Brian Thinks: Ideas from the Court

Brian Lutz
  • 5.0 (10)
  • TENNIS

Short ideas from a lifetime on the racquet court. I’ve spent more than 38 years around tennis and pickleball—coaching players, watching matches, and noticing the strange little decisions that happen between points. These episodes are quick observations about strategy, psychology, and how players actually improve. Longer thinking lives on my Substack, Brian Thinks, where players go deeper and meet Narci, a conversational coaching tool built for the moments between games. The podcast starts the thinking. Narci continues it on the court.

  1. 5D AGO

    Your Rating Isn't Stuck. Your Identity Is.

    Many players say they want to improve, but quietly organize their decisions around protecting a number. A DUPR rating.A league level.A reputation on the court. The result is predictable: safer choices, fewer experiments, and slower improvement. In this episode, I explore the subtle psychological trap of identity protection — and why real progress often starts when players are willing to temporarily look worse in order to get better. This idea shows up everywhere in racquet sports, from tennis league matches to pickleball tournaments. The question isn’t whether your rating is accurate. The real question is whether it has started to define how you play. More thinking on this topic lives on my Substack at Brian Thinks, where I explore the longer version of these ideas and the questions that help players think more clearly between games. Because the next point doesn’t start with the serve. It starts with the thought before it.

    6 min
  2. The Robots Are Coming To Teach Tennis!

    10/28/2024

    The Robots Are Coming To Teach Tennis!

    In this episode, Brian dives into the humorous and absurd world of unsolicited advice—comparing it to a passenger trying to coach a pilot during takeoff and landing. He explores how, in tennis, many consider themselves critics while forgetting that the true experts are the coaches crafting the lesson plans. As we face the rise of technology, Brian poses the question: "The Robots Are Coming to Tennis Tennis!" Can they really match the expertise and style of a seasoned coach? Tune in for a lighthearted take on trust, expertise, and the quirky intersection of sports and technology! Backhand City

    8 min

  3. 09/13/2024

    Are you a coaches dream?

    Today in the show Brian has a special guest, Director of Racquets at One Mile Racquet Club, Vernon Gettone Jr. (USPTA Florida Professional of the Year) as they talk about personality types on the tennis lesson court. Which one are you?

    31 min

  4. 08/04/2024

    Can Major League Pickleball Get a TV Deal?

    Major League Pickleball started with 24 teams and is down to 22. Brian discusses the emerging professional sport of pickleball and it pro sports league (MLP). Where to watch and what do they need to succeed in the short and long term.

    18 min

  5. 09/19/2023

    Taking Lessons at Private vs Public Tennis Courts

    Brian dives into the disadvantages of playing at private tennis clubs and taking lessons. He also discusses Simon Halep's four year doping suspension. Laver Cup without the "Big 3" and things he hates in tennis after the US Open.

    11 min
  6. US Open Prize Money: Pickleball vs Tennis

    08/14/2023

    US Open Prize Money: Pickleball vs Tennis

    If pickleball is so hot why is it so far behind tennis in prize money when comparing respective US Opens? Brian dives into the numbers and how long it takes to build market share in sports. With the digital economy and new leagues like Major League Pickleball you might be surprised how far pickleball has come as a sport.

    7 min

  7. 06/18/2023

    Miami Nights. A Magic City Masterclass on How To Play Tennis

    Want to know what Brian's tennis classes are like? Take a 9 minute listen to what you can learn in his tennis class.

    10 min

  8. 04/11/2023

    Varsity Tennis Team

    What are the advantages on playing on a tennis team in an individual sport like tennis? 1) Coaching 2) Comraderie 3) Affordability 4) Competition If you are interested Varsity Tennis Team go to: Backhand-City.com and fill out the tennis questionnaire.

    8 min
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About

Short ideas from a lifetime on the racquet court. I’ve spent more than 38 years around tennis and pickleball—coaching players, watching matches, and noticing the strange little decisions that happen between points. These episodes are quick observations about strategy, psychology, and how players actually improve. Longer thinking lives on my Substack, Brian Thinks, where players go deeper and meet Narci, a conversational coaching tool built for the moments between games. The podcast starts the thinking. Narci continues it on the court.

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