Getting A Grip: Recent Episodes
Ben Thomas and Merlin Davies
A weekly podcast rounding up the latest news from the tennis world. Plus, join in as we expose our lack of knowledge with some tennis trivia!
In this episode, Merlin and Ben discuss the smelly topic of 'feet' and how you can best manage them to improve your performance on the court.
In this episode, Merlin and Ben discuss 5 key lessons they've learnt from playing and coaching for a total of 25 years combined (we're not that old)!
In this episode, Merlin and Ben discuss why the specific nature of tennis helps you live longer, sometimes by up to 10 years!
In this episode, Merlin and Ben talk about the dreaded tennis elbow - a problem HALF of us tennis players will face during our lifetime! We discuss why tennis elbow occurs how to great it, and how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
In this episode, Merlin sits down with James Wilkinson - the founder of the online racket sports accessories store Get A Grip. They discuss why showing your personality on court has never been more critical, especially for younger players.
Get A Grip: https://uk.getagrip.club/
In this episode, Merlin and Ben talk about something that many of us have encountered on the court... cramps. They discuss why cramps even occur and how to prevent them from happening.
In this episode, Merlin sits down with NHS Nutritionist and Tennis Coach Edward Stolliday to discuss ways you can use hydration and eating to benefit your tennis match performance.
In this episode, Merlin sits down with NHS Nutritionist and Tennis Coach Edward Stolliday discuss ways in which you can use tennis to help you lose weight.
We discuss what routines you could include before you hit the match court, such as what to eat, what stretches to use, and how to be mentally ready for that first point.
Merlin and Ben discuss how to get more value from your tennis coaching, be that group or individual sessions. We cover costs, whether private coaching is worth it, and what strategy to follow in order to progress fastest!
In this episode, Ben talks to ATP and ITF Tour Coach Alessandro Sciaraffa about psychological tools we can use to stay more focused and positive with our mindset on-court. He also gives advice on how to progress your game quickly if you do not have a coach.
We dissect the key components from Novak Djokovic's complete game and find 5 things we can apply to our own tennis practice.
Ben and Merlin outline the key aspects of Alcaraz's all-court game and what we can apply to our own tennis game!
Ben and Merlin react to Alcaraz dethroning Djokovic, and Vondrousova's dream run to the Wimbledon 2023 title!
Ben sits down with the former Top 100 ATP Pro and coach of Kei Nishikori, Michael Mmoh and Yoshihito Nishioka, to discuss what it takes to coach at the top level, the mindset of ATP players, and how they cope with intense pressure and scrutiny.
Ben sits down with the former coach of Kei Nishikori, Michael Mmoh and Yoshihito Nishioka, to discuss what it takes to coach at the top level, the mindset of ATP players, and how they cope with intense pressure and scrutiny.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gettingagriptennis/ Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@getting_a_grip_tennis Twitter: www.twitter.com/_GettingAGrip Sound: www.bensound.com www.zapsplat.com www.pixabay.com Visual: www.videezy.com About Us: We are two tennis coaches from Devon, UK. When we're not busy chatting about random people hitting a ball at each other, Merlin plays around with Petri dishes and Ben coaches kids to hit balls on the other side of the world.
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With Wimbledon 2023 upon us, we preview the men's and women's singles draws for the Championships and give our predictions in tennis-trivia style. Will Djokovic win his eighth title? Can Swiatek find her form on grass?
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gettingagriptennis/ Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@getting_a_grip_tennis Twitter: www.twitter.com/_GettingAGrip Sound: www.bensound.com www.zapsplat.com www.pixabay.com Visual: www.videezy.com About Us: We are two tennis coaches from Devon, UK. When we're not busy chatting about random people hitting a ball at each other, Merlin plays around with Petri dishes and Ben coaches kids to hit balls on the other side of the world. #Wimbledon2023 #Djokovic #Swiatek
In this episode, Merlin sits down with Tom Parnell, the Head of Media & Film at Pro Direct Tennis - the world's largest online tennis store. They discuss what ATP and WTA tennis players are really like off camera; why social media is king when it comes to selling products; and why he wished he got involved in tennis sooner.Instagram: www.instagram.com/gettingagriptennis/ Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@getting_a_grip_tennis Twitter: www.twitter.com/_GettingAGrip
Merlin and Ben give their thoughts on different talking points from Part 2 of Netlfix's Break Point: Who should have featured more? What was the best storyline? And should we experiment with super noisy crowds in stadiums?
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gettingagriptennis/
Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@getting_a_grip_tennis
Twitter: twitter.com/_GettingAGrip
Sound: www.bensound.com www.zapsplat.com www.pixabay.com
Visual: www.videezy.com
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Ben sits down with Diego Moyano, former coach of Coco Gauff and Kevin Anderson, to discuss what makes a great player and coach; the pressures on young players; and the importance of having a good team around you.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gettingagriptennis/
Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@getting_a_grip_tennis
Twitter: twitter.com/_GettingAGrip
Sound: www.bensound.com www.zapsplat.com
Visual: www.videezy.com
Ben and Merlin look back on the major events of the past fortnight at Roland Garros, including a historic 23rd Slam for Djokovic and a rare defence of the women's title from Iga Swiatek.
