In this episode, Brian and Josh explore what it truly means for an athlete to be "competitive," and misconceptions surrounding the concept. The co-hosts explain the difference between simply being competitive and being a great competitor. Additionally, they explain potential drawbacks to wanting to win at all costs. Lastly, they take a closer look at the Sport Orientation Questionnaire and discuss the differences between having an orientation primarily focused on winning rather than development ...
Jan 10, 2022•48 min•Ep. 68
In this episode, Brian and Josh review highlights from a number of episodes in 2021. Ep. 25 - Mindfulness in Tennis Ep. 26 - The Power of Routines Ep. 27 - Cristina Rolo and Dave de Haan on the Importance of Mental Training Ep. 36 - Coming Back After an Injury or Break Ep. 37 - How to Play One Point at a Time Ep. 41 - Ryan Harry and Play Ep. 48 - Building Mental Fortitude in Tennis Ep. 50 - How To Be A Clutch Performer Ep. 56 - David Sammel and Developing Your Locker Room Power To learn more abo...
Dec 30, 2021•52 min•Ep. 67
This episode discusses examples of self-limiting beliefs that tennis players place on themselves and some strategies for dealing with those beliefs. Examples of self-limiting beliefs are perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and focusing solely on winning. This conversation also included a discussion on the difference between fixed and growth mindsets and the difference that one's mindset has on their ability to improve as an athlete. Lastly, Brian and Josh discuss the significant impact that the wo...
Dec 19, 2021•49 min•Ep. 66
Todd Martin is the CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., a position he has held since September 2014. In addition to his role as CEO, Martin serves as Tournament Chairman of the Hall of Fame Open, the only ATP World Tour event in the Northeast and the only professional grass court tournament in the Americas. Todd was a top-ranked player on the ATP World Tour in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. He achieved a career high ranking of world No. 4, reached the finals at the US Ope...
Dec 10, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 65
This episode is a discussion on mental contrasting, a self-regulation strategy related to goal-achievement based on the work of Gabriele Oettingen. Mental contrasting and WOOP (wish, outcome, obstacle, plan) help individuals establish plans for the obstacles that they expect to encounter. In this conversation, Brian and Josh discuss how this concept can be applied to tennis matches and review some of the common obstacles that tennis players will inevitably encounter. To learn more about Josh and...
Dec 03, 2021•55 min•Ep. 64
In this episode, Josh interviews Brian about his start in tennis, how he transitioned careers to sport psychology, and how he approaches working with clients. For more on Brian, visit https://performancextra.com/brian-lomax/
Nov 29, 2021•45 min•Ep. 63
In this episode, Brian interviews Josh about his background and philosophy as a sport psychology professional. Josh is the founder and sport psychology coach of Tiebreaker Psych, which provides sport psychology coaching to athletes of all sports, ages, and levels. For more information on Tiebreaker Psych visit TiebreakerPsych.com.
Nov 21, 2021•55 min•Ep. 62
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the “Performance Equation” inspired by Tim Gallwey: Actual Performance = Potential - Interference. Tim Gallwey, the author of The Inner Game of Tennis as well as a number of other books, has used this equation to explain the detrimental impact that interference has on performance. This conversation covered the harmful impact of different types of distractions including self-judgment, expectations, and visual/auditory distractions. To conclude, Brian and Jo...
Nov 13, 2021•52 min•Ep. 61
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the recently released Netflix documentary on Mardy Fish "Untold: Breaking Point". This documentary tells the story of Mardy Fish's rise to the highest level of the ATP Tour which included a high-ranking of #7 in the world and an appearance at the prestigious 2011 ATP World Tour Finals. The co-hosts discuss Mardy's challenges with mental health and severe anxiety disorder that ultimately led Mardy to put his career on pause for several years. They als...
Nov 04, 2021•49 min
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the topic of full focus. The ability to fully focus during tennis matches is often cited as a critical factor to success, however many tennis players struggle to maintain their focus in high-pressure moments and throughout the duration of a tennis match. The co-hosts described the importance of focusing on what can be controlled, and focusing on the present moment rather than on the past or future. Furthermore, they discussed how athletes ought to focus on...
