Insider's Playbook: Smart Strategies for Competitive Senior Tennis Players Over 50

Mike Rogers - Founder of Senior Tennis Unpacked
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If you’re over 50 and still driven by competition, Insider’s Playbook is built for you. This podcast goes beyond generic tennis advice and into the strategic, physical, and mental edge senior players need to compete longer and win more matches. Hosted by senior tennis tournament competitor Mike Rogers, and founder os SeniorTennisUnpacked.com, each episode features elite coaches, national champions, and performance experts sharing real strategies to help you move smarter, train efficiently, stay injury-resistant, and out-think opponents who rely on youth alone. Subscribe now and step inside the playbook that top senior players use to keep raising their game.

  1. 1d ago

    The Week Before Your Tournament Is Your Biggest Mistake I Nathan Martin

    Free Challenge - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Tired of taking a set to find your game? Try the free 5-day challenge that has you walking onto the court ready from the very first point.   Episode Description:   If you've ever dragged yourself onto the court the day after a grueling multi-match tournament day — singles, doubles, repeat — this episode is the debrief you needed. Nathan Martin from Tennis Fitness returns for his third appearance on Insider's Playbook to break down exactly how competitive players over 50 should approach tournament preparation, in-tournament fueling, and post-match recovery. This isn't general wellness advice. This is a system built for senior players who are still competing hard.   Key Takeaways: How far out to start preparing — 6-10 weeks for a big one, 2-4 for smaller eventsWhy training through smaller tournaments (instead of resting) can add 80-100 extra workouts to your yearThe simple bodyweight hydration formula every player should knowWhat to eat before, during, and after matches (and whether a cold beer counts as post-match carbs)Why sleep and hydration are your two non-negotiables — and why sleep beats an ice bath every timeThe 20-minute nap rule and why you must set an alarmWhat to actually do the day after a heavy tournament weekend  Nathan Martin – TennisFitness.com:  www.tennisfitness.com   Over 40’s Strength, Movement and Mobility Program https://www.memberstennisfitness.com/over-40-strength-movement-mobility     ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — Coming Up — Show Introduction 00:39 — Tournament Prep: How Far Out Should Senior Players Start 08:28 — Nutrition and Hydration: What to Eat and Drink on Match Day 14:57 — Recovery: Why Sleep Beats Every Ice Bath and Sauna 17:43 — Managing Singles and Doubles in the Same Tournament Day 20:25 — Day After Recovery: Rest, Foam Roll, and Time 23:37 — Show Wrap Up #TennisOver50 #SeniorTennis #TennisFitness #TournamentPrep #TennisTraining #TennisRecovery #TennisHydration #TennisPerformance #SeniorAthlete #CompetitiveTennis #TennisHealth #TennisWorkout #NathanMartin #InsidersPlaybook #SeniorTennisUnpacked

    25 min

  2. Jun 16

    Why 'Watch the Ball' Is the Worst Advice in Senior Tennis I Richard Brice

    7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community   You've spent years fixing your forehand, tweaking your footwork, and drilling your backhand — and you're still making the same mistakes. Richard Brice, vision and brain-based training specialist, makes an uncomfortable case: the problem was never your strokes. The problem is your visual system is declining, you're "hit and admiring" instead of recovering, and you're wiring your brain to look at bright screens four to five hours a day — then wondering why you can't judge a 60-mph ball.   We get into why watching the ball at contact is the last thing you should worry about, why your T-Rex forehand is a spacing problem not a technique problem, and what a string with a few beads on it can do for your game that no amount of drilling ever will.   Key Takeaways:   ·      Recovery beats vision every time. "Hit and admire" — watching your ball instead of resetting — is the #1 performance killer, and it throws everything that comes after it off. ·      Late prep, bad spacing, and mis-timed swings are all vision problems. Those aren't technique issues — they're almost entirely driven by how well your visual system is functioning. ·      Watching the ball at contact is the icing, not the cake. Djokovic has won more than anyone alive while already looking down the other end on half his forehands — fix the underlying problems first. ·      Screen time is wrecking your visual system. Four to five hours a day on phones and TVs trains your eyes for up-close bright screens, not for reading a tennis ball — ten minutes of distance gazing a day is the counter. ·      The Brock String is the one tool worth owning. A string with a few beads on it tests and trains whether your brain is fusing both eyes together — the foundation of depth perception and distance judgment on court. ·      Vision training structurally rewires your brain in 8–10 weeks. An hour a week is enough to produce measurable changes that stick for months — three 20-minute sessions a week gets you there. "So many of the best players in the world don't watch the ball at contact." — Richard Brice   "The number one problem for most players is not recovering after the previous shot." — Richard Brice   Richard Brice – TennisHacker.net YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TennisHacker   ⏱️ Chapters:  0:00 — Introduction 1:32 — What "using your eyes well" really means in senior tennis 3:02 — The #1 mistake players over 50 make (it's NOT watching the ball) 5:43 — How to tell if your vision is holding you back 7:06 — The truth about watching the ball through to contact 9:21 — Vision, spacing, and why your T-Rex forehand is a spacing problem 15:27 — Screen time is wrecking your game — here's the fix 16:44 — The Brock String explained — and how to use it 18:47 — How long does vision training take? 22:50 — Connect with Richard Brice / Show Wrap Up #SeniorTennis #TennisTips #TennisVision #Over50Tennis #TennisTraining #MastersTennis #TennisPerformance