Ben sits down with Roger Marquass - director of GCA Junior Tennis Club, Gold Coast, Australia - to discuss his tennis upbringing, transitioning from playing to coaching, and what he learnt from coaching Top 150 ITF-ranked junior players.
Ben and Merlin look ahead to what might unfold at this year's French Open, including a new 'big 3' - this time in the women's game; and perhaps the most open men's draw in 20 years.
We review the drama from Rome, including Medvedev's clay court mindset shift, Rybakina closing in on the Top 3, and 'that' boogie celebration.
Merlin and Ben discuss all the goings-on at the Rome Masters, including some surprise early exits in the women's and men's draws!
We review all the events of the Madrid Masters, including wins for Alcaraz and Sabalenka as well as the fallout from 'Cake-gate'.
We dive into some Madrid Masters stats from over the years as well as taking a look at how this year's edition has unfolded so far.
Ben and Merlin round up the action from a host of tournaments on the tour this week, including a long-awaited title for Lajovic, and title retentions for Swiatek, Rune and Alcaraz.
We take a look back at the week in Monte Carlo through our quiz format. Look out for some teenage trivia, Merlin's Rune rant, and a surprising statistic about Roger Federer.
As the seasons change and tennis moves to the clay court swing, we take a deep dive into the data surrounding the different surfaces in tennis.
Ben and Merlin review all the action from Miami, including Kvitova's ability to rise to the occasion and Medvedev's sensational hard-court run!
Merlin tests out Ben's knowledge of the Miami Masters with some current and throwback questions.
Merlin and Ben take a look back at this week's action in Indian Wells, including an incredible final on the ladies' side and Medvedev's love-hate relationship with the courts.
We take a look at the action from Indian Wells so far through our quiz-themed format. Will Ben have egg on his face again?
In light of Marta Kostyuk's decision not to shake hands with her Russian opponent at the weekend, Merlin and Ben discuss the role of politics in tennis and how can tennis, and its players, best navigate this difficult landscape.
We look back on some amazing comebacks from during the week, culminating in a triumph for Norrie and a valiant final effort from Muzza!
Merlin and Ben discuss the merits of the (next) next-gen players and who can take the baton forward in tennis once the inevitable eventually happens.
We are back with another instalment of our Head2Head series and this time it's the BIG ONE... Novak vs. Rafa! Who will come out on top?
Ben and Merlin discuss all things Davis Cup, including playing at altitude with pressure-less balls, and how does the ITF co-exist with the ATP/WTA Tour and Grand Slams?
Merlin and Ben discuss the fallout from AO 23, including a great comeback from Sabalenka and that famous 22 jacket worn by Novak at his trophy presentation!
We have a look at how are AO predictions are going (look away Ben) and give our thoughts on the good and bad of the new Break Point docu-series.
Ben and Merlin discuss different talking points around the Australian Open, including prize money, country representation and previous winners! There are also a few predictions that are sure to leave eggs on faces...
Tennis trivia makes a return for the 2023 season and we discuss all things United Cup!!
What happens when you run out of content in the off-season? It's time for Grand Slam BEST BITS!!
Ben and Merlin take on the big topic of coaching and ask the question: how much does it really help?
We take a look back at the year by chatting about recovery/prehab, our favourite moments and our players to watch for next year!
We react to events at the ATP Finals where there was another record for a one Novak Djokovic! There's also 'nearly man', outbursts and red wine chat...
We discuss the various permutations of groups 1 and 2 for the ATP Finals and just how hard it is to predict an overall winner!
We react to Garcia's triumph in the WTA Finals and Rune's shock win over Djokovic in Paris!
We are back after a brief hiatus and are now on opposite sides of the world! We chat about what's going on at the Paris Masters and the WTA Finals and who is looking good ahead of the ATP world tour finals.
A preview for a new clip series where we give our views about contentious common coaching advice!
Ben and Merlin discuss who is the leading contender and most likely player to be the next new winner of a major!
We compare the key stats and attributes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a half-serious Head2Head debate!
Ben and Merlin look back at the weekend's action from the Laver Cup, including an incredibly emotional farewell for Roger Federer after his final match🥲
We react to the news of Roger's retirement and reminisce over some of his most memorable matches down the years. And, of course, there is a Federer-themed tennis trivia to test Ben's fan knowledge!
Can anyone stop Swiatek? How many grand slams can Alcaraz win? We look back at how the 2 weeks unfolded at Flushing Meadows on both the women's and men's sides. Plus, there's some US Open-themed tennis trivia to get stuck into
Does it enhance the fan experience? Is it fair? Merlin and Ben debate the pros and cons of the current off-court coaching trial on the ATP and WTA tours.
We preview the US Open on the men's and ladies' sides, including a look at the Brits as well as our favourites and dark horses for the tournament!
