May 27, 2023 • 55 mins
Ever wondered what it's like to be a 5.0-rated tennis player and have a college tennis experience at Pacific University? Lucky for you, Anthony had the chance to sit down with Joey Jr., and hear all about his journey on and off the court. In our chat, Joey talks to us about his college tennis career, and the unique challenges that come with automatically being put in the USTA 5.0 category after college.
While Joey's talents on the court are nothing short of impressive, his off-court skills deserve some limelight too. We explore his grad school experience at USC, where he studied sports writing under the mentorship of former LA Times writers and Heisman voters. Joey shares how the ever-evolving landscape of sports media has led to a more competitive job market but also opened doors to creating your own opportunities. We also dive into his current teaching gig and why he chose to shift his focus from coaching to teaching tennis.
One thing we can all learn from Joey is his strategic thinking and self-reflection on the tennis court. Throughout our conversation, we discuss the importance of applying pressure, going in at the net, and understanding your opponent. Joey explains why believing in yourself is vital to achieving success and shares how he incorporates writing to maintain his mental focus. Don't miss this engaging chat with Joey Jr. as we explore the world of tennis, strategy, and personal growth.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
You are listening to Your League Tennis Podcast with
your host, anthony Radonia.
Anthony is an avid weekendwarrior tennis player, just like
you.
Every week, he'll beinterviewing new and exciting
guests that will not only differin experience and skill level,
but also in age and physicalability.
Your League Tennis Podcast isabout making you a better tennis
(00:26):
player, whether you're abeginner or have been playing
for years, in your 20s or inyour 60s.
Now here is your host, anthonyRadonia Yeah, woo, woo, woo Woo.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Woo, that's my crowd.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It's a nice intro.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, denise taped that Pretty cool.
All right, i got my buddy Joeyhere.
Joey Jr, that's right, ofcourse, because Pops is also Joe
, and I guess that's a goodplace to start.
So I started becoming friendswith your dad.
Yeah Right, i guess did webecome friends at the same time,
(01:05):
or was I more like hitting withyour dad at?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, i think you were hitting with my dad.
I was at a way at college Andthen, Oh that's right, 2018
summer I think Yeah, I think soBecause I started playing at the
club in 2017.
Yeah, so I think it was summerof 2018 when I came back from
school.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
From school.
Okay, yeah, and that was atwhat school?
The University of New YorkUniversity.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
And you played tennis there for four years.
Yeah, up in Oregon.
Yeah, Division III.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
D3, cool.
So what kind of teams did youplay?
Like would?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I know any of the other names You know, so from
down here, some of the biggerschools would be CMS, claremont,
mckenna, claremont.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
McKenna yeah, did you play at Claremont, did you guys
ever?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
do away.
We did not play at Claremont,we actually played them in
Hawaii.
A couple of us schools went toHawaii to play.
Oh, that's right, that's cool.
So, claremont, mckenna,redlands, we did our so-Cal trip
Redlands University Redlands isD3 also.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Oh cool, caltech.
These are some good schools.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, smart schools, nice schools too.
Yeah, occidental, we played atOccidental.
Oh, wow, i try to think of whatelse we played when we did our
trip down here.
I don't know, i know, not whenI was there, but they played at
Cal Lutheran too.
Okay, so I just saw likeCalifornia schools And all went
to Hawaii.
No, so once it went to Hawaii,we're us CMS.
(02:26):
Claremont McKenna Yeah, caltechwas there, and then Trinity
which is in Texas.
And then we also played HawaiiPacific while we were there.
And Hawaii Pacific.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah.
So the funny thing is I wastelling Matt when we played
Hawaii Pacific we were a D2.
And I don't know if HawaiiPacific was a D2 back then.
So were they a D3?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
They're D2.
They are D2.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Okay, So the first time we played them they flew to
us in Pomona Stinks So I played.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Hawaii Pacific in Pomona That stinks.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, that totally stinks.
We never flew to Hawaii.
Oh my gosh, my daughter'strying to knock on the door,
okay cool.
Well, i do want to talk moreabout your college, but let's
start a little about you first,joe Jr Balawag, and tell me a
little about your rating.
Let's just talk about thatfirst.
Get that out of the way.
(03:16):
Five-O, you're a five-O.
Yes, do you know your UTR?
I don't know if I play enough.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I think when I was playing in college I was the
highest I was a 10.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
10, probably.
Yeah, I would say yeah, right,Most college players are 10,
then they get up to 11 and 12.
Some of the higher D1s,probably.
So I don't know if I evenpublished it yet, but I was
doing like a little solo podcaston my tournament about tomorrow
.
The kid I was going to playfrom University of Arizona is a
(03:48):
12.6.
Crazy, No, that's nuts.
My whole mission of passing onewinning one round.
It was not going to happen, butthen I think I told you last
night I got a default, so I gotit, so I won the first round, so
I'm playing I forget who.
In the second round The personlooks normal at least.
Maybe I'll have a chance thistime.
(04:09):
So we'll see.
I'll keep you posted on that.
So you're five-O.
And then after college, wereyou ever a four or five, or did
they put you right into thefive-O category?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Five-O, yeah, i would say all college guys go
straight into five-O you thinkIf you're recent, as long as if
you answer the questionnairelike honestly yes.
Oh, okay, there's still a bunchof college guys playing
four-five.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Playing four-five really?
Oh wow, i didn't think aboutthat.
Definitely You're right.
You could totally lie, yeah,But don't they ask you, like
where you went to college or howlong ago.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, but you just say, didn't you?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You just say yeah, I don't know what college is, I
can't spell college.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Okay, so how about?
when did you start playing?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I'm serious, like taking it seriously, probably
around 11, 12.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, so Popston play .
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Or did he?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
No, he did.
He was trying to get me to playway earlier than that And I
just really wasn't into it.
I was in the baseball Mostlystemming from because all my
friends in middle school were inthe baseball.
So I was.
I liked baseball a lot, Butthen I started playing tennis a
lot more right around.
I started playing tennis, maybearound 10 and then taking it,
like I said, seriously, playinga couple days a week.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Seriously, because you wanted to you think, or
serious, because dad was makingit a little bit.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
It definitely started with dad wanting me to play And
then, as I was getting, moreinto it, then I was definitely
into it and wanting to play.
Yeah, But I was.
I did not like tennis at allfor a while.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
For a while, meaning when you were young, or later on
too.
Yeah, oh right.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Maybe a little bit later.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Later.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
That's sort of my story too, though.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I think you know I was talking to Adam about that
in our podcast.
It's like I played every day,probably since I was like five
or four, i don't even know when,because my dad was really into
it, and every single day And Ididn't think it was weird to
come home, go straight to tennis, not see your friends.
Like my little eight year old,she goes straight to see her
friends, right, but straight totennis, then homework at like 8,
(06:06):
8.30 as a kid, right, and thatwas just normal for me And I
then maybe that's why I didn'treally enjoy it that much And
only later on in college Ireally started enjoying it,
obviously because of the teamaspect.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
I think, yeah, that's kind of the same way.
Yeah, going straight fromschool to tennis.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, yeah.
And then, though, anything else, you play soccer or like
anything like that.
No, because I know you're intosoccer.
Yeah, i'm into soccer now.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
But, growing up?
no, i wasn't into soccer.
Yeah, it was basically baseballThat was about it.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Did you play baseball in high school?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
No, so that was kind of they're both the same season.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Oh, that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
And I felt pretty good that I could make varsity
for tennis my freshman year.
So I was like I'm going to goto tennis, oh sweet, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
And then, but you said your dad played like how
much?
like I know how much he playsnow, obviously, but was he
playing a lot when you wereyoung, too?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Like tournaments or anything.
Oh yeah, so yeah He I can'tremember the exact year, but I
was definitely younger.
He, around probably 10, wasplaying tournaments every
weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Really.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
He was ranked, I think, number one in four or
five doubles.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I should ask him about it.
In what?
In the nation?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah, wow, definitely top 10.
He had a partner, jimCunningham.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
My name sounds familiar.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, he used to play out of the club.
I don't.
he doesn't play out of the clubanymore.
He's older.
He's not your guys is age.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Oh, I know Jim.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, That's right.
Okay, And they would I meanevery weekend they play
tournaments, all the big onestoo.
Yeah, and, like I said, i wasreally young and didn't really
pay attention to it, didn't caremuch about it, but yeah, oh,
wow.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I didn't know that He took it really seriously, but
he still does.
I got to talk to him about that.
Yeah, he still does, of course.
Yeah, it's actually one of thethings I was going to mention
too is not that your dad, yourdad's like much older than me,
but I I've always seen your dadas I don't want to say father
figure because it's not likewe're having heart to hearts
(08:18):
about like real stuff, butdefinitely in that realm for me,
like a mentor, father figurebecause it's like I said, it's
not necessarily like I'm he'spulling me aside and going let
me tell you about life, son, buthe's just a real good guy for
me to watch because he reallycares about tennis, he really
(08:38):
cares about his family, he caresabout his profession, you know,
and so I really enjoy, like him, keith, you know those two guys
, I really enjoy like listeningto those guys and just seeing
them like out there on the courtas sort of the older not a real
old, but the next generationfor me of tennis player, and
(09:01):
then to see them so passionateabout it and like just really
good guys.
So it's fun?
Yeah, definitely.
And so your family is your dad,your mom, and then I always
forget this we have one brother,one sister.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Okay, now Both younger.
I'm the oldest.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Okay, and then do they play tennis at all?
Speaker 3 (09:17):
No, My sister played soccer in high school and a
little bit in college And mybrother's big into music, Morphe
musician, but sorry He'sactually gonna.
He started in the summerpicking up a tennis racket.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Just recently.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Is the sparkling water missing you up?
I think so.
Yeah, i think so.
I said off camera I Joe's like,buy some water or I'll just
take water.
So I was like, cool, i'm gonnatry to be cool here and go buy
some nice water.
And I bought some sparklingwater and it's totally messing
us up.
If you need, if you need abreak here, let me put you on
(09:57):
mute.
You wanna cough it out?
Okay, if you need a break andwe need to get regular water,
let's do it.
Thanks.
I didn't realize how harshsparkling was Sparkling.
I said What were you saying?
Oh, your brother is doing music.
That's cool.
I think I saw a video of him.
He was the.
(10:17):
was he guitar or what was hedoing?
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Yeah, probably guitar .
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
But he plays guitar, he plays bass and really in the
drums too.
He's super talented.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
But yeah he picked up a racket this summer because he
wanted to play a sport, andhe's all in.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
He's all in He is, and how is he talented Is he
like pretty talented He's alwaysbeen a kid who can.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
He picks.
Whatever you want him to do, hecould do it at a good level
automatically.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
He's got a huge forehand like a legitimate
forehand.
Him and I can rally forehandall day long.
Really.
Yeah, and he's only beenplaying for like a year, since
the summer, not even a year.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Oh my gosh, yeah, if I can need some work.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
But yeah, he's like I said, he's really into it.
He was on JV and Australianpeople.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah, you don't wanna say that.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
He's the best JV three singles player in the
country.
Really, that's what I like tosay.
Yeah, jv three.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah, that's cool.
And then right now I knowyou're teaching at the club and
then you're also doing someother stuff too, so let's talk
about the other stuff first.
Sure, so that was the funnything.
My daughter was so excited whenyou came, mr B, mr Balliwag,
and so you're doing some subbing, yeah, and then, also connected
to your degree, you were doing,or still are- doing stuff with
(11:35):
that, some freelance writing, sogot a journalism degree And so,
yeah, doing.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
That's where kind of the soccer part comes in.
I was writing for a soccerpublication And then both my
parents are educators, so in myfree time I'm also doing some
substitute teaching, yeah, Andthat's why I wore my hat, cause
you went to USC.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Grad school at USC.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Had to do the Pac-12 hat for you.
So grad school so cool.
And I remember you lived oncampus right During the grad
school.
Commuted, i did, oh, but youlived with a family member or
something like that.
That's right, cause, as youlived by school, yeah, Okay, oh,
that's so cool.
You happy about it, do youregret?
Speaker 3 (12:14):
doing that at all?
No, i don't no it was such acool experience.
Okay Got to meet some reallycool people in the business too,
which made it really cool.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Oh, that's cool, yeah , cause I.
I don't know if you know, but Ihave an advanced degree after
my law degree.
Did you know that?
No, i didn't.
Biggest waste of time in theworld.
But it was an advanced degreefor lawyers.
It was bad?
No, it was.
It was a waste of time.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
It was awesome.
Okay, good, all the like.
I'm into sports writing, so alot of my professors were the
ones that I got along reallywell for into sports as well,
and so, like working at the LATimes, la Times sports editor,
that's where you were, or Yeah,that's where, oh Yeah.
One of my professors former LATimes writers or like Heisman
(12:58):
voters.
They have Heisman voters forcollege football, so That's so
cool And it's really cool to getadvice from them and how to
exist in that business.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
And so that medium still exists, that the need for
writers writing about sportingevents.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
So definitely it's a little different now If you want
to work for publications.
it's like there's smaller, lessjobs, but more people applying.
