot of great technical tips this year and today I'm sharing a few of my favorites. 1:12 Andy Fitzell on the time it takes to change 2:53 Andy Fitzell on hitting pure topspin 4:29 Steve Johnson on his forehand 5:52 Shelby Rogers on her backhand 6:58 Brad Stine on the backhand slice 9:03 Joel Myers on serve

We had so many great doubles tips this year and today I'm sharing a few of my favorites. 1:01 Paul Annacone on communication 2:48 Kelly Jones on basics of doubles 5:14 Mark Gellard on returning against I formation 6:42 On hitting the ball at it's highest point 8:37 Kelly Jones on being active at the net 10:56 Jessica Pegula on getting closer to the net 12:44 Erin Routliffe on leaving her alley open

Rajeev Ram is our guest for the 52nd episode of Baseline Intelligence. Rajeev is the reigning 3-time US Open Doubles Champion, is currently ranked 6th in the world, and recently won the ATP Tour Finals with his partner Joe Salisbury. We talk: 1:28 ATP Tour Finals 3:25 Deferring the toss 6:02 Being effective at the net 8:10 Covering the net 9:42 Tips for reflex volleys 12:24 I formation 15:31 Calling poaches 19:18 Turning the season around 20:11 Increasing his energy on the court 22:48 Communicating with his partner 27:57 What he sees from 3.5 doubles players 30:35 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Dr. Jon Finn is our guest for the 51st episode of Baseline Intelligence. Dr. Finn is the author of the best-selling book "The Habit Mechanic" and is the founder of the award-winning Tougher Minds consultancy. We talk: 1:39 Why knowing doesn't lead to doing 4:54 The VUCA world 7:06 How to build positive habits 9:21 The nine factors that shape your behavior 18:16 Taking advice from other players 21:48 Triggers in a tennis match 25:18 Using court locations as a trigger 26:58 The best habit you can have as a tennis coach 29:11 How long it takes to form a new habit Here's a link to Dr. Finn's book "The Habit Mechanic" https://www.amazon.com/Habit-Mechanic-Fine-Tune-Brain-Supercharge/dp/1544528965 Here's a link to Dr. Fin's website https://www.tougherminds.co.uk/

Dustin Taylor is our guest for the 50th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Dustin helped UVA win three consecutive NCAA championships as the associate head coach and is currently the head men's tennis coach at Oklahoma State University. We talk: 1:38 Hands, eyes, and feet 4:42 Ball dropping vs. ball rising 7:20 Solving every ball 10:13 Hitting the outside of the ball 13:08 Creating space 17:58 Heavy and through 22:45 Discipline leads to freedom 25:58 Trusting your good is good enough 29:47 Best coaching advice he's received 31:15 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Erin Routliffe is our guest for the 49th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Erin is ranked 12th in the WTA tour doubles rankings and partnered with Gaby Dabrowski to win this year's US Open. We talk: 1:23 Treating all matches the same 3:55 A losing record on the year 6:02 How she almost quit the game 11:27 Not covering her doubles alley 15:25 Net play when your partner returns 19:19 How to gel with a new partner 23:01 Poaching more often 25:49 Something people don't know about pros 28:04 Best coaching advice she's ever received

Mark Gellard is our guest for the 48th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Mark is currently the coach of WTA #23 Magda Linette. Magda has experienced one the best seasons of her career, having reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in singles and reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open in doubles. We talk: 1:29 A normal day on tour 3:36 Using video to scout an opponent 6:38 Reviewing matches with a player 8:33 Coaching in pro matches 11:04 Magda's win vs. Azarenka 13:10 Avoiding the second set letdown 16:57 Keeping players confident 21:40 Accidental winners 26:26 Baseline tactics of the pros 29:44 What separates the good from the great 31:28 Best coaching advice you've ever received 32:31 Best advice for the 4.0 player Click here to listen to Mark’s podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nFkd8bj7L5ky44qqzQqtK

Paul Annacone is our guest for the 47th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Paul has coached some of the best players in the history of the game, including Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Tim Henman, Sloane Stephens, and Taylor Fritz. A former top 15 ATP singles player, you can see him weekly as a regular analyst on the Tennis Channel. We talk: 1:42 Why he rushed the net as a player 3:02 Mixing in serve and volley 5:30 Where to place your first volley 7:48 Height over the net 11:30 Doubles formations 15:15 Difference between hitting well and playing well 18:59 What he learned from Roger Federer 22:22 Evaluating and scouting opponents 26:50 Delayed effects of a successful tactic 31:38 Best coaching advice he's ever received 33:50 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Our friend Joel Myers joins the pod to talk about this year's US Open. We talk: 1:12 Coco's breakthrough 6:00 How to compete against a consistent player 8:07 The Medvedev serve 11:31 Ben Shelton's game 16:30 The Shelton serve 19:30 Closing the net in doubles 25:58 What you can learn from pro doubles

Franco Herrero is our guest for the 45th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Franco is one of the premier fitness coaches in the tennis industry. He's worked with Reilly O'Pelka, Monica Puig, Sofia Lenin, and Tommy Paul. We talk: 1:51 How he got started in strength and conditioning 4:10 Observing a player's movement 7:40 What makes Tommy so quick 10:07 Applying force 13:14 Training during tournaments 16:39 Recovering after a match 18:54 Ice baths 24:19 Body weight exercises 28:36 Changing directions 30:42 Best advice for the 4.0 player

Grant Chen is our guest for the 44th episode of Baseline Intelligence. Grant helped UCLA reach the elite 8 in five of his six seasons as an assistant/associate head coach and is currently the head coach at SMU. His teams have won back to back conference championships and he's earned AAC coach of the year honors two years in a row. We talk: 1:38 His cell phone contacts 2:52 An epic NCAA final 6:34 Using a tough loss to spark growth 8:28 Helping his players become pros 10:06 Building a support team around a player 15:07 Who's on your bus? 18:38 How to become a college player 24:27 Favorite doubles drill 29:16 Best advice for the 4.0 player