Merlin and Ben take a look back at some of the main stories from Cincinnati and how the likes of Coric, Norrie, and Raducanu are shaping up ahead of the US Open. Plus, join in as we merge grassroots tennis with our weekly tennis trivia!
We give our thoughts on how the men's draw shapes up in Cincinnati - can Rafa hit the ground running again after a spell on the sidelines? And there is a very exciting update about one of our junior players in Play Your Way to Wimbledon 2022! Plus, Merlin takes on some Cinci-themed tennis trivia...
We look ahead to the action at this week's Canadian Open, including our favourites and dark horses for the men's title! We also give our reflections on the first competition we entered together - a Grade 3 in the South West of England. Plus, there's some Canadian-flavoured tennis trivia.
In episode 2 of our debate series, we ask if there is a need for line judges in modern-day tennis. With advances in ball-tracking software, already put to use at events like The US Open during the pandemic, are we inevitably heading towards line judge-less tennis matches at the top level?
We take a look back at events in Hamburg and Gstaad, including the start of an exciting Next Gen rivalry, and hope of a comeback to the top table for Dominic Thiem. Plus, we react to the huge news that the Big 4 are to team up in the Laver Cup later this year!
Should there be tournaments straight after Wimbledon? We weigh up the pros and cons of the increasingly hectic tennis tour and the timings of playing on different surfaces. There's also some Bastad/Newport-themed tennis trivia.
We take a look back at the action from the last fortnight at Wimbledon, including reactions to the men's and women's finals as well as a debate over how tennis should deal with player withdrawals. Tennis trivia also makes a return after a 2-week hiatus!
In the first episode of this new debate series, Merlin and Ben discuss Kyrgios' on-court outbursts and tennis as an entertainment product, as well as what should be done about umpiring within tennis.
With SW19 on the horizon, the boys look at what the draw has to offer on the men's and women's sides, including first-round banana skins, their favourites for the tournament and any dark horses lurking around...
Ben and Merlin take a look back at the week's action in Queen's and Halle while also discussing Rafa's readiness for Wimbledon and Novak's US Open predicament. Plus, there's some more grass-themed tennis trivia!
Merlin and Ben discuss Murray's recent form in the build-up to Wimbledon, who - if anyone - is favourite for the Queen's title, as well as an update about a promising junior player from the South West... There's also, of course, a grass-themed tennis trivia in this week's episode.
We take a look back at the key talking points from the French Open, including Rafa's FOURTEENTH title, Swiatek's winning streak, and Ruud's nearly man status. There are also some Nadal-themed questions in this week's tennis trivia...
We react to our questionable pre-tournament predictions, preview the clash of titans (Rafa v Novak), and discuss Rune's impressive run to the quarters. Plus, is there anyone that can stop Swiatek from taking glory in Paris? There's also time for some topical tennis trivia to round-off this week's episode.
We give our predictions for the French Open on the men's and women's sides, including are favourites for the title and dark horses lurking in the draw... We also react to Wimbledon being stripped of its ranking points, and Merlin's French Open knowledge is put to the test in this week's tennis trivia!
We look back on an action-packed week in Rome, including some more impressive numbers from Novak, a recurrence of Nadal's foot problem, as well as Iga Swiatek's incredible run of wins this year. You can also test your knowledge with this week's Djokovic-themed tennis trivia!
Will Carlitos rule the tennis world for the next decade? After an exciting week in Madrid, we look back at the latter stages of the tournament, as well as reminiscing over Kevin Anderson's impressive career. And, of course, Merlin looks to back up his previous 100% performance in tennis trivia.
We review what's been happening in Munich and Estoril, before taking a look at a mammoth draw for the Madrid Masters 1000 event! And, of course, there's some tennis trivia where Ben learns about different coloured balls...
Merlin and Ben give the stats and attributes behind their favourite players from the 'The Big 4' in this first episode of a new Head2Head series.
We give our views on the marathon matches in Monte-Carlo and the investigation by The Telegraph into umpire power structures. Plus, is the new look GB Team a good thing for the younger players? And there's another quick update from the juniors' circuit.
Ben and Merlin discuss whether it is a surprise that Norrie has made the top 10, reminisce on Tsonga's best moments, and provide an update on how junior players are doing in the local area! Lendl's hand also makes a surprise appearance in this week's tennis trivia...
We take a look at this week's action in Florida as well as Medvedev's decision to have a hernia operation, and how this fits into the general debate around player welfare on the tour.
We review Indian Wells, soak in the drama from Miami, and react to Ashleigh Barty's 'shock' retirement from tennis... And, of course, it's round 4 of tennis trivia this week!
Ben and Merlin discuss the Nadal vs. Alcaraz match-up; the trialling of a fifth-set tie-break across all Grand Slams; and how players can mentally cope with fan heckling. Plus some progress on the Tennis Trivia front!
Ben and Merlin discuss Murray's place in the 'big 4', Roger's road to recovery, and some of the most notable tennis tantrums in recent times.
Our first ever podcast episode!
We chat about Medvedev's rise to world number 1, what this means for the 'big 3', and Ben's childhood encounter with Martina Navratilova...