    25 min

  3. Jun 9

    Anticipation Beats Speed After 50 — Here's Why I Nathan Martin

    7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community   Your reaction time is only declining 2–6 milliseconds per decade — and that decline is trainable. The real reason you feel slow on court isn't age. It's anticipation.   Tennis Fitness Coach Nathan Martin joins the Insider's Playbook to break down the science of reaction time and tennis agility after 50 — including the specific drills that can produce measurable improvement in as little as six to eight weeks. Key Takeaways:   ·      Reaction time declines 2–6 milliseconds per decade and power output drops 3–5% per decade after 50 — but both are trainable ·      Anticipation beats raw speed because it covers for physical decline — Martina Hingis was living proof at the highest level ·      Neural gains (hand-eye coordination, reaction) can show up in as little as 2–4 weeks; movement and change-of-direction gains take 6–8 weeks ·      Agility training needs to be done at — or above — the intensity you want to compete at, or the body won't adapt ·      Combine non-reactive drills (cones, set patterns) with reactive drills (unpredictable ball release) in every session for the most bang for buck ·      The hunter mindset isn't motivational fluff — Nathan trained Lleyton Hewitt on it, and it's what drives anticipation up and self-doubt out ·      One strength session plus two agility sessions per week is Nathan's 90-day prescription for moving better on court   Nathan Martin – TennisFitness.com:  www.tennisfitness.com   Over 40’s Strength, Movement and Mobility Program https://www.memberstennisfitness.com/over-40-strength-movement-mobility   ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 Coming Up - Show Introduction 2:14 How Much Do Speed & Reaction Time Decline After 50? 7:01 Anticipation vs. Raw Speed — Which Matters More? 9:24 Can You Actually Train Anticipation? 10:28 The Urgency Mindset That Unlocks Anticipation 11:37 The Lleyton Hewitt Hunter Mindset 13:10 The Most Effective Agility Drills for Match Play 15:01 Reactive vs. Non-Reactive Drills — The Key Difference 16:49 Can You Train Anticipation Solo? 17:36 The 90-Day Plan to Move Better on Court 20:10 Show Wrap Up   #TennisFitness #SeniorTennis #TennisTraining #Over50Fitness #TennisLife #AgilityTraining #SeniorAthletes #TennisTips #FitOver50 #MastersTennis

    22 min

  4. Jun 2

    Miss Less, Win More: Consistency for Senior Players I Jonathan Stokke

    7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community   Episode Description Jonathan Stokke is back for his third appearance, and this time we're getting into the one thing that beats pace, power, and fancy shot-making at every recreational level — consistency. Not the "just keep it in play" advice you've heard a hundred times. Jonathan breaks down exactly why senior players give away points they should be winning, what speed you should be hitting at on any given day, and why your ego is probably your worst opponent on the court. Key Takeaways Winners don't happen on command — your opponents will miss for free if you stop helping themYour job number one from the baseline in doubles is simply to make the ball — everything else is job two and threeThe driving analogy: your shot speed needs to match conditions, not your egoYou don't hit where you aim — and that's actually an argument for aiming middle, not against itThe Stokke Six: the six most common ways recreational players give points away, and the three that show up most in doublesHit as fast as you can and as close to the lines as you can — knowing you can still make the ballThe 2% principle: you don't jump a level by thinking harder, you get there by earning slightly better reps    Jonathan Stokke: www.stokketenniscoaching.com Stokke Doubles Academy: https://www.skool.com/stokke-doubles-academy/about ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — Coming Up - Show Introduction 01:42 — Winners Don't Happen on Command 02:46 — Help Them Miss: The Real Strategy 03:57 — Job One from the Baseline: Make the Ball 05:26 — Match Your Speed to Conditions 08:24 — Shot Selection: Do Less, Win More 11:36 — The Stokke Six: Where Points Go to Die 14:43 — The Ego Check: What It Really Takes to Level Up 15:50 — Hit As Fast as You Can — Knowing You Can Make It 17:49 — Show Wrap Up #SeniorTennis #TennisTips #ConsistencyWins #DoublesTennis #TennisStrategy #RecreationalTennis #JonathanStokke #InsidersPlaybook   🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — 7 DAY FREE TRIAL Every match teaches you something. Senior Tennis Unpacked is where competitive 50+ players break down what went wrong and learn together what it takes to compete better and win more matches. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about

