The Tennis Files Podcast

Episode Summary:On this solo episode of the podcast, Mehrban dives deep into one of the most transformative lessons he’s had in years — a session with his coach Hayan that revealed the power of small grip adjustments across every major stroke.If you’ve ever felt like your serve lacks pop, your volleys aren’t stable, or your slice just floats — this episode is packed with actionable tweaks that can give you more power, spin, and control instantly.🎯 What You’ll Learn:How a subtle grip alignment shift—moving the index knuckle and fat part of the palm directly onto the continental bevel—unlocked more power and stabilityWhy choking up on the racket (leaving one finger’s width at the bottom) provides better control and maneuverabilityThe surprising benefit of spreading your trigger finger from the rest of the hand—and why pros do itHow these grip changes impacted Mehrban’s:✅ Volleys: More bite, stability, and precision (especially on the backhand volley)✅ Serves: More effortless racket drop and improved kick serve using a “toss-to-the-back-of-your-head” cue✅ Forehand: Shorter backswing, increased racket speed, and more relaxed contact✅ Slice Backhand: More consistent, low returns and tougher shots for poachers to handle🛠️ Key Takeaways:Grip Shift: Align both the index knuckle and fat part of palm with the center of the continental bevel.Choke Up: Leave ~1 finger width at the bottom of the handle for added control (especially on volleys).Trigger Finger Spread: Separating the index finger enhances stability and feel.Open Face Volleys: Slightly cock the racket back and keep a compact stroke—no wild swings.Kick Serve Toss: Imagine the toss landing on the back of your head to find the right contact point.Racket Drop Cue: Use a “bicep curl” visualization to feel a natural and relaxed drop.Loose Grip = Fast Racket: Tension kills power; loosen your grip to unlock effortless whip.Test and Tweak: Every player is different—adjust incrementally and evaluate what works best for you.🎾 Challenge for You:Pick ONE tip from today’s episode—maybe a grip tweak, a serve cue, or volley technique—and test it in your next practice session. Let Mehrban know how it goes by tagging him on Instagram @tennis.files!🔗 Resources & Links:🎧 Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts📲 Follow Mehrban on Instagram: @tennis.files

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022] On Episode 405 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with tennis coach Mike Digby about how he prepares for intense practices, develops consistency, and the keys to improving your serve. Mike is currently coaching at Soto Tennis Academy in Spain. He is a former US collegiate tennis player and he graduated in 2019. He worked as a full time hitting partner with top tennis players such as Federer, Tsitsipas, Nadal, Halep, Djokovic and more. On the show, you’ll learn how Mike prepares for practices with top tennis pros, the best pieces of advice he learned from his practice sessions, how Mike transitioned to coaching at an elite tennis academy, the biggest keys to win more matches, how to be a problem solver on the tennis court and much more! I hope you enjoy my interview with Mike! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below! And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox! Mike’s Instagram Soto Tennis Academy Website Soto Tennis Academy Instagram Winning Ugly - Brad Gilbert Nadal’s Autobiography Steven Gerrard - My Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]On Episode 404 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with tennis coach Mike Digby about lessons he learned from practicing with the top players in the world.Mike is currently coaching at Soto Tennis Academy in Spain. He is a former US collegiate tennis player and he graduated in 2019. He worked as a full time hitting partner with top tennis players such as Federer, Tsitsipas, Nadal, Halep, Djokovic and more.On the show, you’ll learn how Mike got into coaching, his first experience practicing with Novak Djokovic, how Mike prepares for practices with the pros, his best and worst practice experience, top keys to being a great coach, and much more!I hope you enjoy my interview with Mike! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!Mike’s InstagramSoto Tennis Academy WebsiteSoto Tennis Academy InstagramWinning Ugly - Brad GilbertNadal’s AutobiographySteven Gerrard - My Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]On Episode 403 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I’ll reveal the 5 most common mistakes that 3.0-4.5 doubles players make.In this episode, I’ll walk you through my recent experiences playing USTA League doubles matches and the biggest takeaways from them, along with tips I’ve learned from the best coaches in the world. Fortunately I have been doing quite well this season in mixed and men’s combo doubles matches (15-7) thanks to the strategies I’ve implemented and from paying more attention to my opponents and their tendencies. In this episode, I’ll discuss picking up on doubles tells, why heavy groundstroke dippers are so useful, different doubles formations, and much more!I really hope you enjoy this episode! If you learned something useful from it, let me know in the comments below.And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox.The Doubles Playbook (Podcast Sponsor)Tennisfilessummit.comTennisfiles.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]On Episode 402 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Furi Sport’s Erick Mathelier about how to develop a unique tennis brand.Erick started playing tennis at the age of 13. His dedication to training helped him earn a scholarship to play Division I tennis. Erick has a Masters in Urban Policy and Management and eventually became an entrepreneur and a Co-Founder of Furi Sport with Michelle Spiro. Erick currently resides in New York.On the show, you’ll learn the difficulties that Erick faced as a kid due to racial tensions in New York, why he switched from competitive baseball to tennis, how he Co-Founded Furi Sport, the ins and outs of how to develop unique products, Furi Sport’s exciting new racquets, strings, bags, grips and other gear, how Furi Sport is helping to make tennis a more diverse sport, how people can try or view their products, and much more!I hope you enjoy my interview with Erick! