The GreatBase Tennis Podcast

Steve Smith and Associates
  • 4.9 (95)
  • TENNIS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The GreatBase Tennis Podcast is a weekly audio show presented by Steve Smith and associates. Information, ideas, and insights are provided to help those connected to the game of tennis.

  1. 2D AGO

    What Juniors Need Most

    Ashley Hobson joins Steve Smith and Dave Anderson to discuss coach mentorship, player development, and building athletes from the inside out. Hobson shares his path from South Africa and Lesotho into elite coaching, including formative years with Dennis Van der Meer and a decade with Peter Burwash, experiences that shaped his progression-based approach and emphasis on professionalism. Episode 283 covers what has changed in junior tennis, including the rise of early “teams” around young players, the value of long-term coach player relationships, and why post-match evaluation and character-driven habits matter as much as technique. Listeners should also check out Hobson’s coaching resources and, separately, Robert Davis’s book Elements of Coaching Professional Tennis.

    1h 15m

  2. JAN 7

    Confidence Doesn't Equal Competence

    Robert Davis joins Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ilja Semjonovs for a wide-ranging conversation on what pro-level coaching actually requires. With over 30 years on the ATP Tour and experience as a technical director and national coach across multiple federations, Davis brings a global perspective shaped by high-performance environments and his work as editor-in-chief of ELITE Tennis Journal. The discussion examines coaching as a long-term responsibility, the difference between confidence and competence, and why doubles remains essential to complete player development. Episode 282 also breaks down professional routines such as planning, recovery, nutrition, and deliberate training, and how these habits separate coaches and players who continue to grow from those who stagnate. Listeners are encouraged to check out Robert Davis’s book Elements of Coaching Professional Tennis for a deeper dive into the principles discussed in this episode.

    1h 4m

  3. 12/31/2025

    Begin With the End in Mind

    As the new year approaches, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson step back and re-center on the fundamentals that drive long-term development in tennis and in life: being proactive, prioritizing what matters, and committing to steady improvement. They connect timeless principles to junior development, especially grips, habits, and the idea that “winning” is built through process and skill-building rather than a scoreboard-driven mindset. The conversation also highlights a set of ten "life lessons” drawn from a GreatBase student: being all-in, outworking the room, showing gratitude and respect, valuing character before technique, and doing the ordinary an extraordinary number of times. Steve and Dave discuss, on episode 281, why the best growth comes from “Program Plus" - the work done away from the lesson, the court, and the spotlight. The pair closes with a practical mindset for 2026: simplify goals, avoid spreading yourself thin, and make daily routines measurable and repeatable.

    1h 4m

  4. 12/24/2025

    Golden Growth Recap

    In this Christmas Day episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith is joined by Dave Anderson and Ilya Samyanov for a wide-ranging conversation that blends reflection, teaching philosophy, and community. The group opens by honoring the legacies of Vic Braden, Dennis VanderMeer, and the late Mark Spann, sharing stories that underscore gratitude, mentorship, and the idea that tennis itself is a gift. The discussion weaves through family, sacrifice, and the responsibility coaches and parents carry in shaping both players and people. The second half centers on a review of the recent Ave Maria workshop, highlighting the “Golden Growth Opportunity” theme and the power of fundamentals done well. From learning names and building shared language, to rhythm training with the metronome, fitness testing, brain typing, and character development, the episode reinforces GreatBase as a system of systems. The core message is simple and demanding: start the course, stay the course, and commit to lifelong learning - on the court, at home, and in the daily habits that define a tennis journey.

    53 min

  5. 12/17/2025

    How Spain Builds Players

    Steve Smith and Dave Anderson welcome Coach Jaime Pulgar Garcia, new to the Brookhaven staff and already making a major cultural impact. Jaime shares his tennis origin story from Madrid, Spain, his late start at age 10, and the twin-track journey he and his brother took through college tennis (NC State and San Diego State), pro tennis, and high-performance coaching. The conversation explores how Spanish tennis culture shaped his development and why his family pushed the U.S. college route. Episode 279 expands into the “Spanish method” versus the U.S. landscape—coaching pathways, credentialing, junior development, and the role of other sports like soccer in building movement and competitiveness. Jaime and Dave discuss “high floor vs. high ceiling” player development, plus how modern scouting and analytics reinforce match-film insights without overwhelming players. Jaime also reflects on coaching Mackenzie McDonald through his major ranking climb.

    1h 17m

  6. 12/10/2025

    How Analytics Shape Tennis

    In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith welcomes USTA performance analytics expert Mat Cloer and coach Dave Anderson for a deep dive into the USTA’s new coaching initiative and its effort to strengthen education and certification for American tennis teachers. Cloer explains his role inside Player Development, using Hawkeye data, video analysis, and match statistics to help players and coaches better understand patterns in serving, returning, transition play, and net effectiveness. The discussion highlights how analytics are becoming a core tool in shaping modern training. Episode 278's conversation also explores Cloer’s time around the tour and his close work with Ben Shelton, along with insights from Billie Jean King Cup team events. Steve, Mat, and Dave connect high-level trends back to junior development—emphasizing doubles, all-court skills, proper fundamentals, and a genuine love for competing. They underline a clear message: the best players blend strong character with strong information, and the data only matters when it elevates teaching, learning, and long-term development.

    59 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    Lessons from Steve Denton

    In this episode of the Great Base Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith and co-host Dave Anderson sit down with Texas A&M head coach and former world No. 11, Steve Denton. Denton opens with the incredible story of the Shanghai Masters, how former Aggies Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot, first cousins, battled their way from qualifying and alternates into a dream final on one of tennis’ biggest stages. He explains their roots at Texas A&M, why developing an all-court, forward-moving game takes longer, and how subtle changes in style and mindset can unlock a pro career. Episode 277's conversation ranges through Denton’s own tour days, doubles with Kevin Curren, the evolution of college tennis, the importance of doubles as a pathway to making a lineup, and why “lifers” like Austin Krajicek and Jackson Withrow keep finding success. Along the way, you’ll hear rich Texas and Trinity tennis history, locker-room stories involving McEnroe and Connors, and Denton’s perspective on what parents and players should really value in the college and pro journey.

    1h 16m

  8. 11/26/2025

    Training a Tennis Mind

    In this episode, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson sit down with Tim Ross, who spent over a decade at Ernst & Young before making a full-time leap into tennis coaching. Tim shares his early years at the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis, how mentors like Arvin Aravindhan and David Detweiler shaped his development, and how his corporate background now helps him approach coaching with structure and intention. Tim also discusses his time volunteering with the Isha Foundation and how meditation, breathwork, and inner-work practices have transformed his emotional control and on-court performance. The conversation explores practical tools players can use, breathing patterns, mantras, routines, and daily habits, to develop calm intensity, stronger focus, and a healthier relationship with competition. Episode 276 finishes with insight into junior tennis culture, the pressures young players face, and why mindset training must accompany technical training. Tim starts his new coaching role at Doylestown Tennis Club, and Steve and Dave offer advice, encouragement, and stories from decades of teaching and competing.

    1h 8m
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4.9
out of 5
95 Ratings

About

The GreatBase Tennis Podcast is a weekly audio show presented by Steve Smith and associates. Information, ideas, and insights are provided to help those connected to the game of tennis.

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Smith and Associates
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    282
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The GreatBase Tennis Podcast
  • Show Website
    The GreatBase Tennis Podcast

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