It's really competitive.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
But now obviously you know like this podcast.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
You can sort of make your own mediums, own media
outlet if you want.
Right, Like your own blogs Andthose can.
By making your own blogs andyou know Twitter stuff, being
active on Twitter you can make aname for yourself And then
those companies that maybeweren't interested to do it
first now see that you can do it, and then you have viewers.
People are just looking for.
How many views are you getting?
(13:49):
That's true.
How much attention can youbring to our organization?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah.
So what's the plan with that?
Do you plan on keep going downthat road?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
I'm kind of trying to figure that out, whether I want
to go deeper down that road orlook into teaching actually,
because I really enjoyedteaching a lot more than I
thought I would.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Oh, so cool.
Yeah, have you been teachingother grades besides the younger
ones?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
that I know of Elementary and middle.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I haven't done high school yet.
Do you want to?
I don't know Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I don't know if I want to sub high school.
I teach high school, for sure,that's true.
I don't know if I would be asub student.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
You know what.
You're so right.
There's enough 80s movies aboutthe kids killing the sub in
high school.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
I tell people all the time like why don't you do high
school?
I'm like because I remember inhigh school how much like you
tormented the sub.
And I was the good kid, like itwas not the bad kids, and I
didn't even respect the sub.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're so right.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I'm like I'm going to wait for that.
I'm not sure if I want to gothere yet.
No, you're totally right.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yeah, and the little kids think it's like I don't
even know, like you're a moviestar coming.
I remember when my little onecame home she was like so
excited that she had a sub, sofunny.
Oh my gosh, that's hilarious.
Okay, so you're teaching at theclub obviously the tennis club.
So you're at the tennis clubAnd how are you enjoying that?
I love it, yeah, love it somuch.
(15:05):
And you're doing kids, groups,adults lessons, everything.
Yeah And like okay, so let'ssay so you know my game and I
come to you for a lesson.
Like I don't know, is theresomething?
are you telling me what to doOr am I sort of suggesting
(15:25):
things Like what do you think is?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
good, Yeah.
well, so for you, with yourgame and with people around your
level, it's usually gonna besomething pretty specific, Right
, and so I'd ask you, what doyou wanna work on?
Cause usually people at yourlevel same thing with me.
I know what I'm not great atand what I want to work on.
Right for more beginner people.
It might be something morebroad in terms of what we're
(15:46):
working on.
I mean, you beat me.
Yes, I don't have any pointersfor you.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
We'll talk about that .
That's on page three here.
We'll talk about that.
I have to go to you, i guess,for a lesson.
You know, what's funny islately I'm not coaching,
obviously, but lately, whenpeople ask me about I don't know
tips like you know, my wife orjust some of her friends or
anyone at a lower level of mine,cause they think the higher
(16:12):
level knows it all, we don'tright.
But they'll ask me aboutsomething.
I've been realizing lately thatit's not so much like let me
see your forehand, you'reholding this wrong.
you're doing I'm late, onlylately, maybe it's I'm becoming
wiser as I get older, but onlylately I've been realizing it's
more like how they think ofthings, like does that make
(16:33):
sense?
Like do you know where I'mgoing with this?
Yeah, and like that's why I'vebeen so focusing with like on
the shoulder turn.
it's like I've been sayingdon't think power comes from
your arm, just something thatsimple.
Yeah makes them thinkdifferently, right?
So I don't know, i just thinkthat's been valuable, like how
much of that Versus, like just Idon't know the technical side
(16:58):
of teaching is.
is there in your stuff like doyou find that?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
yeah, for more beginners.
I think it's more technical.
Yeah, especially at thebeginning, you don't want anyone
to build a bad habit In termsof their swing.
So I'm it's really technicalAnd I think it might be kind of
boring for some people, becauseI'm trying to get that swing
down So we can move on and wedon't have to worry about the
string ever, the swing, everagain.
Let's get your swings down.
(17:21):
Yeah, specifically forehand andbackhand, the ground strokes,
and then we'll go from there,because there's a lot you could.
If you can't hit a foreign andback in, we can't really advance
anywhere.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah, you gotta get that down?
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Yeah, and you feeling confident in it?
Yeah, before we can go on withanything else, especially before
we can get in, like anystrategy or anything.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, that's true.
Yeah, definitely Yeah.
And then How about?
like, i've been having troublewith my serve, so I'm actually
just using this as a free lesson, by the way, that's why.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
I invited you.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I'm not paying for this lesson.
So I've been having troublewith my serve and I think I told
you last night, or maybe acouple days ago, that someone
told me to put my left hand up,and so little things like that
have been changing medramatically because I yeah,
because I've been working on myserve forever, like people have
been telling me like my grip,this, that, and it was like no
(18:16):
one ever told me anything aboutmy left hand, like I never heard
anything about my left hand.
And finally one person saidyou're dropping your left hand,
just Pledge of allegiance withyour left hand, kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah, it makes complete sense.
Yeah um and like, like that'swhat I was saying about.
You said, if you were to cometo me for a lesson, i mean, it's
things, little things like that.
That's how specific it can beif you already have.
You know the broad strokes downAnd yeah, that thing, especially
on people serve.
That's why I'm telling a lot ofpeople is, if you're missing,
you're serving the net.
It's two things.
(18:48):
It's either your toss is toolow or by the time you're
hitting, like you said, that'swhy your arm, your hands, here
is when you're coming down, yourbody's going down, the ball is
gonna come down.
Yeah, if you're making contactand you're like this Yep, you
know the ball is going.
It's gonna go in the net everytime.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Which is exactly what I was doing in swing-vingion my
left hand was dropping, mychest was down and I was somehow
trying to like, just like thatpose you did.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
I was trying to somehow get it.
So if I keep it that hand here,that's come super smart.
Yeah, i kept me up and you downmy chest up.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Everything changed just with that little thing.
Mm-hmm and even in strokes,like something I was working on
with my wife just this morning.
She was dropping her left armon a forehand, yeah, yeah, and I
felt I was like babe, just putit on the right, you can almost
like joke of it.
She put on the racket and turnand then release.
Yeah, it changed everything forher.
She had her left hand arm up,she was more balanced, yeah, and
(19:37):
that's the big thing I mean.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's why I told a lot of the kids I'm coaching you
, you need that arm out, Evenjust so you know how far away it
through you from the ball right, Because if that arms down you
don't know how far away to be.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Oh, that's interesting to you, or I?
Speaker 3 (19:49):
get a lot of kids lunging too far away.
I'm like you gotta be one armaway.
Yeah, you're right and thenwith that swing, that arm you
know Go goes away.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, you're about hitting your arm.
You're away as you swing.
Yeah, i never thought aboutthat.
That's so huge because you'reright a lot of times you're.
You're caught in that left arm,sort of gonna help you.
What's it called like?
What's the word I'm?
Speaker 1 (20:13):
using here.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I don't know but gauge like where the ball is.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yeah, oh, that's true , that's awesome.
So when you're, you're playingstill, you're not just teaching,
you're still playing, like wetalked about last night.
Sorry to bring this up, but theswing vision video is almost
out.
I've got this on the tube, butwe had a lot of fun last night.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
So just to talk about it, we we ended up.
I started thinking like let'splay some fun singles.
You know we don't get enough ofthat.
We do a lot of drills hittingpoints to 11 doubles, but not
enough, just like singles play.
And So I started text everyonewho can do it me, you, our
friend slob and Tommy joinedlast night We played like mini
(20:55):
pro sets, right over there fastfor fast force.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
That's right for sets of four.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
So we played and We had a good battle.
I ended up taking it.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
You talk first, then I'll talk about okay, go, you
don't have to be respectful.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Let me pretend to be home.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
We had a good battle?
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
No, we did.
We had a good battle and you'llsee.
On the swing vision, i don'tsee our strokes being that
different.
There was just that, maybe thatlittle extra ball penetration I
had, and like you you werestepping back and I think that
was the slight difference.
Yeah, and, but that's only arecent thing for me.
I don't know if it was justlast night or just recently.
(21:32):
your balls.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I mean, it was piercing deep in the court too.
And for me, when, when I getWhatever's in, i think it's
because we were playing forsomething I get a little nervous
and so put a little money in it, exactly So I'm not, i'm not
turning my shoulder or steppingin, i have my chest out, i'm so,
so, and so my ball is just kindof looping.
I can still get the spinbecause I get on my wrist, a lot
of it in my wrist, but it's notdoing anything Right.
(21:55):
So that's what it felt likelast night.
I was just waiting for you tomiss and you weren't missing.
So if you're not missing, i'mnot gonna.
I wasn't gonna win a lot ofpoints.
Hmm, but you had a naturallygood spin ball anyways, Yeah but
last night it to me at least itwasn't, like I said, doing
anything, it wasn't Going intoyou at all.
(22:16):
You were able to just it's likea ball machine ball.
That's what it felt like.
You know, you were relaxed andand for me, when I get a little
tighter I don't hit my back handat all.
I try to run around everything.
I think that opens up the courtfor you too Interesting?
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah, yeah, that's interesting.
What do you think about the?
I know I'm out here likeeveryone's always making fun of
me because I'm messing withweight on my racket.
Yeah, is that a factor for youat all?
Do you think that over change?
No, nothing.
Yeah, cuz I know you Recentlyswitched to the technophile
racket, which you love, and Iloved it when I tried it.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
But it's not a weight issue.
You don't think?
no, i don't think so.
Yeah, what do you think it isbesides?
besides, your forehand Chestopen, which obviously, like we
talked about it, means you'renot turning.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Yeah, i'm sure you get like.
No, like you were saying it getall aren't all right, and so
I'm not using my hips.
Where are my legs?
where I get my power from?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
but your back and you're probably turning
correctly, though I just don'thave confidence in it.
That's been like, okay, it'sjust a mental thing.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Hmm.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Yeah and well, and again, maybe not so much, not
confidence, but I just favor my,my forehand a lot more than my
backhand.
Yeah, and so, like last night,i'm gonna try and just do
everything to get a forehand andI actually my my inside
forehand is my favorite shot.
It is, or is it is.
Yeah, so that's why even moreso.
I was just going aroundeverything.
(23:35):
I'm in the outside the doublesalley trying to hit a forehand,
being an idiot.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Well, that's funny.
I'm tired court.
I gotta go back and look atthat.
Yeah, i don't really rememberthat.
It just goes to show how muchthat's another one of my issues.
I'm not watching you, like I'mworking on my ball, like I'm
purposely now trying to hit deepPenetrating balls.
Yeah, and before to tell you,true, that wasn't, i was just
like try to hit hard or try todo this, but I'm not really
watching you, so I gotta I gottastart changing that.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Yeah, i mean that's simple.
That's why I tell a lot ofpeople to Can.
If you can hit four to fiveballs past the service line
every point, you're gonna win somany points Totally.
Like you're putting pressure onyour opponent and it's as
simple as if you're hitting pastthe service line, they can't
attack you and if they try toattack you they're probably
gonna miss that ball.
That's a hard ball, rightTotally.
(24:24):
And if you?
but now if you get four to fiveballs inside The service line,
it's a different story.
It's an easier ball for youropponent to attack.
So it might not be the case,but if you can hit four to five
and if you can hit more, evenbetter, past the service line,
you're gonna win a lot of pointsand if you're hitting deep, you
probably have more of anopportunity to get in also.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Oh definitely, yeah, definitely, which is something
mean you probably don't doenough of also, right, do you
think sometimes we feel a littletoo comfortable, like on the
baseline?
Speaker 3 (24:53):
or that's a good question.
Yeah, i think, maybe, maybe.
Yeah, i mean I'm I'm supercomfortable at the base on
that's.
I think my ground strokes areprobably my best attribute My
strength, and so maybe I'mwaiting, being a little too
conservative.
Winning for the right ball.
Yeah, there's probably a coupleballs before I actually go in
that I could.
Yeah, but Yeah so.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
I think that might be true, because it is one of the
things I notice when I'mwatching swing vision.
I go why didn't I go in there?
right, or, or, or or.
There's like I'm I do a lot ofreaching for the ball and it's
not even that short, it's notlike it's three feet in front of
the service line, so I steps,it's like a two steps in front
of the baseline and I'm like,and I'm like like you're not
(25:40):
seeing the ball like earlyenough.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
I think so.
So you're reacting late becauseyou don't recognize the ball
shorter, or is that justsometimes laziness?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
It has to be a combination of all that, but
it's also sometimes my.
My instinct is that first stepis backwards.
Yeah you know what I mean, whichis totally that just sounds
wrong when I say it, but a lotof times on camera I was
watching myself.
Yeah, like my split step andsort of getting ready.
I was sort of on my back heels,i don't know expecting a deep
ball.
(26:08):
I'm not really sure, but it wasso noticeable when even a ball
that wasn't that short, onlylike literally two, three feet
in front Of the baseline, and Ihad the lunge for it, i was not
there ready and, even worse, myinstinct was after I hit, i back
, i went back.