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!https://furisport.com/Furi Sport InstagramFuri Sport TwitterFuri Sport Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]On Episode 400 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with tennis coach and fellow podcaster Jonathan Stokke about simple strategies to win more singles and doubles matches.Jonathan hosts the Baseline Intelligence Podcast and is a tennis coach in Charleston, South Carolina. He spent 14 years as both a student-athlete and coach with the Duke men’s tennis program. Jonathan helped Duke to two ACC Championship titles (2003, 2006) and was named the ACC Tournament MVP in 2006. He is a former All-American and two-time All-ACC pick and was also named the ITA Carolina Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Jonathan became the first student-athlete in program history to win the ITA National Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award in 2006 while also earning the USTA Sportsmanship Award. On the show, you’ll learn Jonathan’s coaching philosophy for developing elite players and how it has changed over time, how to record and analyze your tennis matches and practices, the keys to developing a winning mindset, the most effective strategies for singles and doubles matches, and much more!I hope you enjoy part two of my interview with Jonathan! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!Geau Sport - Get 10% off with this linkBaseline Intelligence Podcast Jonathan’s Instagram Page 30 College Tennis Coaches Reveal Top Character Traits of Successful Student-AthletesPeak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]On Episode 399 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with tennis coach and fellow podcaster Jonathan Stokke about deliberate practice and the keys to winning in college and junior tennis.Jonathan hosts the Baseline Intelligence Podcast and is a tennis coach in Charleston, South Carolina. He spent 14 years as both a student-athlete and coach with the Duke men’s tennis program. Jonathan helped Duke to two ACC Championship titles (2003, 2006) and was named the ACC Tournament MVP in 2006. He is a former All-American and two-time All-ACC pick and was also named the ITA Carolina Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Jonathan became the first student-athlete in program history to win the ITA National Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award in 2006 while also earning the USTA Sportsmanship Award. On the show, you’ll learn what deliberate practice is and how to implement it in your training, the most effective drills you can use during your practices, the keys to success in junior and college tennis, the most important traits of a successful tennis player, how Jonathan became an elite level tennis player, the pros and cons of online tennis instruction, and much more!I hope you enjoy part one of my interview with Jonathan! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!Baseline Intelligence Podcast Jonathan’s Instagram Page 30 College Tennis Coaches Reveal Top Character Traits of Successful Student-AthletesPeak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]On Episode 398 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I interviewed high-performance tennis and corporate coach Emma Doyle about the traits that all champions have in common.Emma is an expert instructor, communicator, and mentor, and has helped several professional tennis players reach their potential on the WTA Tour. She currently runs coaching qualifications for a High-Performance Workplace and Coaching Certification. Emma has also been a Tennis Australia High Performance Coach, and she travels the world as a professional speaker specializing in helping people to maximize and live their potential in the corporate world using lessons learned from her tennis career. Emma is experienced in Exercise Science, Emotional Intelligence, Neuro-linguistic programming and energy coaching. Emma has been featured on several of my Tennis Summits as well.On the show, you’ll learn how to develop a champion mindset, the five traits that all champions have in common, how to be more resilient, how finding your purpose can help you level up your tennis game, how success in tennis and the corporate world are similar, how to become a better coach, coaching culture and the future of coaching, how to become a better listener, and much more!I hope you enjoy my interview with Emma! Let us know what you think about the episode in the comments below!And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!Episode 151Inner Game of TennisThe Coaching Podcastemmadoyle.com.auacecoach.com.aulinktr.ee/EmmaDoyleiii Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022]On Episode 397 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with Peter Freeman from Crunch Time Coaching about the five reasons why tennis players can’t serve properly.Pete has coached division 1 college players and has produced state level and national champions. He has been awarded the honor of USTA Georgia Pro of the Year. He has also coached under Tony Palafox, who was John McEnroe’s former coach, and Frank Brennan former Stanford University Coach who won 10 national titles. Peter has a huge passion for tennis and will do whatever it takes to get your game to the next level. He also hosts Tennis Con, one of the biggest and best annual online tennis conferences, each fall.On the show, you’ll learn how the grip affects your serve, how to escape the “technique hole”, why your ego holds you back from hitting big serves, how to develop your serve the right way, the right mentality you need to level up your serve, serve strategy tips, how to participate in Pete’s 7 Day Serve Challenge, and much more!I hope you enjoy my interview with Pete! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!And be sure to subscribe to Tennis Files to receive the latest tennis content to improve your game straight to your inbox!7 Day Serve ChallengePete’s Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices