Outside the Lines

Commentators are often given carte blanche with their comments. We go deep inside what they're really saying (or not!). The Coco Gauff loss to Emma Navarro serves as the main focus of this episode.

The ability to self-evaluate is valuable in tennis. Yet in psychology, we learn this this is nearly impossible. What's the answer?

We review the performances of Nadal, Osaka, Swiatek, Djokovic, Gauff, Sinner, Zverev, and Alcaraz and how they provide valuable lessons for club players.

Players on the Tour typically have one coach. Sometimes, a second coach is added, but they always work as a team. We explore the possible loss of efficiency of having multiple coaches. In particular, having many voices may cause uncertainty.

Who is the Most Important Person on the court? The standard answer is: I am. We explore the often neglected ability to dissect an opponent.

Tournament results, Osaka, Gauff, Sabalenka, Sinner and Djokovic. Also a new metric for analyzing your own game: "conversions" and "steals."

Food has Texture; shots have Feel. We talk about this significant but often overlooked part of playing good tennis.

Playing with Freedom. We systematically deconstruct the rewards to playing either Scared or Confidently under the umbrella of a player's role as Underdog or Favorite. It ends up that playing Scared is ok if Winning is the only thing that matters to you. However, if you'd like to improve your game or have the chance of defeating better players, playing with Confidence is the only way to go.

We dissect several of the most notable matches with a focus on adaptability. Surprisingly, the top players frequently don't display this quality. The match-fixing scandal revealed in the Washington Post on 9/7 is also discussed.

The summer season has concluded for most players unless they are heading to Sectionals or Nationals. There is a 6–8-week window without competitive pressure. This is an ideal time to make either a technical change or add a new tactic to your game. The pros have a similar window in November/December. Both Andre Agassi and Noval Djokovic have made excellent use of this break to be well-prepared for...

We review some key matches in this year's Wimbledon devoting a lot of attention to the Alcaraz-Djokovic men's final. Other players highlighted include: Hurkacz, Svitolina, Swiatek, Eubanks, and Medvedev.

Chestnut Ridge is proud to host their Pro Shootout from 7/21-7/23. Featuring both singles and doubles competition in a standard tournament format, many top college players and local pros are taking part. The event is also being live-streamed. For a link go to www.chestnutridgetennis.com.

Outside the Lines takes a fun look at some of the thoughts that can be detrimental to performance. We conclude with the biggest thought/question of all: Why am I here?

We go Outside the Lines to comment on this year's Slam. Topics include Djokovic, Karolina Muchova, and Swiatek. We broaden the discussion to talk about other top players who are "treading water", i.e. they have not made any changes in the last 1-2 years. Tennis demands change.

Our subjects and discussions are usually generated by the two of us. Here, we have a conversation with Lisa Lubart, a 3.5 player and address some of her concerns when playing a match.

What are the Top 5 concepts which link tennis together. Bob and Scott, independently, came up with their list: 1) Balance; 2) Split step; 3) Relaxing (staying loose); 4) Make a plan (use targets); 5) See the blur (match up to the racquet)

Both of us were essentially self-taught until 13 with only a few lessons thereafter. Seeing the pros in action and imitating what we saw was crucial for our development. In addition, both strategies and tactics were demanded from us at a young age in order to succeed. This has made our understanding of the game very intuitive. Hitting against a wall and serving on one's own are also highlighted as...

We establish that fear is a part of the human condition based upon our genetic predisposition. We have inherited fear from the beginning of human time because it was a form of protection in a dangerous world: the sabre-toothed tiger. Tennis is a symbolic fight which, while it is not life threatening, calls forth the same fear reaction. As pack animals, humans want to be higher on the ladder than t...

Unlike the start of a match, the finish of a match can occur under varying scenarios. We define the finish of a match to be any time that either you or your opponent is within 8 points of victory. You may either be leading or trailing at this time. And, your lead or deficit may be either large or small. We discuss how to handle your choices under each of these 4 scenarios.

We emphasize two key points on How to Begin a Match: 1) Preparation begins days earlier than the match by learning how to set the correct expectations for yourself; and 2) consistency counts at the start, but even more important is accessing the correct gear of your shots. Invest in your ability to play with confidence.

Mixed doubles often has a large gap in power and speed between both the partners and the opponents on the court. Whether it's 9.0, 8.0, or 7.0, certain changes from same-gender doubles need to be implemented. We discuss the timing and use of alternative formations to give yourself the best chance to win.

Every tennis player has matches which they recall as pivotal in their careers. Some are simply noteworthy achievements; others are potentially life-changing when viewed through the rearview mirror of time. Bob and Scott each share 3 or 4 matches from their careers that were responsible for sending them on new paths.

We review the highlights and low points of this year's Open with an emphasis on the things that were done well (like playing exceptional tennis!). The ungodly hour involved in many of the matches is discussed from the point of view of players, fans, and sponsors.

We examine both men's and women's draws with an emphasis on placing results within the context of some themes from previous Outside the Lines podcasts. Serena is a significant part of our discussion. 

The Atlantic Cup is a team competition in the Men's 55 and Over division between the Eastern, New England, Middle States, and Middle Atlantic Sections. Each section was represented by 3 or 4 players who shared their most memorable and/or best tennis experiences.