So it's not like I'm goingforward, like I hit and run back
to the baseline.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
And if I see your racket going like that or like
this, yeah, i'm cheating in, i'mexpecting that ball to be short
too, which is true in a toughposition.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Yeah, yeah, i gotta, i gotta fix that When we play
Like something else.
Thinking about last night whenwe played like Tom Yeah, like, i
Like playing Tom because hisstrokes are really nice, but and
this isn't making fun of Tom onmy swing vision video I keep
(26:56):
saying this isn't making fun ofTom, i'm just like trying to
notice things, but I felt likeit's it's fun playing Tom
because He wasn't moving toowell.
Last night He said he had aninjury.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
I When did Tommy not have an?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
injury.
He said he had an injury, butit was fun to play him because
if you hit Adam he'll actuallyhit a really nice stroke back
right.
And so I had to like purposelytry to move him and And I just
saw how sometimes the angles toowere so effective.
Not I was like going deep.
And then once I saw him deep Iwas like going angle, and so he
(27:33):
was a really good.
Again, i'm not making fun ofhim, He was a really good ball
machine for me last nightBecause he was like showing me
sort of like you're so confident, you're just Experimenting,
yeah, and I'm trying things outin a weird way I was, but it was
so helpful.
Yeah, because he was likeshowing me I can push a guy deep
once that person goes like Ialways get these mixed up
(27:56):
vertically, is that ahorizontally shoot?
I'm now I'm sound like an idiot, but diagonally backwards.
Once they go diagonallybackwards, you know, then I sort
of had the opportunity to do amore spinny and it didn't have
to be hard winner, you know whatI mean.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
that's what a lot of praise tomy, my dad, for Strategy wise,
just patterns and what to go forhim thinking three balls ahead
of the current ball You're onlike what are you trying to do
to get to this guy's weaknessinto your strength as much as
you possibly can?
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, your dad was the first person
that really made me think aboutdouble strategy beyond just
Poach stay, yeah, which is all Iused to know.
You know your dad has poachesfor returning side too, and I
didn't know that was even athing.
So I'm sure dad.
I'm sure people do it, i'm surepros do, i'm sure college kids
do it.
I just didn't know about it.
(28:48):
And your dad has a lot ofstrategy the eye that we used to
call that the Australian, or isthe Australian something
different?
I forget, but yeah, he does.
The eye, oh Man, yeah, yourpops is awesome.
What.
What's gonna bring you?
or if, if you even care,because I know you're doing so
much other stuff What's gonnabring you to the next level in
(29:08):
tennis?
That's a good question but doyou first of all, do you even
care?
like are you happy where you'reat, like Yeah, i am.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
I'm happy where I'm at currently, just in terms of I
put a lot of work in As ajunior and then in college, a
ton of work mentally to to getto where I was, and so it was
really nice To just chill andit's just yeah and no, no
consequences, good or bad,whatever happens when you lose.
You know, yeah, not a big deal,but he said, in terms of how to
(29:37):
take my game to the next level,i Would say, um, that's a good
question.
I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
See, because you're you're not Giving, you're not
taking lessons, you don't reallyhave time Yeah you're working
too much.
Yeah, you know, maybe when Iend up sending you that swing
vision, maybe you'll have likesomething else to say about it,
like because it is, it's really,it's really eye-opening and
watching yourself.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Honestly, i think it's, um, what would take me to
the next level is just mentalstuff, Because when I'm relaxed
I don't I feel really good aboutmy game and what, what I'm able
to do, because I think I,strategically, i'm able to you
know, figure out what I want todo and how to manipulate the
point to get to what I want.
But it's just uh, mentally, ifI'm believing in myself.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
So you you think it's a non believing, or is it a
nervousness, or are those?
Speaker 3 (30:33):
the same thing?
Yeah, i think it's.
I think you you could call itthe same thing.
I won't I want to win so bad.
I'm hurting myself likementally.
I'm like freezing interesting,like newt alarms.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Yeah, and wanting to win, like The point, means that
you're maybe What not likehitting out, not trusting it.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Oh, definitely like um last night it came down to a
thing of not missing, like.
I'm just I'm getting reallynervous.
I'm not moving my feet andthat's why I'm nervous, because
I'm not moving And my chest isout and hitting like this, just
trying to keep the ball and play, instead of trying to Win the
point, even though I want to winso badly.
Instead of trying to win thepoint being okay, making some
mistakes, i'm almost playing notto lose and just trying to keep
(31:16):
the ball.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
And not that you even know the answer to this, but
like, why is that happening?
because you are like, like yousaid, you're out of college,
right, you have?
Speaker 3 (31:30):
won, wins.
It's just competitiveness.
Yes, it's how competitive I am.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
so that's interesting because, because you want to
win, it's there.
It's so you're not thinkingabout I'm gonna miss and lose.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
No, it's self-belief too, about if I believe I can do
it.
and that's what, when I talkedabout just wanting to chill,
because after um, especially mysenior year specifically at
pacific, it was a lot ofmentally trying to um manipulate
myself into believing I canbeat anyone no matter who it is,
and that was mentallyexhausting.
Hmm, it was really rewarding,though Super rewarding because
(32:03):
it worked.
I was finally beating peoplethat were probably better than
me.
Yeah, I definitely would nothave been earlier on.
But um, like, as you know, intennis, like like mentally being
um okay in your head andbelieving yourself is just as
important as anything Physicallyyou're doing a tennis.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
It.
It's weirdly been almost themost important for me lately
because, again, i I don't knowif I'm playing different.
I don't see it.
Some people tell me, oh, you'redoing this different, doing
this better.
I truthfully don't see it.
But I know for a fact when Iget out and I and I'm rallying
and I go, okay, i know I'm gonnawin this point, or I know I'm
(32:41):
gonna win this game, or even ifI lose this game, it's gonna be
okay.
Yeah, and that's what actuallyhappened last night with slob,
first game.
He went up 40 love.
I ended up winning that gameAnd I I don't remember telling
myself, oh, i'm gonna win thisgame, positive thinking, yeah,
but I just wasn't.
I didn't feel defeated.
Yeah, at 40 love, like I usedto, and I was like I'm just
(33:02):
gonna take it point by point AndI'm getting back to do so.
I was like, oh, that'ssurprising.
And then now I'm like, cool,i'm even.
So I think in the past I wouldhave been like, yeah, right,
when three points in a row toget back to do.
Yeah, so that's, i think, beenthe big difference for me.
And again, i don't even knowwhat that's from.
It might just be from a lot ofmatch play.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
Yeah, experience is huge too, Like being in those
positions, i mean give youexperience on how to deal with
them.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Yeah, you know, and losing a lot is important.
You know what I mean?
Because I think if I wasn'tlosing so much and then having
to like, deal with it, i don'tknow.
I mean I think it matters, yeah, because only then I started
feeling like I know how to dealwith it and then, anyways it
just it became a thing where Iwasn't so like down at myself
(33:50):
and mad at myself.
Yeah, yeah.
So just how to deal with it, ithink is important.
Um, do you so, since that's oneof the things that you you've
been talking about now, like, doyou do any meditation or like
prayer or something like that?
Speaker 3 (34:04):
So, like I said during um school when I was
still at pacific, um, i would dosome things, yeah, a lot of
writing actually, like if I cansee it on the paper and then
read it.
I'm convincing myself that I'mgoing to win this match.
I'm going to beat this person.
Um helped me out a lot.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Were you writing specific tennis stuff or just
writing anything that's gonnahelp you relax?
Speaker 3 (34:26):
I don't know if it's cringy, but I would.
I would say whoever theopponent was.
I say I will beat Opponentsbecause I am a winner.
Ah interesting I would writethat two pages, that sentence,
wow, pages full.
and then during the match,every single point I was telling
myself, i would say that phraseout loud, like under my breath,
not like yelling it under mybreath, yeah, like I'm saying
(34:48):
that phrase over and over andover again, so I believe it
until.
I believe it.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
That's so interesting , and so this this is what I was
talking about earlier too,which is I don't think It's.
it's not just positive thinking, that's just too simple.
Yeah it's actually believingyou can do the thing You're
saying.
Yeah yeah, that's slightlydifferent than just positive
things.
Sure, I think, because positivethinking is just like I am the
(35:16):
best, but there's no likeconcrete, like I don't know
stuff surrounding that.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Well, sometimes you're not the best, and I
figure it out Exactly.
You know what I mean.
I think the best I mean, yousee this, with great teams,
great tennis players, whateverthe sport is the greatest at, it
can win when they're not attheir best.
They don't need to be at theirbest.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
How do they still figure it out?
Speaker 3 (35:39):
That's what makes them so great, and yeah, so I
think that might be a littledifferent than just the positive
thinking, just the positivethinking.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Yeah, and thinking about what's that Jordan
documentary recently?
Last dance, last dance.
I watch it like a hundred times.
I can't believe it.
I don't know the name, that'sanother part of it.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
My girlfriend makes funny.
Before every match I'd watchthe documentary, really Watching
it.
She's getting pumped watching.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Michael Jordan.
Yeah, yeah, and the funny thingwas someone I forget who was
commenting on Michael was likehe just figured out a way to
never lose And like so that wasone of the things that they were
saying It didn't matter if hewas a little sick or whatever
that day, he would figure out away to win that match.
Right, and that's the partthat's always been amazing to me
(36:24):
.
Obviously he's amazing talent,whatever, but that is the big
difference.
Yeah, and I do see that now incertain tennis players too, like
they just configure it out Youdon't always mind me.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
They can't wrap their brain around losing.
You know what I mean And I'veplayed some Division I players
too, whether it be intournaments or just in the area.
And it's crazy.
When you get to out beat them,we'll play tie break.
I'll win the first one.
Immediately, Like before I'meven crossing, it goes down the
bench rematch.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Rematch.
Speaker 3 (36:59):
Yeah, and then the next one was tight, and then
that third one.
They like blow me out of thewater.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Because they're just at a different competitive level
.
Of like.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
I refuse, I am not going to lose.
You know what I mean, and I'venoticed that with, like the
higher division in college orprofessional athlete, it seemed
like they have that certainmentality, i guess.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
Yeah, which makes them so great Totally, and they
know how to figure it out duringthe match, which is why the
three out of five sets majorsare so different sometimes than
the two out of three settournaments that are played The
same.
People sort of roll the majorsversus, you know, the smaller
tournaments which anyone can winin a weird way.
(37:41):
So what else can I say?
Oh, so I just want to go backto this racket thing real quick
before I forget, because when Iwas trying the Techno Fiber I
felt this deadening Yeah, isthat a word?
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Okay, Well, I don't know if that's a word, but I
know what you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Okay, And I liked it actually, which is why I started
using this, the Luxelon AUpower vibe, which is like a dead
stream Yeah.
I've been telling you rememberthe vibe And I've been liking
that And so is that why you likeyour racket.
It feels dead Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
I think so.
I had the Babylon peer arrow,but the old version, like in
2017, and I had had that racketfrom 2017 until this past
November And I was like, andit's just time for a new racket.
And then, yeah, one of thoseclinics that we do, a Techno
Fiber rep came out And I'd usethe peer arrow to get more power
(38:40):
and more pop on my ball.
And now I feel like I cangenerate more power than I could
.
And then, with this racket, ijust felt like wherever I could
put the ball, wherever I wantedwhich is huge for my game as,
like a counter puncher, i needto have that ability And so it's
just like that ball was on astring And I'm like, oh my God,
i love this.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Like I want the ball to go there.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Boom On a dime Boom.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Yeah, i felt that too when I tried it.
I'm not even sure why I didn'tgo to it.
Yeah, because I loved it forthe few days I tried it, and
then I just went back to myWilson's.
But maybe I'll try it again,cause I actually did.
I actually did love it.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
And that's the Luxelon string too, that Luxelon
string is Yeah, i was usingthat string as well, Not the
vibe, but I was using theLexelon.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
I told you, people hate the vibe.
Everyone except you, everyonehates it.
I can't even find it anymore.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
I don't think tennis warehouse sells it.
That's a business.
Yeah, it's not profitable.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
I'm so lost at that.
It's like a cheating string.
I have to go buy it up off eBayor something That's so
hilarious.
So you're not.
I forget, did you sign up forthe league the 505?
Speaker 3 (39:42):
league, not this one, because I have a lot of lessons
on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
So I just really wasn't able to make that
commitment.
You interested in playing moreleague matches, or Yeah, yeah?
Speaker 3 (39:51):
So that league's a lot of fun.
Yeah, it's tough on us, ourteam.
The back to back is just killer.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
I know.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Because, you know, we with our team, we got to solve
a team, but then the teams youplay also do, And then when you
have to go back to back, theyhave like a second string that
just comes in.
Yeah, you know what I mean?
The like 25 to 35 year olds,yeah, and who are ex college
players.
And then for us it's the sameguys, yeah, and most of our guys
are a little older, right, andthey're like playing two matches
(40:19):
.
Yeah, and they're playing twomatches And then they have, like
I said, two sets of.
it's not like a second team,like a backup team.
It's still just as good astheir first team You know what I
mean, totally.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
But you know I'm the one that wanted the double
headers, right?
Did you know that?