    19 min

  5. May 26

    Stop Playing Old, Weak Tennis - This Is All It Takes I Nathan Martin

    7 Day Free Trail - https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about Senior Tennis Unpacked Community   If you're over 50 and skipping the weight room because you think it'll wreck your joints or wear you out before match day — this episode is going to change your mind. Nathan Martin from Tennis Fitness breaks down exactly why strength training isn't optional anymore at our age, why the light-weight-high-rep approach most of us default to is keeping us on the decline, and how just two focused sessions a week can stop the muscle loss, improve your balance, and actually make you a more powerful player on the court. No bro-science, no six-day splits — just what works for competitive senior players who want to stay in the game. Key Takeaways:   You're losing up to 3% of your muscle mass every decade after 50 — and most of what we do in the gym isn't enough to stop itLight weight, high reps is a maintenance myth — if you're not fatiguing by rep 8-10, you're still on the decline trainTwo strength sessions a week is the target — done right, that's enough to build muscle, improve balance, and boost on-court powerFree weights and bodyweight beat pin-loaded machines — machines reduce the joint stability work your tennis game actually depends onTaper into tournaments, don't stop lifting — shift to unilateral, rotation-based work as match day approachesSix to eight weeks to start seeing real gains — but only if you're progressively overloading, not just going through the motions  Nathan Martin – TennisFitness.com:  www.tennisfitness.com   Over 40’s Strength, Movement and Mobility Program https://www.memberstennisfitness.com/over-40-strength-movement-mobility   #tennistips #tennistrategy #seniortennis #seniorfitness #tennisstrengthtraining #over50fitness #tennisfitness #tennisworkout #tennisover50   ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Show Introduction 01:52 Why Strength Training Is Non-Negotiable After 50 03:03 How Strength Training Fixes Your Balance 05:20 The Muscle Groups That Matter Most for Senior Tennis 06:32 How Often Should You Actually Be Lifting 08:51 Free Weights vs. Machines vs. Bodyweight 10:01 The Mistakes Senior Players Make in the Gym 11:25 Coming Back From Injury — Where to Start 12:31 How to Balance Lifting With Match Play and Tournaments 14:55 How Long Until You See Real Gains 18:04 Show Wrap Up   🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — 7 DAY FREE TRIAL Every match teaches you something. Senior Tennis Unpacked is where competitive 50+ players break down what went wrong and learn together what it actually takes to compete better and win more matches. 👉https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about

    21 min

  6. May 19

    Fix Your Overhead: Neutralize the Most Annoying Shot I Jonathan Stokke

    7 Day Free Trail - https://bit.ly/stu-skool Senior Tennis Unpacked Community   📄 Episode Description We all know the feeling: you're at the net, feeling like a pro, until that high, slow ball goes up and suddenly you're backpedaling like a panicked crab. Most of us hate lobs because we're terrified of our own overheads, but the truth is, we're making it way harder than it needs to be by taking dangerous technical shortcuts. In this episode, Jonathan Stokke breaks down why the "lobber" isn't actually your enemy — your overhead is — and shares a simple spacing rule that allows even players with limited mobility to turn that "annoying" shot into a point-ending smash.   ✅ Key Takeaways ·      The "Secret" Source of Hate: Why your frustration with lobbers is actually a "bad overhead" problem in disguise. ·      The Shortcut Trap: Why backpedaling is the "number one" technical mistake that ruins your balance and your overhead. ·      The Serve Hack: A simple visualization to turn your overhead from a "swat" into a controlled, abbreviated serve. ·      The One-Yard Rule: How getting just one yard behind the service line allows you to cover 90% of lobs without ever needing to jump. ·      Predicting the Future: How to "read the mail" and know a lob is coming before your opponent even hits it.   Jonathan Stokke: www.stokketenniscoaching.com Stokke Doubles Academy: https://www.skool.com/stokke-doubles-academy/about ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up / Introduction 01:52 The "Secret" Source of Hate: It's Really a Bad Overhead Problem 05:12 The One-Yard Rule: Cover 90% of Lobs Without Jumping 06:29 The Shortcut Trap: Why Backpedaling Destroys Your Balance 07:31 The Serve Hack: Turn Your Overhead Into an Abbreviated Serve 13:47 Key Takeaways: Lob Strategy + Predicting the Future 16:11 Show Wrap-Up     🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — 7 DAY FREE TRIAL Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. 👉 https://bit.ly/stu-skool