Oct 25, 2021•45 min•Ep. 59
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can learn to enjoy the stress of competition. The co-hosts talk about the need to embrace the “battle” in competition, and ultimately enjoy it. Additionally, they consider how winning and playing in close matches can make an athlete a better competitor over time. Lastly, the topic of viewing your tennis game as a life project and focusing on the improvement process instead of on results can lead to more enjoyment over time is reviewed. T...
Oct 19, 2021•49 min•Ep. 58
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss tennis performance in various team settings such as adult teams, college teams, and high school teams. Within these teams, it is important to develop a team identity so that motivation and resiliency can be improved. Captains and team leaders play a pivotal role in the development of a cycle of leadership that can create a positive and autonomous culture. Lastly, Brian and Josh review how team goals can be constructed and how they can be linked with the te...
Oct 14, 2021•55 min•Ep. 57
David Sammel is a world prominent tennis coach based in the UK who has coached dozens of professional players and international junior players. He’s also the author of the book Locker Room Power and the founder of Mindset College. Through this conversation, you will learn what Locker Room Power is, how to develop it, and how to apply it in competition. This includes the concept of mentally unsettling the opponent and using courage as a virtue. Locker Room Power: Building an Athlete'...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 56
This episode includes a brief discussion on the yips in tennis. The yips has been described as “a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced athletes”, and though it happens most typically to golfers as they putt, it can happen to tennis players as well. The remainder of the conversation discussed serving and double faults. Brian and Josh emphasized the importance of resetting and putting the previous point behind you in order to have the best possible ...
Sep 27, 2021•49 min•Ep. 55
Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the 2021 US Open through the lens of sport psychology. First, they discuss Emma Raducanu’s victory over Leylah Fernandez in the women's final and the circumstances that led to the unexpected success of each finalist. The guys also discuss Daniil Medvedev’s first Grand Slam triumph, and how he was able to stop Novak Djokovic from completing a calendar year Grand Slam and winning major title number 21. To learn more about Josh and Brian's backg...
Sep 17, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 54
In this episode, Brian and Josh review how to deal with losing. Losing is a necessary and inevitable part of competition and the development process. Discussion points are how to respond to lost points during a match, how to handle and frame difficult losses, and the feeling of loss that athletes can undertake during an injury or retirement. Lastly, Brian and Josh consider the mindset that athletes want to have - 'playing to win' rather than trying to avoid losing. To learn more about Jos...
Sep 13, 2021•55 min•Ep. 53
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can establish and utilize post-practice and post-match routines to enhance future performance. The co-hosts review recovery routine elements such as nutrition, hydration, stretching, and more. Additionally, they examine how players can utilize journals to reflect on their practices and matches to learn and improve going forward. To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com an...
Aug 30, 2021•35 min•Ep. 52
Dr. Laura Swettenham is a sport and exercise psychologist from the UK, chartered with the British Psychological Society. She has experience working within a range of sports, predominantly professional football (soccer), youth tennis, and e-sports. In her practice, Laura uses acceptance and mindfulness approaches, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, to support athletes and coaches so they can thrive in and out of their performance environment. Currently, Laura works at Cultiv8 Acade...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 51
During a tennis match, there can be several key moments that could determine the outcome. Do you perform well in these moments? Are you good at recognizing them? In this episode, Brian and Josh review how to create clutch performances. Highlights of the conversation include understanding what a clutch performance is, the concept of "make it happen," and some practical steps you can take to become more clutch. This is a valuable topic for both players and coaches.
Aug 09, 2021•48 min•Ep. 50
At most levels of the game, tennis players are required to call lines and honor the rules of the game. It is a unique feature of the sport and it highlights the importance of sportsmanship when competing. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss some coaching and parenting behaviors that can promote good sportsmanship along with some behaviors that can lead to unethical decision making. In the end, we need to understand that good sportsmanship makes us better people, and better people are better ...
Aug 04, 2021•50 min•Ep. 49
This episode reviews how tennis players can build mental fortitude and resilience. Brian and Josh base their discussion on the study “Mental fortitude training: An evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success” by David Fletcher and Mustafa Sarkar. Their mental fortitude training program focuses on three main areas: personal qualities, facilitative environment, and challenge mindset. To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psycholo...
Jul 26, 2021•58 min•Ep. 48
Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the 2021 Wimbledon Championships through the lens of sport psychology. Topics included are Ash Barty and being the best person you can be, Karolina Pliskova and the importance of self-belief, and the mental strength of Novak Djokovic winning his sixth Wimbledon title and 20th Grand Slam title (tying Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal). If you have questions or feedback on this episode, email us at [email protected] ....
Jul 16, 2021•46 min•Ep. 47
Angelo Rossetti is well-known in the tennis and coaching communities as someone who is very positive, very generous, and a wonderful influence on his students. He currently serves as the Director of Racquet Sports for the Inspire Tennis Academy and the Tennis and Fitness Center of Rocky Hill. He's a USPTA P1 Elite Professional, he's PTR Certified, a USTA High Performance and Mental Skills Certified Coach, and ITPTA Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional. He's also a two-time Guinness World R...
Jul 05, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 46
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can handle pre-match preparation. The co-hosts review how utilizing mental skills the day before and morning of a match can be the difference between performing well and under-performing. They also discuss how scheduling sleep, meals, and hydration can make a big difference in how an athlete feels once their match begins. Lastly, they emphasize that planning for certain scenarios and designing contingency responses can be beneficial just...
Jun 24, 2021•44 min•Ep. 45
Mental health and mental toughness were on full display at the 2021 French Open, and in this episode, Josh and Brian review some of the bigger stories from the tournament through the lens of sport psychology. Topics included are Naomi Osaka's withdrawal, two first-time Grand Slam finalists in the women's draw, and the mental strength of Novak Djokovic. If you have questions or feedback on this episode, email us at [email protected] ....
Jun 18, 2021•47 min•Ep. 44
Steve O'Connell is an accomplished racquet sport professional and educator who is a USPTA elite certified pro, wheelchair tennis instructor, certified platform tennis instructor and a certified pickleball instructor. Through his careers in both tennis and education, Steve has been a long-time advocate of journaling and writing, emphasizing the many benefits of these practices to his students. Interview Highlights: 1:25 - Steve explains his introduction to tennis 4:35 - The sim...
Jun 10, 2021•59 min
Note: This episode was recorded on Sunday (5/30) which was before the news broke of Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the 2021 Roland Garros tournament. This episode dives into the quote "Keep standards high and expectations low" which was originally used by Mikaela Shiffrin (Olympic and World Cup ski champion), but has been embraced and thoroughly discussed by Iga Swiatek. Brian and Josh discuss the expectations placed on various ATP and WTA players currently, and review how these expectatio...
Jun 02, 2021•50 min•Ep. 42
Ryan Harry has established himself as an industry leader within the tennis community. His 21-year career has presented opportunities to work at some of the most established clubs within the nation. Most recently, Ryan held the position as Head Professional for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In February, 2021 Ryan launched Play Tennis Academy, a management company designed to bring club-level programming to your neighborhood. These efforts are to provide convenient junior and adult traini...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 41
In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss goal-setting strategies that can help tennis players further their development. The conversation starts by discussing the importance of crafting an identity for the person that you want to become, and then crafting goals relating to that new identity. They also discuss how tennis players ought to break down their larger "outcome goals" into smaller pieces using performance and process goals, and then develop new habits and systems to pursue those goals. La...
May 17, 2021•57 min•Ep. 40
In this episode, Brian and Josh dive into the topic of choking and cover strategies that tennis players can utilize when they feel a match starting to slip away. First, the co-hosts discuss a few root issues relating to choking including identifying oneself as a "choker" or expecting that you will choke because you've choked in the past. Additionally, they examine how focusing too much on the score and the outcome of the match can cause players to play hesitantly so as to avoid losing rather tha...
May 08, 2021•44 min•Ep. 39