No, why do you want the doubleheaders, like I?
yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
I had no idea.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Because what happened was I thought it was tough for
everyone to come out eachweekend, And so I ended up
telling the representative fromUSDA is it possible to do double
headers?
That kills us.
Oh, it's horrible.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
It's totally dying by the end of that thing.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
Imagine you got to tell some of these guys go play
four sets or even with like atie break.
You're hilarious.
Oh no, trust me, i realizedit's bad.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
I would think differently if we had enough
guys to field basically twoteams.
Or like only one or two guyshad to play.
Play twice, play twice, but Butwhen?
Speaker 2 (41:07):
you're asking Tommy the ball machine.
that's my new name for Tommy,tommy the ball machine.
I'm sure he loves that?
Speaker 3 (41:13):
I'm sure he loves that?
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Oh my gosh, I thought you knew that I asked for the
double headers.
I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I thought that was just like unique to this league.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Oh my oh yeah, no, no , it's me Stupidly thinking it
was better for us.
Oh my gosh, that's funny.
I don't know.
I'm just thinking about Tommytoo.
Last night he said he pulled ahammy.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
But Here's the thing, and I'm gonna look right in the
camera Tommy only seems to pullsomething when he loses.
Tommy's always in great health.
When he wins at anything, greathealth.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
I haven't seen him win anything.
The good thing about Tommy,though, is that he is funny
about it.
I don't know if it's anyways, Idon't wanna go.
I'll wait for Tommy to come tothe podcast and then I'll talk
my smack to him.
But Tommy's our good buddy.
That's why we do it.
We only make fun of people wecare about Exactly.
(42:03):
Actually, I wouldn't make funof someone I didn't like.
It's not worth it.
Okay, so now let's examine me alittle more, Because I have a
actually very important questionabout so.
My backhand feels so much moresolid than my forehand, So good.
(42:24):
Yeah but does it look better too?
Because I guess that's leadingto my question because Your
forehand's good too.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
I get no issues with the forehand.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Why isn't the backhand a weapon?
then is my question Because itfeels solid.
But what am I doing wrong on mybackhand that I'm not doing on
my forehand?
Because my forehand, obviously,i feel like I can hit?
Speaker 3 (42:44):
some winners, i think , for you.
I notice when I'm talking aboutthe mental side of the game so
much, but when you're notthinking, there's not a lot of
better tennis players in thisarea.
When you're not thinking, whenyou're just playing, does that
make sense?
And I notice when you start tosort of overthink and think
(43:04):
about exactly what's going onhere my footwork.
That's when, like I said, ithink you're overthinking it and
getting your head too much.
When you're just playing, bothstrokes are completely fine.
Like I think you're puttingthat weight on yourself of your
backhand not being a weapon.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
I think it can be a weapon if you just allow it to
be.
It's interesting you would saythat because one of the
conversations I had with Dougcoach Doug the other day was and
he was giving me a lesson washe hit a ball like easy to me
down the middle And I forgetwhat the drill was.
But he said hit the approachanywhere.
And I remember thinking likefour different shots And then I
(43:45):
lost the game.
And then after that game I saidlet's do the same drill.
This time I'm gonna approachdown the middle.
So I takes my brain out of it.
I don't wanna think.
And my approach became 100%better, right, and I ended up
winning the game approachingdown the middle versus.
I lost the game when he allowedme to approach anywhere.
(44:06):
So it's totally my brain'sgetting in the way.
I feel like a lot of times I'mthinking too much.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
I know we've talked about that, then you wanna talk
about your backhand, but when weplayed a couple of doubles
tournaments and we had talkedabout giving signs everyone
gives signs on the serve butalso sign on to the returning
you had talked about that.
It just turns your brain out of.
Okay, you wanna go cross court?
Perfect, instead of you havingto be like, oh my God, i'm
watching the net guy, where'shis serve?
gonna serve it If I just tellyou I want you to go down the
(44:32):
middle, i want you to go line, iwant you to go cross court.
It immediately for you, becauseyou have told me this in the
past.
Like it takes your brain out ofit.
Okay, joey wants me to go crossMeaning you're the guy at the
net and I'm returning And I'mtelling you to go wherever
direction.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
That's right, I totally forgot about that.
You would tell me where toreturn And obviously it's a
little.
It's not maybe always the beststrategy, right, Because it sort
of locks me in too much, butthe point of it, like you were
saying, was that it took mybrain out of it.
It takes that, yeah, Out of youthinking, because I know that.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
When I play you, and especially when my dad and I
play you, i am always and youknow this because I know you're
always looking at the net guyAnd I'm always, if you're
playing the do side, returningon the do side, i'm dipping my
right shoulder just for you tosee that, oh, he's going and I'm
back And it's worked a lot.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
Well, it's hard playing you and your dad,
because you guys are alwaysthinking like being smart And
you guys are able to think.
See, that's my issue.
Like you said, i shouldn't bethinking, but you and your dad
are like playing chess out there.
That's because of him.
Yeah, because of your pops.
Yeah, yeah, i gotta talk toyour pops more on a podcast.
That'd be good.
He would probably come in hereand give us some sort of
dissertation on something Youcould do different lectures.
Speaker 3 (45:41):
You can have like a lecture a week on different
strategy.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
That's so cool.
Yeah, okay, so that'sinteresting that you brought
that up, Even on the return callsigns, if I think it's a really
good tip.
if you're paying attention tothe net person too much, if
you're wondering what to do here, like just have the net person
maybe call a sign and go hitcross court.
Speaker 3 (46:06):
And you just gotta even if you don't have your net
person telling you the sign, youhave to mentally say no matter
what, I'm going cross court, youjust gotta commit to the shot,
Commit to your ball, whetherit's down, even if it's downline
, I'm committing.
Whatever happens, I'm goingdownline right, Because I
mentally too.
I'm doing that, because notthat that's gonna win you the
(46:31):
point every time, but justmentally it keeps you focused on
.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
I'm trying to do everything to get that ball
there.
Speaker 3 (46:35):
I'm not thinking.
As soon as the serve comes, I'mhaving to hesitate and make a
decision because, oh my gosh,the server served it here.
The net guy's coming this way.
All this is happening.
I'm committing to this ball, nomatter what.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
Yeah, and I think also there's a huge benefit in
having a smaller target in a way, because and that reminds me of
like I forget that movie withMel Gibson where he was the
patriot Do you remember thatmovie?
No, you didn't see it, i'myoung dude.
Oh, that's true, I was likewho's Mel Gibson, but so this
(47:06):
movie called The Patriot.
he told his sons they were likeshooting muskets or something
like when they were.
I forget what happened, but hesaid aim small, miss small.
That was like the line.
And so it totally makes sense.
even in tennis, like sometimeswhen I feel like I don't have a
target, i miss big, and if I'maiming for a smaller target,
even the miss is gonna be morelocalized right In the spot I
(47:32):
want.
Does that make sense?
So, like you telling me, hitcross court.
that focuses me on this smallertarget maybe, and I think
that's a lot beneficial too.
It reminds me too of like thereturn.
Lately I've been focusing onhitting down the middle returns,
like sort of over the low partof the net.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
Yeah, that's a really good play, Especially when you
got someone at the net who maybegosh isn't that confident at
the net, Driving it middleYou're gonna let that go.
Yeah, drive that middle.
Either you press, miss yourvolley press, hit a ball that my
guy at the net, my teammate'sable to hit, Or that
(48:11):
miscommunication between the guyat the baseline thinks the guy
at the net is gonna go for thatball Anything like that.
So driving that flat down themiddle, I use that play a lot
too.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
What do you think your dad would say?
the most important thing indoubles is Like if he.
Speaker 3 (48:27):
Oh, i don't even ask.
Oh, you know, it's the samething for singles.
He says three words, start thepoint.
Start the point.
He has told me that you can askhim, you can ask Harry, you can
ask Steven.
They've all heard it and theyall live by it.
You can ask him start the point.
You can't win, any point youdon't start.
Speaker 1 (48:46):
Put the ball in play.
Speaker 3 (48:47):
That's pretty basic, And that's why I tell the law of
the juniors too you can't winany point.
You don't start.
Put your serve in, put yourreturn in, let's see what
happens.
That too, Yeah, that's the bigone.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
It's, that's huge.
And it's funny how this is allcoming together for me too,
because, watching my swingvision, I've been noticing how
often I'm winning the returninggames because I'm mentally
thinking down the middle hardreturn deep, and I'm not missing
them much, Like I don't know.
if you realized last night.
Speaker 3 (49:21):
Oh yeah, you didn't have any, didn't miss any
returns, like I said, that's whyyou beat me, because you
weren't missing, and that waskind of the only way I was gonna
beat you last night.
Speaker 2 (49:29):
Yeah, but you're right, start the point.
Missing the return twice a game, especially in doubles, oh my
gosh, first serves are huge indoubles too.
Speaker 3 (49:37):
Again, you're first serving, you're gonna win,
you're gonna hold so much easier.
Speaker 2 (49:40):
Yeah, if you get that first serving.
Yeah, you're right, man, we gota lot love.
You got a lot more to do, a lotto think of.
Speaker 3 (49:47):
We gotta keep playing our Wednesday night singles, i
think we're gonna get morepeople out too, especially as
the summer rolls around.
Speaker 2 (49:54):
So who won last night ?
I don't remember This guy righthere.
That was so fun though.
You'll win next time, i'mpretty positive.
I don't know.
I just felt a little lucky lastnight, to be honest.
Speaker 3 (50:07):
You were like it wasn't a question.
You were the best player outthere by far that night.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
So what was your score with Slav Slav?
was in some good balls too, youbeat him for one.
Yeah, wow, i thought Slav wasgonna take me.
Slav was swinging nice on hisforehands.
Speaker 3 (50:20):
I commented on that.
It's also a great player.
Speaker 2 (50:22):
Yeah, what I was commenting on swing vision about
Slav was he's like a naturaltalent.
He sorta can do what he wants.
Speaker 3 (50:28):
Yeah he's really smart too.
Speaker 2 (50:30):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (50:31):
He's really good at getting the ball he wants.
Speaker 1 (50:34):
Sometimes it feels like he's toying with you.
Speaker 2 (50:36):
Yeah, you're right.
No, you're totally right.
Speaker 1 (50:38):
You're like a puppet it feels, like I hate, it.
Speaker 3 (50:41):
I could feel it in the point.
This guy's just bringing mearound everywhere.
I better win this point.
Speaker 2 (50:45):
I hate this.
I was thinking more about yourlove for soccer.
I know we didn't really talkabout it that much.
Maybe we can sort of end withit, because it's actually 50
minutes And I was telling you Iwanna sort of cut it off before
an hour before my camera shutsoff on me, which has been
happening.
But you've been going to GalaxyGames or no?
(51:05):
I've been doing a few GalaxyGames, part of Worker for fun.
Speaker 3 (51:09):
Yeah, oh, growing Up for Fun.
My dad's a massive Galaxy fan,so we would always go to the
Galaxy.
Games, but yeah, recently forWork, i do a lot of women's
soccer too.
So, covering San Diego waves.
They have a new stadium in SanDiego where Qualcomm was
Snapdragon yeah, it's a reallycool stadium.
And then the other MLS team inLA is LAFC And they have a
(51:34):
really nice stadium too, rightin downtown, right next to USC.
Actually, there's a wholestadium there.
I would walk from campus to goto games.
I think it's was it called theLA Sports Arena.
I think that's.
It's that ground.
Speaker 2 (51:49):
There was a stadium there.
Yeah, oh, that's so cool, andso your pops is really into
soccer.
He told you he played LandonDonovan, right Yeah, in tennis
Talking about the like, thedifferent.
Speaker 3 (52:01):
You know higher division athletes, college
athletes and then professionalathletes.
Like it's just, landon has thatmentality.
So Harry and Keith played himrecently And usually you know
when you get to that third setyou play a 10 point tie break.
In league Usually it's a 10point tie break And I guess
Landon refused.
We were playing a full set.
Really They were playing a fullset, they were not playing a 10
(52:23):
point.
Speaker 2 (52:24):
Oh my God, yeah, i remember.
Your dad said, though, likethey hit him a lob and he like
oh, he sprung like a cat, like Idon't even know how old is he,
do you know?
Speaker 3 (52:31):
40s 40s yeah.
Speaker 2 (52:34):
So he's not in this.
He doesn't play soccer anymore.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
No, he's, he was the manager for a second division
team, the San Diego law.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
Oh really.
Speaker 3 (52:43):
And I was like up in their front office.
Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 2 (52:46):
I didn't know that That's so cool.
Well, let's end with this,cause I don't I don't want to
dare forget your gift.
Oh, yes, i've been lookingforward to this And let me tell
you, brother, this is a goodcard.
What's this?
Carlitos Nice?
So Carlos Alcarez has, he has a2022 rookie card through NetPro
.
Yeah, but the second year.
(53:08):
I guess this is his second yearcard.
And now consider it.
Leaf Company made some coolcards.
They have some autograph cards,so there's some better versions
of that, but that's sort of thebase card, but I still like it.
You see, it's a little thick.
It's great, yeah.
