Stay ConnectedBrad Gilbert wants to improve your tennis game! Join BG, former coach to Agassi, Roddick, and Murray, as he drops tennis knowledge, before diving into listener driven Q&A sessions. You may even find the explorations into the mental side of the game applicable off the court as well. His son, Zach (aka Buck), will be on hand to keep things from getting out of hand. Please send your questions to winninguglier@gmail.com
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Copyright: © Zach Gilbert
We’re getting back into match play season, and BG has some tips to help you win after a long layoff from competition. We discuss the cornerstones of serve, return, and easy balls, as well as fighting nerves and pacing yourself. We also get to a couple of questions, one about motivating your doubles partner, and the other related to the age-old debate about when to get kids started in tournament play.
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BG is back from the graveyard shift in Bristol and he’s fired up to break down the Aus Open and gloat about his Daily Wager picks. There was a big takeaway in terms of players being adaptable with their strategies and making unexpected adjustments. We talk about Djokovic’s brilliant tactical decision to play more shots down the middle in the final, as well as Osaka settling in after saving match points early in the event. We also take a question that looks back at a peculiar performance by Gael Monfils at the 2016 US Open.
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Whatup! We’re back with an Aussie Open preview. BG’s already at ESPN HQ in Bristol getting ready to go (and avoiding the incoming blizzard). We talk about players having to make the best with less than ideal preparation. We get into the favorites like Djokovic, Osaka, Rafa, Serena, plus the long-awaited return of Bianca Andreescu. Buck is a little disheveled with BG’s pick to win on the men’s side (hint, he’s from Greece). We also preview the popcorn first round between Shapo and Sinner. And since it’s Super Bowl weekend why not finish off with a little Brady/Mahomes goat talk.
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We wrap up 2020 with a Q&A heavy episode - big thanks to everyone that has listened in and supported the podcast so far! First BG discusses how he likes to set a series of small goals for the new year. Then we get into questions on finding positivity after an injury, game planning for (and respecting) pushers, preparing for clay, and an Andre vs Fed throwback story. And stay tuned for a surprise guest at the end!
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Happy Holidays from Winning Uglier! We’ve got a great episode on equipment with Harry Tong. Harry is BG’s long-time shop manager (Brad Gilbert Tennis Nation in Greenbrae, CA) and he has a popular youtube page called Tennis Spin. Harry believes this is the golden age of rackets. We get into some of his favorite new sticks and the reasons for the uptick in quality. We then talk strings, with Harry giving some great intel on tension. And we discuss why there’s no need to fiercely break in a new pair of shoes anymore - a habit that BG can’t break!
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In this post-thanksgiving episode, we discuss finding the balance between working on both strengths and weaknesses. BG is a big proponent of taking what you do well and making it even better. We also think it's key to avoid fixating on a weakness to the point where it can hinder confidence and derail a practice. Q&A topics include letting a match slip after a flawless first set, and a curious case of a 9-year-old who exclusively likes to hit on the wall.
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What is Zen Tennis you ask? It’s a calm and peaceful hit where we put our egos aside. Whether you’re hitting with a partner or solo on the wall, the idea is to keep the rally going as long as possible. BG gets into some stories about players he’s come across that embraced the Zen practice, including the legendary Torben Ulrich. We then switch gears to Q&A, discussing whether Hawkeye takes away from entertainment value, as well as what to do this winter if you’re away from the courts.
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We welcome world-renowned sports psychologist Jeff Greenwald to the podcast. Jeff has authored the best-selling book The Best Tennis of Your Life and runs fearlesstennis.com. In addition to helping his clients bring out their best more often, he’s put his methods to the test with his own game, reaching world no.1 in the ITF men’s 35 division. We pick Jeff's brain with various questions regarding the mental game. These include focusing on how you're playing vs fixation on the result (11:16), controlling emotions (15:15), dealing with pressure (22:20), bridging the gap between practice and matches (28:06), and getting out of a funk (37:47). Jeff and BG also have some good back and forth moments about playing safe vs aggressive.
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It’s about time we got into one of the most important parts of being a tennis player: taking losses and learning from them. BG breaks down what he calls the 3 different types of losses (2:23), which includes the heartbreaker of nearly pulling off an upset. He also gives some useful tips about taking notes post-match, as well as laughing off an especially brutal beat. For the Q&A we discuss how often you should go to the well if a tactic is working (20:33). Then we finish off with a little racket talk (26:08).
