The Tennis Files Podcast

[From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022] On Episode 410 of The Tennis Files Podcast, Mehrban spoke with Dr. Reza Ghorbani of APMI Health and Wellness Center about injury prevention and recovery for tennis players. On the show, you’ll learn about the critical concept of early intervention, how to train your body to prevent injuries, the best exercises to strengthen your ankles, advanced recovery methods such as cryotherapy, Dr. Ghorbani life-changing experience visiting the Rafael Nadal Academy, why you must become proactive about treating your injuries, and much more! APMI Health and Wellness Center is having an open house on May 5, 2022, so if you’re in the mid-atlantic area, contact them to arrange a  visit and meet Dr. Ghorbani in person! I hope you enjoy my interview with Dr. Ghorbani! 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! APMI Health and Wellness Center Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/apmiwellnesscenter]  APMI Health and Wellness Center Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apmiwellnesscenter/] www.apmiwellness.com [http://www.apmiwellness.com]

On Episode 409 of The Tennis Files Podcast, coach Peter Freeman from Crunch Time Coaching reveals why tennis knowledge isn’t power and the real process you must go through to reach your tennis potential. 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 why players keep repeating the same mistakes even when they "know better", the four stages of learning, why shadow drills feel awkward—but are essential, and how the pros automate patterns to make genius decisions look effortless. 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! Crunch Time Coaching YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@PeterFreemantennis] Pete’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/crunchtimecoaching/]

On Episode 408 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I’ll take you behind the scenes of a dramatic, emotional, and unforgettable weekend at 9.0 Mixed Doubles Sectionals. 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. Tennisfilessummit.com [https://tennisfilessummit.com/] Tennisfiles.com [https://tennisfiles.com/] The Tennis Files Podcast [https://tennisfiles.com/podcast]

On Episode 407 of The Tennis Files Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most thrilling French Open finals in recent memory—maybe even one of the greatest ever: Alcaraz vs. Sinner. In this episode, I’ll break down serve numbers, return, winners, errors, net play, and mental toughness. And I’ll also give you practical takeaways from this match that you can apply to your own tennis game, based on how the world’s best perform under pressure. 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. tennisfiles.com [https://tennisfiles.com/] The Tennis Files Podcast [https://tennisfiles.com/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 stability * Why choking up on the racket (leaving one finger’s width at the bottom) provides better control and maneuverability * The surprising benefit of spreading your trigger finger from the rest of the hand—and why pros do it * How 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: 1. Grip Shift: Align both the index knuckle and fat part of palm with the center of the continental bevel. 2. Choke Up: Leave ~1 finger width at the bottom of the handle for added control (especially on volleys). 3. Trigger Finger Spread: Separating the index finger enhances stability and feel. 4. Open Face Volleys: Slightly cock the racket back and keep a compact stroke—no wild swings. 5. Kick Serve Toss: Imagine the toss landing on the back of your head to find the right contact point. 6. Racket Drop Cue: Use a “bicep curl” visualization to feel a natural and relaxed drop. 7. Loose Grip = Fast Racket: Tension kills power; loosen your grip to unlock effortless whip. 8. 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 [https://www.instagram.com/tennis.files]! 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS: * 🎧 Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts * 📲 Follow Mehrban on Instagram: @tennis.files [https://www.instagram.com/tennis.files]