And if you get it graded and itbecomes like one of the higher
grades, like I have one rightthere.
I paid four for the grade Imean it's.
(53:29):
It's a hundred dollars plus, soit's a.
It's a decent card, right,thank?
Speaker 3 (53:33):
you.
Speaker 2 (53:34):
And I think I got that for like 20 bucks.
But if you grade it and it'sgets a good grade, you're
looking pretty good.
Speaker 3 (53:40):
So And like if you hold onto these for longer, does
the value go up or it justdepends?
Speaker 2 (53:45):
I'm thinking Carlitos has to go up.
Yeah, i'm just going to keepdoing a lot of stuff, and what
I've been realizing lately withcards is that it's if you're in
the mainstream.
Sometimes the record doesn'tmatter.
To be honest, joakovic's cardsare not that crazy.
I can buy some right now prettylow, but the Federer cards are
nuts, you know.
(54:05):
Naomi Osaka's cards are off thecharts, yeah, serena.
And then obviously Carlos'scards are really off the charts
too, but that's a good one.
So I hope you enjoy it, thankyou.
Yeah, no, but thank you.
I appreciate all everyone, likeyou know, being so excited
about what I'm trying to do hereand just talk tennis, of course
, and I really appreciate it Andthis is fun.
Like I hope people really likelisten to what you're saying And
(54:28):
I think that like the biggestpoint tonight from our
conversation was just thatmental side of it And like I
don't know how how important itis just to believe in yourself
And that has, that's justeverything, truthfully, and it's
like what I'm telling my kids alot all the times too.
You know, just believe inyourself And if they come home
and feel a little dejected, likea kid made fun of them which
(54:50):
happens at school It's like no,you're, you're gorgeous, you're
pretty like these aren't lies,but it's like you know you
should be happy with yourselfand feel good about yourself And
then you can actually succeed.
You know, and that that's stuffso important, but that's why I
just love being around you, yourdad, your family, very positive
people, yeah, and so just thankyou, my friends.
Speaker 1 (55:10):
Yeah, of course.
Thanks for letting me.
I really appreciate it Yeah.
Speaker 2 (55:12):
Cool Joey, let me do it.
You are listening to Your League Tennis Podcast with
your host, anthony Radonia.
Anthony is an avid weekendwarrior tennis player, just like
you.
Every week, he'll beinterviewing new and exciting
guests that will not only differin experience and skill level,
but also in age and physicalability.
Your League Tennis Podcast isabout making you a better tennis
(00:26):
player, whether you're abeginner or have been playing
for years, in your 20s or inyour 60s.
Now here is your host, anthonyRadonia Yeah, woo, woo, woo Woo.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Woo, that's my crowd.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It's a nice intro.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, denise taped that Pretty cool.
All right, i got my buddy Joeyhere.
Joey Jr, that's right, ofcourse, because Pops is also Joe
, and I guess that's a goodplace to start.
So I started becoming friendswith your dad.
Yeah Right, i guess did webecome friends at the same time,
(01:05):
or was I more like hitting withyour dad at?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, i think you were hitting with my dad.
I was at a way at college Andthen, Oh that's right, 2018
summer I think Yeah, I think soBecause I started playing at the
club in 2017.
Yeah, so I think it was summerof 2018 when I came back from
school.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
From school.
Okay, yeah, and that was atwhat school?
The University of New YorkUniversity.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
And you played tennis there for four years.
Yeah, up in Oregon.
Yeah, Division III.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
D3, cool.
So what kind of teams did youplay?
Like would?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I know any of the other names You know, so from
down here, some of the biggerschools would be CMS, claremont,
mckenna, claremont.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
McKenna yeah, did you play at Claremont, did you guys
ever?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
do away.
We did not play at Claremont,we actually played them in
Hawaii.
A couple of us schools went toHawaii to play.
Oh, that's right, that's cool.
So, claremont, mckenna,redlands, we did our so-Cal trip
Redlands University Redlands isD3 also.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Oh cool, caltech.
These are some good schools.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, smart schools, nice schools too.
Yeah, occidental, we played atOccidental.
Oh, wow, i try to think of whatelse we played when we did our
trip down here.
I don't know, i know, not whenI was there, but they played at
Cal Lutheran too.
Okay, so I just saw likeCalifornia schools And all went
to Hawaii.
No, so once it went to Hawaii,we're us CMS.
(02:26):
Claremont McKenna Yeah, caltechwas there, and then Trinity
which is in Texas.
And then we also played HawaiiPacific while we were there.
And Hawaii Pacific.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah.
So the funny thing is I wastelling Matt when we played
Hawaii Pacific we were a D2.
And I don't know if HawaiiPacific was a D2 back then.
So were they a D3?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
They're D2.
They are D2.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Okay, So the first time we played them they flew to
us in Pomona Stinks So I played.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Hawaii Pacific in Pomona That stinks.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, that totally stinks.
We never flew to Hawaii.
Oh my gosh, my daughter'strying to knock on the door,
okay cool.
Well, i do want to talk moreabout your college, but let's
start a little about you first,joe Jr Balawag, and tell me a
little about your rating.
Let's just talk about thatfirst.
Get that out of the way.
(03:16):
Five-O, you're a five-O.
Yes, do you know your UTR?
I don't know if I play enough.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I think when I was playing in college I was the
highest I was a 10.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
10, probably.
Yeah, I would say yeah, right,Most college players are 10,
then they get up to 11 and 12.
Some of the higher D1s,probably.
So I don't know if I evenpublished it yet, but I was
doing like a little solo podcaston my tournament about tomorrow
.
The kid I was going to playfrom University of Arizona is a
(03:48):
12.6.
Crazy, No, that's nuts.
My whole mission of passing onewinning one round.
It was not going to happen, butthen I think I told you last
night I got a default, so I gotit, so I won the first round, so
I'm playing I forget who.
In the second round The personlooks normal at least.
Maybe I'll have a chance thistime.
(04:09):
So we'll see.
I'll keep you posted on that.
So you're five-O.
And then after college, wereyou ever a four or five, or did
they put you right into thefive-O category?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Five-O, yeah, i would say all college guys go
straight into five-O you thinkIf you're recent, as long as if
you answer the questionnairelike honestly yes.
Oh, okay, there's still a bunchof college guys playing
four-five.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Playing four-five really?
Oh wow, i didn't think aboutthat.
Definitely You're right.
You could totally lie, yeah,But don't they ask you, like
where you went to college or howlong ago.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, but you just say, didn't you?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You just say yeah, I don't know what college is, I
can't spell college.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Okay, so how about?
when did you start playing?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I'm serious, like taking it seriously, probably
around 11, 12.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, so Popston play .
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Or did he?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
No, he did.
He was trying to get me to playway earlier than that And I
just really wasn't into it.
I was in the baseball Mostlystemming from because all my
friends in middle school were inthe baseball.
So I was.
I liked baseball a lot, Butthen I started playing tennis a
lot more right around.
I started playing tennis, maybearound 10 and then taking it,
like I said, seriously, playinga couple days a week.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Seriously, because you wanted to you think, or
serious, because dad was makingit a little bit.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
It definitely started with dad wanting me to play And
then, as I was getting, moreinto it, then I was definitely
into it and wanting to play.
Yeah, But I was.
I did not like tennis at allfor a while.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
For a while, meaning when you were young, or later on
too.
Yeah, oh right.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Maybe a little bit later.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Later.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
That's sort of my story too, though.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I think you know I was talking to Adam about that
in our podcast.
It's like I played every day,probably since I was like five
or four, i don't even know when,because my dad was really into
it, and every single day And Ididn't think it was weird to
come home, go straight to tennis, not see your friends.
Like my little eight year old,she goes straight to see her
friends, right, but straight totennis, then homework at like 8,
(06:06):
8.30 as a kid, right, and thatwas just normal for me And I
then maybe that's why I didn'treally enjoy it that much And
only later on in college Ireally started enjoying it,
obviously because of the teamaspect.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
I think, yeah, that's kind of the same way.
Yeah, going straight fromschool to tennis.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, yeah.
And then, though, anything else, you play soccer or like
anything like that.
No, because I know you're intosoccer.
Yeah, i'm into soccer now.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
But, growing up?
no, i wasn't into soccer.
Yeah, it was basically baseballThat was about it.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Did you play baseball in high school?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
No, so that was kind of they're both the same season.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Oh, that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
And I felt pretty good that I could make varsity
for tennis my freshman year.
So I was like I'm going to goto tennis, oh sweet, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
And then, but you said your dad played like how
much?
like I know how much he playsnow, obviously, but was he
playing a lot when you wereyoung, too?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Like tournaments or anything.
Oh yeah, so yeah He I can'tremember the exact year, but I
was definitely younger.
He, around probably 10, wasplaying tournaments every
weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Really.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
He was ranked, I think, number one in four or
five doubles.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I should ask him about it.
In what?
In the nation?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah, wow, definitely top 10.
He had a partner, jimCunningham.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
My name sounds familiar.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, he used to play out of the club.
I don't.
he doesn't play out of the clubanymore.
He's older.
He's not your guys is age.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Oh, I know Jim.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, That's right.
Okay, And they would I meanevery weekend they play
tournaments, all the big onestoo.
Yeah, and, like I said, i wasreally young and didn't really
pay attention to it, didn't caremuch about it, but yeah, oh,
wow.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I didn't know that He took it really seriously, but
he still does.
I got to talk to him about that.
Yeah, he still does, of course.
Yeah, it's actually one of thethings I was going to mention
too is not that your dad, yourdad's like much older than me,
but I I've always seen your dadas I don't want to say father
figure because it's not likewe're having heart to hearts
(08:18):
about like real stuff, butdefinitely in that realm for me,
like a mentor, father figurebecause it's like I said, it's
not necessarily like I'm he'spulling me aside and going let
me tell you about life, son, buthe's just a real good guy for
me to watch because he reallycares about tennis, he really
(08:38):
cares about his family, he caresabout his profession, you know,
and so I really enjoy, like him, keith, you know those two guys
, I really enjoy like listeningto those guys and just seeing
them like out there on the courtas sort of the older not a real
old, but the next generationfor me of tennis player, and
(09:01):
then to see them so passionateabout it and like just really
good guys.
So it's fun?
Yeah, definitely.
And so your family is your dad,your mom, and then I always
forget this we have one brother,one sister.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Okay, now Both younger.
I'm the oldest.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Okay, and then do they play tennis at all?
Speaker 3 (09:17):
No, My sister played soccer in high school and a
little bit in college And mybrother's big into music, Morphe
musician, but sorry He'sactually gonna.
He started in the summerpicking up a tennis racket.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Just recently.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Is the sparkling water missing you up?
I think so.
Yeah, i think so.
I said off camera I Joe's like,buy some water or I'll just
take water.
So I was like, cool, i'm gonnatry to be cool here and go buy
some nice water.
And I bought some sparklingwater and it's totally messing
us up.
If you need, if you need abreak here, let me put you on
(09:57):
mute.
You wanna cough it out?
Okay, if you need a break andwe need to get regular water,
let's do it.
Thanks.
I didn't realize how harshsparkling was Sparkling.
I said What were you saying?
Oh, your brother is doing music.
That's cool.
I think I saw a video of him.
He was the.
(10:17):
was he guitar or what was hedoing?
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Yeah, probably guitar .
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
But he plays guitar, he plays bass and really in the
drums too.
He's super talented.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
But yeah he picked up a racket this summer because he
wanted to play a sport, andhe's all in.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
He's all in He is, and how is he talented Is he
like pretty talented He's alwaysbeen a kid who can.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
He picks.
Whatever you want him to do, hecould do it at a good level
automatically.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
He's got a huge forehand like a legitimate
forehand.
Him and I can rally forehandall day long.
Really.
Yeah, and he's only beenplaying for like a year, since
the summer, not even a year.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Oh my gosh, yeah, if I can need some work.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
But yeah, he's like I said, he's really into it.
He was on JV and Australianpeople.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah, you don't wanna say that.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
He's the best JV three singles player in the
country.
Really, that's what I like tosay.
Yeah, jv three.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah, that's cool.
And then right now I knowyou're teaching at the club and
then you're also doing someother stuff too, so let's talk
about the other stuff first.
Sure, so that was the funnything.
My daughter was so excited whenyou came, mr B, mr Balliwag,
and so you're doing some subbing, yeah, and then, also connected
to your degree, you were doing,or still are- doing stuff with
(11:35):
that, some freelance writing, sogot a journalism degree And so,
yeah, doing.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
That's where kind of the soccer part comes in.
I was writing for a soccerpublication And then both my
parents are educators, so in myfree time I'm also doing some
substitute teaching, yeah, Andthat's why I wore my hat, cause
you went to USC.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Grad school at USC.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Had to do the Pac-12 hat for you.
So grad school so cool.
And I remember you lived oncampus right During the grad
school.
Commuted, i did, oh, but youlived with a family member or
something like that.
That's right, cause, as youlived by school, yeah, Okay, oh,
that's so cool.
You happy about it, do youregret?
Speaker 3 (12:14):
doing that at all?
No, i don't no it was such acool experience.