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Hold on to your headphones we cover a lot of ground in this one. First, we recap the French Open (3:55), discussing Rafa’s brilliant ability to make adjustments to his game, as well as women’s champ Iga Swiatek’s effective use of heavy spin on the forehand. We then move on to a seemingly straight-forward shot that we’ve noticed is giving a lot of players at all levels problems - the forehand down the middle of the court (20:47). Lastly, we have two more Q&A topics, one on psychology with a nod to BG’s Pepperdine coach Allen Fox (29:49), and the other on a day in the life for both pro and college players (36:51).
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With the whacky 2020 schedule we’re already in the midst of the French Open! With conditions in Paris on the chilly autumn side, BG breaks down what players at home need to do to be prepared to play in the cold. We also discuss who the conditions could favor in Paris and BG gives his tournament picks. If you happen to struggle with the overhead, take a listen to a full Q&A breakdown of the shot (17:40). And we wrap up with a discussion on how to stop errors and double faults from compounding.
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We welcome Mark Grabow to the podcast to talk about all things training related. Mark was the Director of Athletic Development for the Golden State Warriors and has worked with several tennis greats on the footwork/conditioning side including Murray, Roddick, Capriati, and of course BG. We cover a wide range of topics including the evolution of athletes and the effect that technology has had on performance. There are also plenty of useful tips for recreational players with advice on warmups and cool-downs and some footwork do’s and don’ts. We also get into a couple of listener questions, one related to training for club players and the other for a junior looking to improve their footwork. As Mark says, training is tough, but it’s your love for the sport and what you do when no one is watching that will really help you improve.
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BG returns to Malibu after 24 days in the New York bubble. Inspired by all the dramatic comebacks at the US Open, we break down what it takes for everyone at home to turn a match around that isn’t going their way. Mounting a comeback starts with belief, and then breaking it down into small goals - you can’t come back from a set and a break down all at once! BG also shares a locker room story from one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history, when Andre erased a 2-set deficit to win the 1999 French Open final. We also get back into some Q&A, with discussions on how much emotion you should show on the court, what to do if your improvement has leveled off, and a little hydration talk.
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For all you pro tennis fans out there we did a US Open preview for the unprecedented 2020 addition of the event. BG, who's already been in the bubble for a week, gets to do one of his favorite things - break down the draw! Favorites, dark-horses, and potential upsets are all discussed. Above all else, BG is appreciative that tennis is back in action. And for everyone working on their own game, it will be a great opportunity to watch and learn through osmosis.
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Darren “Killer” Cahill, coach to three world no.1’s in Halep, Agassi, and Hewitt, joins Winning Uglier to talk all things strategy. Darren shares a story about a breakthrough in Simona Halep’s net game that was two years in the making, which paid off big-time in her comeback win over Sloane Stephens to win her first Grand Slam title at the French Open. BG and Killer, who now frequently share a commentary booth for ESPN, break down a classic match between Roddick and Agassi from opposite sides of the coaching box. We also get into scouting, using video, and the art of delivering a coaching message. And hang on for Darren’s two keywords for all club players! Apologies, no time for Q&A this week!
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Most players get pumped going for big shots. BG, on the other hand, loves playing solid. In this episode, we get into all things game management. Themes include not overplaying from disadvantageous positions, being smart about your weaknesses, the importance of putting serves and returns in play, and finding your rhythm. Q&A topics: playing down to lower competition, recovering from an injury, rebounding after a collapse, and getting in the zone.
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Winning Uglier welcomes its first-ever guest, Vince Van Patten, whose resume includes a career ATP high of no.26, commentator for the World Poker Tour, and actor/writer/producer of the new film 7 Days to Vegas. BG and VVP discuss the importance of creating pressure situations in practice, winning the 1986 Miami doubles title, similarities between tennis and poker (including tennis tells), and the time Vince had 28 shots of espresso in one match and lived to tell the tale. Also, stay on for a Q&A question about players who feel confident in baseline games but struggle in sets.
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Making minor adjustments to your game can have a major impact, and it starts with being open to change. BG shares a story about getting Roddick to switch up his return position, which helped lead to his incredible run in the summer of 2003. Q&A: How to beat someone that you always lose to, remembering to breathe, handling low balls, returning in doubles.
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BG breaks down the need to let go of playing the perfect match and focus on competing instead. Spoiler, there’s an Andre story! Q&A topics: tennis in the time of COVID, modifying your singles game as you age, net vs. baseline strategy in doubles, playing in altitude, and advice for getting children started in the sport.
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