Tennis IQ Podcast

Tennis IQ Podcast
  • 4.7 (98)
  • Tennis
  • Updated Biweekly

Ninety percent of tennis performance is mental and that's what makes the sport so difficult. Sport psychology professionals Brian Lomax and Josh Burger share their insights on mental performance in tennis, discuss current events in the world of tennis, and interview guests with a unique perspective on mental toughness. Whether you want to learn more about the mental game in tennis or you just have an interest in the sport, this is the podcast for you. Send your questions to tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com or via Twitter using #tennisiq.

  1. May 21

    Ep. 253 - Lisa Stone of ParentingAces | Helping Families Navigate Junior Tennis

    Lisa Stone is the founder and creator of ParentingAces, a podcast and digital platform dedicated to junior and college tennis parents and coaches. Lisa is a lifelong tennis player and UCLA graduate, she grew up in Louisiana and raised three children, one of whom developed into a highly competitive junior and college tennis player. It was that firsthand experience navigating the junior tennis world that inspired her to launch ParentingAces.com, initially as a blog, to share what she was learning with other parents who were asking the same questions. In the summer of 2012, Lisa launched the ParentingAces Podcast, and it has been running strong ever since, which is now in its 15th season. Over the years, the show has become one of the leading global voices on the relationship between parents, players, and coaches in the world of competitive tennis. Through ParentingAces, Lisa has given tennis parents a true voice, and she continues to help families navigate the junior tennis journey with insight, warmth, and passion for the game. More information can be found at ParentingAces.com. To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    1h 5m

  2. May 12

    Ep. 252 - A Tribute to Jim Loehr | A Pioneer in Sport Psychology for Tennis

    In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the legacy of Dr. Jim Loehr. The episode is divided into four sections: 1) Dr. Loehr as a pioneer and “the first one out there” in the field of sport/performance psychology within tennis, 2) the legacy and importance of the 16‑Second Cure, 3) his shift in focusing on winning to helping athletes build character, and 4) personal reflections and final thoughts. To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    44 min

  3. Apr 28

    Ep. 251 - The Paradox of Outcomes and Cameron Young

    In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss an article about Cameron Young from the PGA Tour and the paradox of outcomes. They talked about how acceptance of his self-talk, staying present, and taking things one shot at a time ultimately led to his success at The Players Championship. The co-hosts examined how tennis players, coaches, and parents can learn from the successes of professional athletes in tennis and in other sports to understand what strategies and mental skills can improve performance. Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7127018/2026/03/18/cameron-young-players-mental-skill/ To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    47 min

  4. Apr 19

    Ep. 250 - Finding Your Natural Style of Play

    In this episode, Brian and Josh review an article about Emma Raadacanu losing her “natural” playing style and trying to find it again. They discuss the issues with coaches teaching a ‘one size fits all’ approach to tennis and advocate for players to build their game based on individual strengths and preferences instead. Lastly, they examine which characteristics tennis players can build to help themselves utilize their “natural” playing style including self-belief and trust. Article: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/mar/05/emma-raducanu-hopes-rediscover-natural-style-tennis To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    36 min

  5. Apr 9

    Ep. 249 - Understanding First Round/Match Anxiety

    The first round of a tournament or the first match of a league/conference championship weekend can lead to more anxious feelings for tennis players. In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss research on first match anxiety to help you understand it better, and take practical steps to handle it better. Psychophysiological stress in tennis players during the first single match of a tournament: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030645300800228X To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    41 min

  6. Mar 27

    Ep. 248 - The Benefits of Using Constraints

    In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss how tennis players can benefit by taking a constraints led approach. They talk about constraints that tennis players can establish in practices and matches, and differentiate between preclude and promote constraints. Although it may seem that constraints take away the freedom to choose, they actually give tennis players far more structure to make high-percentage and helpful decisions. To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    39 min

  7. Mar 14

    Ep. 247 - Rethinking The Origins Of Greatness

    In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the origins of greatness in performance, and whether early specialization increases one's chances of becoming truly elite. They review research that showed 90% of top performers were not the top juniors and, conversely that 90% of the top junior players did not become top pros. The implications of this research is discussed, and Brian and Josh offer practical suggestions for how tennis players can benefit by participating in multiple sports and activities outside of tennis. Article - “Rethinking the Origins of Greatness” by Scott Barry Kaufmanhttps://www.beautifulminds-newsletter.com/p/rethinking-the-origins-of-greatness?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=25822&post_id=187293118&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=tfvr4&triedRedirect=true Research Study - "Recent discoveries on the acquisition of the highest levels of human performance" by Arne Güllich, Michael Barth, David Z. Hambrick, and Brooke N. Macnamarahttps://hhs.purdue.edu/skill-learning-and-performance-lab/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/01/Gullich-Barth-Hambrick-Macnamara-2025.pdf To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    53 min

  8. Mar 4

    Ep. 246 - The Impact of Mental Fatigue on Performance and Accuracy

    In this episode, Brian and Josh discuss the impact of mental fatigue on tennis performance. Research on this topic includes a systematic review from 2024 which looked at mental fatigue in various racquet sports, as well as a 2025 Turkish study which showed that mental fatigue impaired precision/accuracy. The co-hosts also examined the impact of junior players using social media before matches, as well as the impact of a full workday before an adult league or tournament match. To learn more about Josh and Brian's backgrounds and sport psychology businesses, go to TiebreakerPsych.com and PerformanceXtra.com. If you have feedback about the show or questions on the mental game in tennis you can email us at tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com. If you’re enjoying the show please rate us on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and write a review. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) to stay up to date on future episodes.

    37 min
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4.7
out of 5
98 Ratings

About

Ninety percent of tennis performance is mental and that's what makes the sport so difficult. Sport psychology professionals Brian Lomax and Josh Burger share their insights on mental performance in tennis, discuss current events in the world of tennis, and interview guests with a unique perspective on mental toughness. Whether you want to learn more about the mental game in tennis or you just have an interest in the sport, this is the podcast for you. Send your questions to tennisiqpodcast@gmail.com or via Twitter using #tennisiq.

Information

  • Creator
    Tennis IQ Podcast
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tennis IQ Podcast
  • Show Website
    Tennis IQ Podcast

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