Okay Got to meet some reallycool people in the business too,
which made it really cool.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Oh, that's cool, yeah , cause I.
I don't know if you know, but Ihave an advanced degree after
my law degree.
Did you know that?
No, i didn't.
Biggest waste of time in theworld.
But it was an advanced degreefor lawyers.
It was bad?
No, it was.
It was a waste of time.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
It was awesome.
Okay, good, all the like.
I'm into sports writing, so alot of my professors were the
ones that I got along reallywell for into sports as well,
and so, like working at the LATimes, la Times sports editor,
that's where you were, or Yeah,that's where, oh Yeah.
One of my professors former LATimes writers or like Heisman
(12:58):
voters.
They have Heisman voters forcollege football, so That's so
cool And it's really cool to getadvice from them and how to
exist in that business.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
And so that medium still exists, that the need for
writers writing about sportingevents.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
So definitely it's a little different now If you want
to work for publications.
it's like there's smaller, lessjobs, but more people applying.
It's really competitive.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
But now obviously you know like this podcast.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
You can sort of make your own mediums, own media
outlet if you want.
Right, Like your own blogs Andthose can.
By making your own blogs andyou know Twitter stuff, being
active on Twitter you can make aname for yourself And then
those companies that maybeweren't interested to do it
first now see that you can do it, and then you have viewers.
People are just looking for.
How many views are you getting?
(13:49):
That's true.
How much attention can youbring to our organization?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah.
So what's the plan with that?
Do you plan on keep going downthat road?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
I'm kind of trying to figure that out, whether I want
to go deeper down that road orlook into teaching actually,
because I really enjoyedteaching a lot more than I
thought I would.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Oh, so cool.
Yeah, have you been teachingother grades besides the younger
ones?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
that I know of Elementary and middle.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I haven't done high school yet.
Do you want to?
I don't know Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I don't know if I want to sub high school.
I teach high school, for sure,that's true.
I don't know if I would be asub student.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
You know what.
You're so right.
There's enough 80s movies aboutthe kids killing the sub in
high school.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
I tell people all the time like why don't you do high
school?
I'm like because I remember inhigh school how much like you
tormented the sub.
And I was the good kid, like itwas not the bad kids, and I
didn't even respect the sub.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're so right.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I'm like I'm going to wait for that.
I'm not sure if I want to gothere yet.
No, you're totally right.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yeah, and the little kids think it's like I don't
even know, like you're a moviestar coming.
I remember when my little onecame home she was like so
excited that she had a sub, sofunny.
Oh my gosh, that's hilarious.
Okay, so you're teaching at theclub obviously the tennis club.
So you're at the tennis clubAnd how are you enjoying that?
I love it, yeah, love it somuch.
(15:05):
And you're doing kids, groups,adults lessons, everything.
Yeah And like okay, so let'ssay so you know my game and I
come to you for a lesson.
Like I don't know, is theresomething?
are you telling me what to doOr am I sort of suggesting
(15:25):
things Like what do you think is?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
good, Yeah.
well, so for you, with yourgame and with people around your
level, it's usually gonna besomething pretty specific, Right
, and so I'd ask you, what doyou wanna work on?
Cause usually people at yourlevel same thing with me.
I know what I'm not great atand what I want to work on.
Right for more beginner people.
It might be something morebroad in terms of what we're
(15:46):
working on.
I mean, you beat me.
Yes, I don't have any pointersfor you.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
We'll talk about that .
That's on page three here.
We'll talk about that.
I have to go to you, i guess,for a lesson.
You know, what's funny islately I'm not coaching,
obviously, but lately, whenpeople ask me about I don't know
tips like you know, my wife orjust some of her friends or
anyone at a lower level of mine,cause they think the higher
(16:12):
level knows it all, we don'tright.
But they'll ask me aboutsomething.
I've been realizing lately thatit's not so much like let me
see your forehand, you'reholding this wrong.
you're doing I'm late, onlylately, maybe it's I'm becoming
wiser as I get older, but onlylately I've been realizing it's
more like how they think ofthings, like does that make
(16:33):
sense?
Like do you know where I'mgoing with this?
Yeah, and like that's why I'vebeen so focusing with like on
the shoulder turn.
it's like I've been sayingdon't think power comes from
your arm, just something thatsimple.
Yeah makes them thinkdifferently, right?
So I don't know, i just thinkthat's been valuable, like how
much of that Versus, like just Idon't know the technical side
(16:58):
of teaching is.
is there in your stuff like doyou find that?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
yeah, for more beginners.
I think it's more technical.
Yeah, especially at thebeginning, you don't want anyone
to build a bad habit In termsof their swing.
So I'm it's really technicalAnd I think it might be kind of
boring for some people, becauseI'm trying to get that swing
down So we can move on and wedon't have to worry about the
string ever, the swing, everagain.
Let's get your swings down.
(17:21):
Yeah, specifically forehand andbackhand, the ground strokes,
and then we'll go from there,because there's a lot you could.
If you can't hit a foreign andback in, we can't really advance
anywhere.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah, you gotta get that down?
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Yeah, and you feeling confident in it?
Yeah, before we can go on withanything else, especially before
we can get in, like anystrategy or anything.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, that's true.
Yeah, definitely Yeah.
And then How about?
like, i've been having troublewith my serve, so I'm actually
just using this as a free lesson, by the way, that's why.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
I invited you.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I'm not paying for this lesson.
So I've been having troublewith my serve and I think I told
you last night, or maybe acouple days ago, that someone
told me to put my left hand up,and so little things like that
have been changing medramatically because I yeah,
because I've been working on myserve forever, like people have
been telling me like my grip,this, that, and it was like no
(18:16):
one ever told me anything aboutmy left hand, like I never heard
anything about my left hand.
And finally one person saidyou're dropping your left hand,
just Pledge of allegiance withyour left hand, kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah, it makes complete sense.
Yeah um and like, like that'swhat I was saying about.
You said, if you were to cometo me for a lesson, i mean, it's
things, little things like that.
That's how specific it can beif you already have.
You know the broad strokes downAnd yeah, that thing, especially
on people serve.
That's why I'm telling a lot ofpeople is, if you're missing,
you're serving the net.
It's two things.
(18:48):
It's either your toss is toolow or by the time you're
hitting, like you said, that'swhy your arm, your hands, here
is when you're coming down, yourbody's going down, the ball is
gonna come down.
Yeah, if you're making contactand you're like this Yep, you
know the ball is going.
It's gonna go in the net everytime.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Which is exactly what I was doing in swing-vingion my
left hand was dropping, mychest was down and I was somehow
trying to like, just like thatpose you did.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
I was trying to somehow get it.
So if I keep it that hand here,that's come super smart.
Yeah, i kept me up and you downmy chest up.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Everything changed just with that little thing.
Mm-hmm and even in strokes,like something I was working on
with my wife just this morning.
She was dropping her left armon a forehand, yeah, yeah, and I
felt I was like babe, just putit on the right, you can almost
like joke of it.
She put on the racket and turnand then release.
Yeah, it changed everything forher.
She had her left hand arm up,she was more balanced, yeah, and
(19:37):
that's the big thing I mean.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's why I told a lot of the kids I'm coaching you
, you need that arm out, Evenjust so you know how far away it
through you from the ball right, Because if that arms down you
don't know how far away to be.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Oh, that's interesting to you, or I?
Speaker 3 (19:49):
get a lot of kids lunging too far away.
I'm like you gotta be one armaway.
Yeah, you're right and thenwith that swing, that arm you
know Go goes away.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, you're about hitting your arm.
You're away as you swing.
Yeah, i never thought aboutthat.
That's so huge because you'reright a lot of times you're.
You're caught in that left arm,sort of gonna help you.
What's it called like?
What's the word I'm?
Speaker 1 (20:13):
using here.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I don't know but gauge like where the ball is.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yeah, oh, that's true , that's awesome.
So when you're, you're playingstill, you're not just teaching,
you're still playing, like wetalked about last night.
Sorry to bring this up, but theswing vision video is almost
out.
I've got this on the tube, butwe had a lot of fun last night.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
So just to talk about it, we we ended up.
I started thinking like let'splay some fun singles.
You know we don't get enough ofthat.
We do a lot of drills hittingpoints to 11 doubles, but not
enough, just like singles play.
And So I started text everyonewho can do it me, you, our
friend slob and Tommy joinedlast night We played like mini
(20:55):
pro sets, right over there fastfor fast force.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
That's right for sets of four.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
So we played and We had a good battle.
I ended up taking it.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
You talk first, then I'll talk about okay, go, you
don't have to be respectful.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Let me pretend to be home.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
We had a good battle?
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
No, we did.
We had a good battle and you'llsee.
On the swing vision, i don'tsee our strokes being that
different.
There was just that, maybe thatlittle extra ball penetration I
had, and like you you werestepping back and I think that
was the slight difference.
Yeah, and, but that's only arecent thing for me.
I don't know if it was justlast night or just recently.
(21:32):
your balls.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I mean, it was piercing deep in the court too.
And for me, when, when I getWhatever's in, i think it's
because we were playing forsomething I get a little nervous
and so put a little money in it, exactly So I'm not, i'm not
turning my shoulder or steppingin, i have my chest out, i'm so,
so, and so my ball is just kindof looping.
I can still get the spinbecause I get on my wrist, a lot
of it in my wrist, but it's notdoing anything Right.
(21:55):
So that's what it felt likelast night.
I was just waiting for you tomiss and you weren't missing.
So if you're not missing, i'mnot gonna.
I wasn't gonna win a lot ofpoints.
Hmm, but you had a naturallygood spin ball anyways, Yeah but
last night it to me at least itwasn't, like I said, doing
anything, it wasn't Going intoyou at all.
(22:16):
You were able to just it's likea ball machine ball.
That's what it felt like.
You know, you were relaxed andand for me, when I get a little
tighter I don't hit my back handat all.
I try to run around everything.
I think that opens up the courtfor you too Interesting?
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah, yeah, that's interesting.
What do you think about the?
I know I'm out here likeeveryone's always making fun of
me because I'm messing withweight on my racket.
Yeah, is that a factor for youat all?
Do you think that over change?
No, nothing.
Yeah, cuz I know you Recentlyswitched to the technophile
racket, which you love, and Iloved it when I tried it.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
But it's not a weight issue.
You don't think?
no, i don't think so.
Yeah, what do you think it isbesides?
besides, your forehand Chestopen, which obviously, like we
talked about it, means you'renot turning.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Yeah, i'm sure you get like.
No, like you were saying it getall aren't all right, and so
I'm not using my hips.
Where are my legs?
where I get my power from?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
but your back and you're probably turning
correctly, though I just don'thave confidence in it.
That's been like, okay, it'sjust a mental thing.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Hmm.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Yeah and well, and again, maybe not so much, not
confidence, but I just favor my,my forehand a lot more than my
backhand.
Yeah, and so, like last night,i'm gonna try and just do
everything to get a forehand andI actually my my inside
forehand is my favorite shot.
It is, or is it is.
Yeah, so that's why even moreso.
I was just going aroundeverything.
(23:35):
I'm in the outside the doublesalley trying to hit a forehand,
being an idiot.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Well, that's funny.
I'm tired court.
I gotta go back and look atthat.
Yeah, i don't really rememberthat.
It just goes to show how muchthat's another one of my issues.
I'm not watching you, like I'mworking on my ball, like I'm
purposely now trying to hit deepPenetrating balls.
Yeah, and before to tell you,true, that wasn't, i was just
like try to hit hard or try todo this, but I'm not really
watching you, so I gotta I gottastart changing that.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Yeah, i mean that's simple.
That's why I tell a lot ofpeople to Can.
If you can hit four to fiveballs past the service line
every point, you're gonna win somany points Totally.
Like you're putting pressure onyour opponent and it's as
simple as if you're hitting pastthe service line, they can't
attack you and if they try toattack you they're probably
gonna miss that ball.
That's a hard ball, rightTotally.
(24:24):
And if you?
but now if you get four to fiveballs inside The service line,
it's a different story.
It's an easier ball for youropponent to attack.
So it might not be the case,but if you can hit four to five
and if you can hit more, evenbetter, past the service line,
you're gonna win a lot of pointsand if you're hitting deep, you
probably have more of anopportunity to get in also.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Oh definitely, yeah, definitely, which is something
mean you probably don't doenough of also, right, do you
think sometimes we feel a littletoo comfortable, like on the
baseline?
Speaker 3 (24:53):
or that's a good question.
Yeah, i think, maybe, maybe.
Yeah, i mean I'm I'm supercomfortable at the base on
that's.
I think my ground strokes areprobably my best attribute My
strength, and so maybe I'mwaiting, being a little too
conservative.
Winning for the right ball.
Yeah, there's probably a coupleballs before I actually go in
that I could.
Yeah, but Yeah so.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
I think that might be true, because it is one of the
things I notice when I'mwatching swing vision.
I go why didn't I go in there?
right, or, or, or or.