    18 min

  7. May 12

    The Tennis Footwork Myth Killing Senior Players (Do This Instead) I John Craig

    📋 Episode Description Most senior players think they move badly because they're slow. John Craig says that's the wrong diagnosis entirely. In this episode, John — whose "Footplay" system has transformed movement for players well into their 70s — reveals why chasing speed is a trap, and why the real unlock is rhythm, continuous motion, and learning to touch the court instead of hit it. Whether you're stuck flat-footed at the baseline or losing the net battle in doubles, this conversation will completely reframe how you think about your feet — and why your strokes have been suffering for it.   🎯 Key Takeaways "Footwork" is the wrong word. It implies effort and strain. John calls it "footplay" — and that mindset shift alone changes how your body moves on court.Your strokes follow your feet, not the other way around. If your groundstrokes are breaking down, the problem probably isn't your swing.The #1 mistake senior players make: Standing still. Movement isn't about speed — it's about staying in motion. The moment you stop, your athletic switch turns off.Learn to "touch" the court, not "hit" it. Soft knees, soft ankles, springboard feel — this is what keeps you light, balanced, and injury-resistant as you age.The split step doesn't have to leave the ground. A small weight shift on opponent contact is enough to keep your athletic switch on and your reaction time sharp.  Contact John Craig: https://performanceplustennis.com/john-craig-director/ http://www.youtube.com/@PerformancePlusTennis   ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up - Introduction 02:14 Why "Footwork" Is the Wrong Word 04:09 It's Not About Speed — It's About Rhythm 05:34 Mastering the Up-and-Back Game 08:13 How to Train Movement Without Getting Hurt 13:10 Transition Shots: The Approach and Mid-Court Ball 14:41 Off-Court Training and the Float Like Ali Mindset 17:15 Show Wrap-Up   🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — FREE Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. Find your people. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about 🎾 ABOUT SENIOR TENNIS UNPACKED The go-to resource for competitive tennis players over 50 who want to win smarter and compete longer. 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

    20 min

  8. May 5

    Your Net Position Is Wrong — The Real Reason Your Doubles Poaches Fail I Jonathan Stokke

    📄 Episode Description Most doubles players think poaching is a gamble — a wing-and-a-prayer lunge you attempt when you "feel it." Jonathan Stokke says that's exactly backwards. In this episode of Insider's Playbook, Stokke breaks down why 99% of his poaches are pre-planned before the ball is struck, why standing near the singles sideline is quietly killing your net game, and why the real default at the net isn't "hold your position" — it's move. If you've ever gotten burned down the line and retreated to your corner, this conversation will rewire how you think about your entire role as a net player.   ✅ Key Takeaways ·       Poaching is a decision, not a reaction — Stokke commits to the cross-court before his opponent swings. If you're waiting to "read" the ball, you're already late. ·       The math is on your side — 75–90% of returns go cross-court at every level. You don't need to be a mind reader. You need to trust the percentage. ·       Your starting position is probably wrong — Standing close to the singles sideline forces you to run to the poach. Move your inside foot 5–6 feet from the center service line and suddenly it's a step and a half, not a sprint. ·       Flip the default — Poaching should be your go-to; staying is the mix-up. Most rec players have this exactly reversed, and it's why they never build real poaching confidence. ·       Getting burned is part of the deal — Every bad rep is a rep off your learning curve. Stokke's mindset: five missed poaches means five fewer standing between you and doing it well. ·       with the wrong pattern just grooves the wrong pattern 250 times.   Jonathan Stokke: www.stokketenniscoaching.com Stokke Doubles Academy: https://www.skool.com/stokke-doubles-academy/about #TennisTips #DoublesStrategy #SeniorTennis #TennisCoaching #USTATennis #TennisLife #NetPlay #RecreationalTennis ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro: Reactor or Decider 01:58 What a True Poach Actually Is 03:50 The 75-90% Rule: Why Math Favors You 07:06 Your Real Job at the Net 09:53 Where to Stand: The Position Most Players Get Wrong 12:45 When to Poach During a Live Rally 14:42 How to Start Adding This to Your Game 17:59  The 4.5 Move Any 3.5 Can Use 19:53 Find Stokke online 20:52 Show Wrap Up & Key Takeaways 🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY — FREE Senior Tennis Unpacked on Skool is where serious 50+ players break down matches, swap strategies, and get better together. Post a match story. Ask a hard question. Find your people. 👉 https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081/about 🎾 ABOUT SENIOR TENNIS UNPACKED The go-to resource for competitive tennis players over 50 who want to win smarter and compete longer. 🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

    22 min
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If you’re over 50 and still driven by competition, Insider’s Playbook is built for you. This podcast goes beyond generic tennis advice and into the strategic, physical, and mental edge senior players need to compete longer and win more matches. Hosted by senior tennis tournament competitor Mike Rogers, and founder os SeniorTennisUnpacked.com, each episode features elite coaches, national champions, and performance experts sharing real strategies to help you move smarter, train efficiently, stay injury-resistant, and out-think opponents who rely on youth alone. Subscribe now and step inside the playbook that top senior players use to keep raising their game.

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