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

Mike Rogers - Founder of Senior Tennis Unpacked
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Tennis

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. 3d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Apr 28

    Why Your Serve Is Getting Worse — And It Has Nothing to Do With Your Arm I John Craig

    If your serve has quietly gotten shorter, slower, and less reliable over the last few years, you've probably blamed your shoulder, your elbow, or just "getting older." John Craig has coached hundreds of senior players over 40 years and says the real culprit is almost never what you think — and the fixes most players are chasing are making it worse. In this episode, we get into what breaks down first as we age, why stability beats jumping every time, how grip tension is silently killing your racket head speed, and why hunting serve tips on YouTube is basically building a jalopy out of junkyard parts.   Key Takeaways: Stability over jumping — You lose almost no power by keeping your feet on the ground. What you lose is control when you don't.Tension is the silent killer — The death grip doesn't just hurt your speed, it masks every other problem in your serve. Fix this first.The racket drop isn't a move — it's a byproduct — Stop trying to manufacture it. Relax, sequence correctly, and it happens on its own.The frying pan grip has a ceiling — If you're still serving Eastern forehand, John explains exactly why your serve will never get where you want it — and how to test whether your mobility even allows the transition.Quality over buckets — Shadow your serve before you touch a ball, and separate technical work from target practice. Hitting 250 balls with the wrong pattern just grooves the wrong pattern 250 times.  Contact John Craig: https://performanceplustennis.com/john-craig-director/ http://www.youtube.com/@PerformancePlusTennis   #tennistips #tennistrategy #seniortennis #tennisserve #tennisover50  ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:17 What Actually Breaks Down as We Age 03:14 Control Over Power: The Senior Serve Mindset 05:49 Grip Tension: The Silent Serve Killer 07:12 Trophy Position, Racket Drop & Toss Mechanics 11:27 How to Practice Your Serve the Right Way 13:14 The Frying Pan Grip: Can You Actually Make the Switch? 17:20 Fitness, Patience & Stop Building a Jalopy 19:13 What John Is Working On + How to Find Him 21:21 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. JOIN FREE 👉 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

    23 min

  7. Apr 21

    Before You Let Them Cut: Protecting Your Tennis Career After 50 I Dr. William Kang

    Every competitive tennis player over 50 will eventually sit in a surgeon's office. Most walk in completely unprepared. In this episode, orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Kang — who plays and treats tennis players — gives you the exact questions to ask before agreeing to surgery, the truth about PRP and whether it's worth your money, and the recovery timeline reality that most players get completely wrong. What you'll learn: The 3 questions to ask any surgeon before going under the knifeWhy PRP beats steroid injections for tennis injuriesThe "year after the year" recovery truth no one tells youHow to read your body's signals before things get serious Dr. Will Kang is an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Black Tie Orthopedics, a practice specializing in non-operative treatment of tennis injuries. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktieortho/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@BlackTieOrthopedics   #SeniorTennis #TennisInjuries #TennisFitness #Over50Tennis #TennisHealth #OrthopedicSurgeon #TennisRecovery #CompetitiveTennis #USTA #SeniorAthletes   ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Before You Let Them Cut (Intro) 01:18 Why 50 is Young in an Orthopedic Office 03:05 The 3 Questions to Ask Before Any Surgery 07:26  Mike's Toe Surgery — What He Wish He'd Known 08:08 PRP vs. Steroid Injections — What's Actually Worth Your Money 12:13 Where Most Players Go Wrong in Recovery 14:29 What Your Surgeon Wishes You Knew Before Walking In 15:59 Recap + How to Find Dr. William Kang   🤝 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

    18 min

  8. Apr 14

    Stop Ignoring These Injuries Before They End Your Tennis Career I Dr. William Kang

    What ends senior tennis careers isn't one big injury — it's the slow accumulation of small ones you kept playing through. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Will Kang explains exactly what to watch for before it's too late. In this episode, Dr. Kang breaks down the three most career-threatening injuries for players over 50 — tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears, and knee degeneration — and delivers some hard truths your regular doctor probably hasn't told you. What you'll learn: → Why your tennis elbow brace is making things WORSE (and the simple band exercise that fixes it) → The truth about rotator cuff pain — why it's often a "red herring" and what it's really telling you → The meniscus surgery warning every senior player needs to hear before going under the knife → How injury patterns change as your game improves — and what that means for protecting your knees → Why replacing one joint sets off a cascade of problems in nearby joints The Copenhagen Heart Study says tennis adds 10 years to your life. But only if you're still playing. Dr. Will Kang is an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Black Tie Orthopedics, a practice specializing in non-operative treatment of tennis injuries. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktieortho/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@BlackTieOrthopedics   #TennisElbowTreatment #TennisElbowExercises #TennisElbow #RotatorCuffTennis #TennisInjuries #KneePain #SportsInjuries #TennisInjuryPreventionOver50 #SeniorTennisTips #SeniorTennis #TennisTips #OrthopedicSurgeonTennis #MeniscusSurgeryRecovery ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro - How Senior Tennis Careers Really End 01:17 The Injury Cascade: Why It's Never Just One Thing 03:04 Does Playing Sports Your Whole Life Help or Hurt? 03:55 Tennis Elbow: Catch It Early or Pay the Price 07:05 Rotator Cuff: The Injury You Don't See Coming 10:15 Why Better Players Get the Knee Problems 11:34 Knees - Meniscus, Arthritis, and What Your Doctor May Not Tell You 15:18 Tennis Adds 10 Years to Your Life — If You Stay on the Court 16:45 Show Wrap Up     🌐 Explore everything: https://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Get Fit, Get Strong A performance guide built specifically for senior tennis players who want to move better and last longer on court. 👉 https://subscribe.seniortennisunpacked.com/GFGS1   🔑 THE MATCH INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM™ A complete framework for early opponent reads and in-match adjustments — built for senior tennis doubles and singles players who want to play smarter, not harder. 👉 http://SeniorTennisUnpacked.com/match-system

    18 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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