There's like I'm I do a lot ofreaching for the ball and it's
not even that short, it's notlike it's three feet in front of
the service line, so I steps,it's like a two steps in front
of the baseline and I'm like,and I'm like like you're not
(25:40):
seeing the ball like earlyenough.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
I think so.
So you're reacting late becauseyou don't recognize the ball
shorter, or is that justsometimes laziness?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
It has to be a combination of all that, but
it's also sometimes my.
My instinct is that first stepis backwards.
Yeah you know what I mean, whichis totally that just sounds
wrong when I say it, but a lotof times on camera I was
watching myself.
Yeah, like my split step andsort of getting ready.
I was sort of on my back heels,i don't know expecting a deep
ball.
(26:08):
I'm not really sure, but it wasso noticeable when even a ball
that wasn't that short, onlylike literally two, three feet
in front Of the baseline, and Ihad the lunge for it, i was not
there ready and, even worse, myinstinct was after I hit, i back
, i went back.
So it's not like I'm goingforward, like I hit and run back
to the baseline.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
And if I see your racket going like that or like
this, yeah, i'm cheating in, i'mexpecting that ball to be short
too, which is true in a toughposition.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Yeah, yeah, i gotta, i gotta fix that When we play
Like something else.
Thinking about last night whenwe played like Tom Yeah, like, i
Like playing Tom because hisstrokes are really nice, but and
this isn't making fun of Tom onmy swing vision video I keep
(26:56):
saying this isn't making fun ofTom, i'm just like trying to
notice things, but I felt likeit's it's fun playing Tom
because He wasn't moving toowell.
Last night He said he had aninjury.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
I When did Tommy not have an?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
injury.
He said he had an injury, butit was fun to play him because
if you hit Adam he'll actuallyhit a really nice stroke back
right.
And so I had to like purposelytry to move him and And I just
saw how sometimes the angles toowere so effective.
Not I was like going deep.
And then once I saw him deep Iwas like going angle, and so he
(27:33):
was a really good.
Again, i'm not making fun ofhim, He was a really good ball
machine for me last nightBecause he was like showing me
sort of like you're so confident, you're just Experimenting,
yeah, and I'm trying things outin a weird way I was, but it was
so helpful.
Yeah, because he was likeshowing me I can push a guy deep
once that person goes like Ialways get these mixed up
(27:56):
vertically, is that ahorizontally shoot?
I'm now I'm sound like an idiot, but diagonally backwards.
Once they go diagonallybackwards, you know, then I sort
of had the opportunity to do amore spinny and it didn't have
to be hard winner, you know whatI mean.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
that's what a lot of praise tomy, my dad, for Strategy wise,
just patterns and what to go forhim thinking three balls ahead
of the current ball You're onlike what are you trying to do
to get to this guy's weaknessinto your strength as much as
you possibly can?
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, your dad was the first person
that really made me think aboutdouble strategy beyond just
Poach stay, yeah, which is all Iused to know.
You know your dad has poachesfor returning side too, and I
didn't know that was even athing.
So I'm sure dad.
I'm sure people do it, i'm surepros do, i'm sure college kids
do it.
I just didn't know about it.
(28:48):
And your dad has a lot ofstrategy the eye that we used to
call that the Australian, or isthe Australian something
different?
I forget, but yeah, he does.
The eye, oh Man, yeah, yourpops is awesome.
What.
What's gonna bring you?
or if, if you even care,because I know you're doing so
much other stuff What's gonnabring you to the next level in
(29:08):
tennis?
That's a good question but doyou first of all, do you even
care?
like are you happy where you'reat, like Yeah, i am.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
I'm happy where I'm at currently, just in terms of I
put a lot of work in As ajunior and then in college, a
ton of work mentally to to getto where I was, and so it was
really nice To just chill andit's just yeah and no, no
consequences, good or bad,whatever happens when you lose.
You know, yeah, not a big deal,but he said, in terms of how to
(29:37):
take my game to the next level,i Would say, um, that's a good
question.
I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
See, because you're you're not Giving, you're not
taking lessons, you don't reallyhave time Yeah you're working
too much.
Yeah, you know, maybe when Iend up sending you that swing
vision, maybe you'll have likesomething else to say about it,
like because it is, it's really,it's really eye-opening and
watching yourself.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Honestly, i think it's, um, what would take me to
the next level is just mentalstuff, Because when I'm relaxed
I don't I feel really good aboutmy game and what, what I'm able
to do, because I think I,strategically, i'm able to you
know, figure out what I want todo and how to manipulate the
point to get to what I want.
But it's just uh, mentally, ifI'm believing in myself.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
So you you think it's a non believing, or is it a
nervousness, or are those?
Speaker 3 (30:33):
the same thing?
Yeah, i think it's.
I think you you could call itthe same thing.
I won't I want to win so bad.
I'm hurting myself likementally.
I'm like freezing interesting,like newt alarms.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Yeah, and wanting to win, like The point, means that
you're maybe What not likehitting out, not trusting it.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Oh, definitely like um last night it came down to a
thing of not missing, like.
I'm just I'm getting reallynervous.
I'm not moving my feet andthat's why I'm nervous, because
I'm not moving And my chest isout and hitting like this, just
trying to keep the ball and play, instead of trying to Win the
point, even though I want to winso badly.
Instead of trying to win thepoint being okay, making some
mistakes, i'm almost playing notto lose and just trying to keep
(31:16):
the ball.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
And not that you even know the answer to this, but
like, why is that happening?
because you are like, like yousaid, you're out of college,
right, you have?
Speaker 3 (31:30):
won, wins.
It's just competitiveness.
Yes, it's how competitive I am.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
so that's interesting because, because you want to
win, it's there.
It's so you're not thinkingabout I'm gonna miss and lose.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
No, it's self-belief too, about if I believe I can do
it.
and that's what, when I talkedabout just wanting to chill,
because after um, especially mysenior year specifically at
pacific, it was a lot ofmentally trying to um manipulate
myself into believing I canbeat anyone no matter who it is,
and that was mentallyexhausting.
Hmm, it was really rewarding,though Super rewarding because
(32:03):
it worked.
I was finally beating peoplethat were probably better than
me.
Yeah, I definitely would nothave been earlier on.
But um, like, as you know, intennis, like like mentally being
um okay in your head andbelieving yourself is just as
important as anything Physicallyyou're doing a tennis.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
It.
It's weirdly been almost themost important for me lately
because, again, i I don't knowif I'm playing different.
I don't see it.
Some people tell me, oh, you'redoing this different, doing
this better.
I truthfully don't see it.
But I know for a fact when Iget out and I and I'm rallying
and I go, okay, i know I'm gonnawin this point, or I know I'm
(32:41):
gonna win this game, or even ifI lose this game, it's gonna be
okay.
Yeah, and that's what actuallyhappened last night with slob,
first game.
He went up 40 love.
I ended up winning that gameAnd I I don't remember telling
myself, oh, i'm gonna win thisgame, positive thinking, yeah,
but I just wasn't.
I didn't feel defeated.
Yeah, at 40 love, like I usedto, and I was like I'm just
(33:02):
gonna take it point by point AndI'm getting back to do so.
I was like, oh, that'ssurprising.
And then now I'm like, cool,i'm even.
So I think in the past I wouldhave been like, yeah, right,
when three points in a row toget back to do.
Yeah, so that's, i think, beenthe big difference for me.
And again, i don't even knowwhat that's from.
It might just be from a lot ofmatch play.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
Yeah, experience is huge too, Like being in those
positions, i mean give youexperience on how to deal with
them.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Yeah, you know, and losing a lot is important.
You know what I mean?
Because I think if I wasn'tlosing so much and then having
to like, deal with it, i don'tknow.
I mean I think it matters, yeah, because only then I started
feeling like I know how to dealwith it and then, anyways it
just it became a thing where Iwasn't so like down at myself
(33:50):
and mad at myself.
Yeah, yeah.
So just how to deal with it, ithink is important.
Um, do you so, since that's oneof the things that you you've
been talking about now, like, doyou do any meditation or like
prayer or something like that?
Speaker 3 (34:04):
So, like I said during um school when I was
still at pacific, um, i would dosome things, yeah, a lot of
writing actually, like if I cansee it on the paper and then
read it.
I'm convincing myself that I'mgoing to win this match.
I'm going to beat this person.
Um helped me out a lot.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Were you writing specific tennis stuff or just
writing anything that's gonnahelp you relax?
Speaker 3 (34:26):
I don't know if it's cringy, but I would.
I would say whoever theopponent was.
I say I will beat Opponentsbecause I am a winner.
Ah interesting I would writethat two pages, that sentence,
wow, pages full.
and then during the match,every single point I was telling
myself, i would say that phraseout loud, like under my breath,
not like yelling it under mybreath, yeah, like I'm saying
(34:48):
that phrase over and over andover again, so I believe it
until.
I believe it.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
That's so interesting , and so this this is what I was
talking about earlier too,which is I don't think It's.
it's not just positive thinking, that's just too simple.
Yeah it's actually believingyou can do the thing You're
saying.
Yeah yeah, that's slightlydifferent than just positive
things.
Sure, I think, because positivethinking is just like I am the
(35:16):
best, but there's no likeconcrete, like I don't know
stuff surrounding that.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Well, sometimes you're not the best, and I
figure it out Exactly.
You know what I mean.
I think the best I mean, yousee this, with great teams,
great tennis players, whateverthe sport is the greatest at, it
can win when they're not attheir best.
They don't need to be at theirbest.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
How do they still figure it out?
Speaker 3 (35:39):
That's what makes them so great, and yeah, so I
think that might be a littledifferent than just the positive
thinking, just the positivethinking.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Yeah, and thinking about what's that Jordan
documentary recently?
Last dance, last dance.
I watch it like a hundred times.
I can't believe it.
I don't know the name, that'sanother part of it.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
My girlfriend makes funny.
Before every match I'd watchthe documentary, really Watching
it.
She's getting pumped watching.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Michael Jordan.
Yeah, yeah, and the funny thingwas someone I forget who was
commenting on Michael was likehe just figured out a way to
never lose And like so that wasone of the things that they were
saying It didn't matter if hewas a little sick or whatever
that day, he would figure out away to win that match.
Right, and that's the partthat's always been amazing to me
(36:24):
.
Obviously he's amazing talent,whatever, but that is the big
difference.
Yeah, and I do see that now incertain tennis players too, like
they just configure it out Youdon't always mind me.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
They can't wrap their brain around losing.
You know what I mean And I'veplayed some Division I players
too, whether it be intournaments or just in the area.
And it's crazy.
When you get to out beat them,we'll play tie break.
I'll win the first one.
Immediately, Like before I'meven crossing, it goes down the
bench rematch.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Rematch.
Speaker 3 (36:59):
Yeah, and then the next one was tight, and then
that third one.
They like blow me out of thewater.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Because they're just at a different competitive level
.
Of like.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
I refuse, I am not going to lose.
You know what I mean, and I'venoticed that with, like the
higher division in college orprofessional athlete, it seemed
like they have that certainmentality, i guess.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
Yeah, which makes them so great Totally, and they
know how to figure it out duringthe match, which is why the
three out of five sets majorsare so different sometimes than
the two out of three settournaments that are played The
same.
People sort of roll the majorsversus, you know, the smaller
tournaments which anyone can winin a weird way.
(37:41):
So what else can I say?
Oh, so I just want to go backto this racket thing real quick
before I forget, because when Iwas trying the Techno Fiber I
felt this deadening Yeah, isthat a word?
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Okay, Well, I don't know if that's a word, but I
know what you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Okay, And I liked it actually, which is why I started
using this, the Luxelon AUpower vibe, which is like a dead
stream Yeah.
I've been telling you rememberthe vibe And I've been liking
that And so is that why you likeyour racket.
It feels dead Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
I think so.
I had the Babylon peer arrow,but the old version, like in
2017, and I had had that racketfrom 2017 until this past
November And I was like, andit's just time for a new racket.
And then, yeah, one of thoseclinics that we do, a Techno
Fiber rep came out And I'd usethe peer arrow to get more power
(38:40):
and more pop on my ball.
And now I feel like I cangenerate more power than I could
.
And then, with this racket, ijust felt like wherever I could
put the ball, wherever I wantedwhich is huge for my game as,
like a counter puncher, i needto have that ability And so it's
just like that ball was on astring And I'm like, oh my God,
i love this.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Like I want the ball to go there.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Boom On a dime Boom.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Yeah, i felt that too when I tried it.
I'm not even sure why I didn'tgo to it.
Yeah, because I loved it forthe few days I tried it, and
then I just went back to myWilson's.
But maybe I'll try it again,cause I actually did.
I actually did love it.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
And that's the Luxelon string too, that Luxelon
string is Yeah, i was usingthat string as well, Not the
vibe, but I was using theLexelon.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
I told you, people hate the vibe.
Everyone except you, everyonehates it.
I can't even find it anymore.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
I don't think tennis warehouse sells it.
That's a business.
Yeah, it's not profitable.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
I'm so lost at that.
It's like a cheating string.
I have to go buy it up off eBayor something That's so
hilarious.
So you're not.
I forget, did you sign up forthe league the 505?
Speaker 3 (39:42):
league, not this one, because I have a lot of lessons
on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
So I just really wasn't able to make that
commitment.
You interested in playing moreleague matches, or Yeah, yeah?
Speaker 3 (39:51):
So that league's a lot of fun.
Yeah, it's tough on us, ourteam.
The back to back is just killer.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
I know.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Because, you know, we with our team, we got to solve
a team, but then the teams youplay also do, And then when you
have to go back to back, theyhave like a second string that
just comes in.
Yeah, you know what I mean?
The like 25 to 35 year olds,yeah, and who are ex college
players.
And then for us it's the sameguys, yeah, and most of our guys
are a little older, right, andthey're like playing two matches
(40:19):
.
Yeah, and they're playing twomatches And then they have, like
I said, two sets of.
it's not like a second team,like a backup team.
It's still just as good astheir first team You know what I
mean, totally.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
But you know I'm the one that wanted the double
headers, right?
Did you know that?
No, why do you want the doubleheaders, like I?
yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
I had no idea.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Because what happened was I thought it was tough for
everyone to come out eachweekend, And so I ended up
telling the representative fromUSDA is it possible to do double
headers?
That kills us.
Oh, it's horrible.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
It's totally dying by the end of that thing.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
Imagine you got to tell some of these guys go play
four sets or even with like atie break.
You're hilarious.
Oh no, trust me, i realizedit's bad.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
I would think differently if we had enough
guys to field basically twoteams.
Or like only one or two guyshad to play.
Play twice, play twice, but Butwhen?
Speaker 2 (41:07):
you're asking Tommy the ball machine.
that's my new name for Tommy,tommy the ball machine.
I'm sure he loves that?
Speaker 3 (41:13):
I'm sure he loves that?
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Oh my gosh, I thought you knew that I asked for the
double headers.
I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I thought that was just like unique to this league.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Oh my oh yeah, no, no , it's me Stupidly thinking it
was better for us.
Oh my gosh, that's funny.
I don't know.
I'm just thinking about Tommytoo.
Last night he said he pulled ahammy.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
But Here's the thing, and I'm gonna look right in the
camera Tommy only seems to pullsomething when he loses.
Tommy's always in great health.
When he wins at anything, greathealth.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
I haven't seen him win anything.
The good thing about Tommy,though, is that he is funny
about it.
I don't know if it's anyways, Idon't wanna go.
I'll wait for Tommy to come tothe podcast and then I'll talk
my smack to him.
But Tommy's our good buddy.
That's why we do it.
We only make fun of people wecare about Exactly.
(42:03):
Actually, I wouldn't make funof someone I didn't like.
It's not worth it.
Okay, so now let's examine me alittle more, Because I have a
actually very important questionabout so.
My backhand feels so much moresolid than my forehand, So good.
(42:24):
Yeah but does it look better too?
Because I guess that's leadingto my question because Your
forehand's good too.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
I get no issues with the forehand.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Why isn't the backhand a weapon?
then is my question Because itfeels solid.
But what am I doing wrong on mybackhand that I'm not doing on
my forehand?
Because my forehand, obviously,i feel like I can hit?
Speaker 3 (42:44):
some winners, i think , for you.
I notice when I'm talking aboutthe mental side of the game so
much, but when you're notthinking, there's not a lot of
better tennis players in thisarea.
When you're not thinking, whenyou're just playing, does that
make sense?
And I notice when you start tosort of overthink and think
(43:04):
about exactly what's going onhere my footwork.
That's when, like I said, ithink you're overthinking it and
getting your head too much.
When you're just playing, bothstrokes are completely fine.
Like I think you're puttingthat weight on yourself of your
backhand not being a weapon.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
I think it can be a weapon if you just allow it to
be.
It's interesting you would saythat because one of the
conversations I had with Dougcoach Doug the other day was and
he was giving me a lesson washe hit a ball like easy to me
down the middle And I forgetwhat the drill was.
But he said hit the approachanywhere.
And I remember thinking likefour different shots And then I
(43:45):
lost the game.
And then after that game I saidlet's do the same drill.
This time I'm gonna approachdown the middle.
So I takes my brain out of it.
I don't wanna think.
And my approach became 100%better, right, and I ended up
winning the game approachingdown the middle versus.
I lost the game when he allowedme to approach anywhere.
(44:06):
So it's totally my brain'sgetting in the way.
I feel like a lot of times I'mthinking too much.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
I know we've talked about that, then you wanna talk
about your backhand, but when weplayed a couple of doubles
tournaments and we had talkedabout giving signs everyone
gives signs on the serve butalso sign on to the returning
you had talked about that.
It just turns your brain out of.
Okay, you wanna go cross court?
Perfect, instead of you havingto be like, oh my God, i'm
watching the net guy, where'shis serve?
gonna serve it If I just tellyou I want you to go down the
(44:32):
middle, i want you to go line, iwant you to go cross court.
It immediately for you, becauseyou have told me this in the
past.
Like it takes your brain out ofit.
Okay, joey wants me to go crossMeaning you're the guy at the
net and I'm returning And I'mtelling you to go wherever
direction.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
That's right, I totally forgot about that.
You would tell me where toreturn And obviously it's a
little.
It's not maybe always the beststrategy, right, Because it sort
of locks me in too much, butthe point of it, like you were
saying, was that it took mybrain out of it.
It takes that, yeah, Out of youthinking, because I know that.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
When I play you, and especially when my dad and I
play you, i am always and youknow this because I know you're
always looking at the net guyAnd I'm always, if you're
playing the do side, returningon the do side, i'm dipping my
right shoulder just for you tosee that, oh, he's going and I'm
back And it's worked a lot.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
Well, it's hard playing you and your dad,
because you guys are alwaysthinking like being smart And
you guys are able to think.
See, that's my issue.
Like you said, i shouldn't bethinking, but you and your dad
are like playing chess out there.
That's because of him.
Yeah, because of your pops.
Yeah, yeah, i gotta talk toyour pops more on a podcast.
That'd be good.
He would probably come in hereand give us some sort of
dissertation on something Youcould do different lectures.
Speaker 3 (45:41):
You can have like a lecture a week on different
strategy.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
That's so cool.
Yeah, okay, so that'sinteresting that you brought
that up, Even on the return callsigns, if I think it's a really
good tip.
if you're paying attention tothe net person too much, if
you're wondering what to do here, like just have the net person
maybe call a sign and go hitcross court.
Speaker 3 (46:06):
And you just gotta even if you don't have your net
person telling you the sign, youhave to mentally say no matter
what, I'm going cross court, youjust gotta commit to the shot,
Commit to your ball, whetherit's down, even if it's downline
, I'm committing.
Whatever happens, I'm goingdownline right, Because I
mentally too.
I'm doing that, because notthat that's gonna win you the
(46:31):
point every time, but justmentally it keeps you focused on
.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
I'm trying to do everything to get that ball
there.
Speaker 3 (46:35):
I'm not thinking.
As soon as the serve comes, I'mhaving to hesitate and make a
decision because, oh my gosh,the server served it here.
The net guy's coming this way.
All this is happening.
I'm committing to this ball, nomatter what.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
Yeah, and I think also there's a huge benefit in
having a smaller target in a way, because and that reminds me of
like I forget that movie withMel Gibson where he was the
patriot Do you remember thatmovie?
No, you didn't see it, i'myoung dude.
Oh, that's true, I was likewho's Mel Gibson, but so this
(47:06):
movie called The Patriot.
he told his sons they were likeshooting muskets or something
like when they were.
I forget what happened, but hesaid aim small, miss small.
That was like the line.
And so it totally makes sense.
even in tennis, like sometimeswhen I feel like I don't have a
target, i miss big, and if I'maiming for a smaller target,
even the miss is gonna be morelocalized right In the spot I
(47:32):
want.
Does that make sense?
So, like you telling me, hitcross court.
that focuses me on this smallertarget maybe, and I think
that's a lot beneficial too.
It reminds me too of like thereturn.
Lately I've been focusing onhitting down the middle returns,
like sort of over the low partof the net.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
Yeah, that's a really good play, Especially when you
got someone at the net who maybegosh isn't that confident at
the net, Driving it middleYou're gonna let that go.
Yeah, drive that middle.
Either you press, miss yourvolley press, hit a ball that my
guy at the net, my teammate'sable to hit, Or that
(48:11):
miscommunication between the guyat the baseline thinks the guy
at the net is gonna go for thatball Anything like that.
So driving that flat down themiddle, I use that play a lot
too.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
What do you think your dad would say?
the most important thing indoubles is Like if he.
Speaker 3 (48:27):
Oh, i don't even ask.
Oh, you know, it's the samething for singles.
He says three words, start thepoint.
Start the point.
He has told me that you can askhim, you can ask Harry, you can
ask Steven.
They've all heard it and theyall live by it.
You can ask him start the point.
You can't win, any point youdon't start.
Speaker 1 (48:46):
Put the ball in play.
Speaker 3 (48:47):
That's pretty basic, And that's why I tell the law of
the juniors too you can't winany point.
You don't start.
Put your serve in, put yourreturn in, let's see what
happens.
That too, Yeah, that's the bigone.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
It's, that's huge.
And it's funny how this is allcoming together for me too,
because, watching my swingvision, I've been noticing how
often I'm winning the returninggames because I'm mentally
thinking down the middle hardreturn deep, and I'm not missing
them much, Like I don't know.
if you realized last night.
Speaker 3 (49:21):
Oh yeah, you didn't have any, didn't miss any
returns, like I said, that's whyyou beat me, because you
weren't missing, and that waskind of the only way I was gonna
beat you last night.
Speaker 2 (49:29):
Yeah, but you're right, start the point.
Missing the return twice a game, especially in doubles, oh my
gosh, first serves are huge indoubles too.
Speaker 3 (49:37):
Again, you're first serving, you're gonna win,
you're gonna hold so much easier.
Speaker 2 (49:40):
Yeah, if you get that first serving.
Yeah, you're right, man, we gota lot love.
You got a lot more to do, a lotto think of.
Speaker 3 (49:47):
We gotta keep playing our Wednesday night singles, i
think we're gonna get morepeople out too, especially as
the summer rolls around.
Speaker 2 (49:54):
So who won last night ?
I don't remember This guy righthere.
That was so fun though.
You'll win next time, i'mpretty positive.
I don't know.
I just felt a little lucky lastnight, to be honest.
Speaker 3 (50:07):
You were like it wasn't a question.
You were the best player outthere by far that night.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
So what was your score with Slav Slav?
was in some good balls too, youbeat him for one.
Yeah, wow, i thought Slav wasgonna take me.
Slav was swinging nice on hisforehands.
Speaker 3 (50:20):
I commented on that.
It's also a great player.
Speaker 2 (50:22):
Yeah, what I was commenting on swing vision about
Slav was he's like a naturaltalent.
He sorta can do what he wants.
Speaker 3 (50:28):
Yeah he's really smart too.
Speaker 2 (50:30):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (50:31):
He's really good at getting the ball he wants.
Speaker 1 (50:34):
Sometimes it feels like he's toying with you.
Speaker 2 (50:36):
Yeah, you're right.
No, you're totally right.
Speaker 1 (50:38):
You're like a puppet it feels, like I hate, it.
Speaker 3 (50:41):
I could feel it in the point.
This guy's just bringing mearound everywhere.
I better win this point.
Speaker 2 (50:45):
I hate this.
I was thinking more about yourlove for soccer.
I know we didn't really talkabout it that much.
Maybe we can sort of end withit, because it's actually 50
minutes And I was telling you Iwanna sort of cut it off before
an hour before my camera shutsoff on me, which has been
happening.
But you've been going to GalaxyGames or no?
(51:05):
I've been doing a few GalaxyGames, part of Worker for fun.
Speaker 3 (51:09):
Yeah, oh, growing Up for Fun.
My dad's a massive Galaxy fan,so we would always go to the
Galaxy.
Games, but yeah, recently forWork, i do a lot of women's
soccer too.
So, covering San Diego waves.
They have a new stadium in SanDiego where Qualcomm was
Snapdragon yeah, it's a reallycool stadium.
And then the other MLS team inLA is LAFC And they have a
(51:34):
really nice stadium too, rightin downtown, right next to USC.
Actually, there's a wholestadium there.
I would walk from campus to goto games.
I think it's was it called theLA Sports Arena.
I think that's.
It's that ground.
Speaker 2 (51:49):
There was a stadium there.
Yeah, oh, that's so cool, andso your pops is really into
soccer.
He told you he played LandonDonovan, right Yeah, in tennis
Talking about the like, thedifferent.
Speaker 3 (52:01):
You know higher division athletes, college
athletes and then professionalathletes.
Like it's just, landon has thatmentality.
So Harry and Keith played himrecently And usually you know
when you get to that third setyou play a 10 point tie break.
In league Usually it's a 10point tie break And I guess
Landon refused.
We were playing a full set.
Really They were playing a fullset, they were not playing a 10
(52:23):
point.
Speaker 2 (52:24):
Oh my God, yeah, i remember.
Your dad said, though, likethey hit him a lob and he like
oh, he sprung like a cat, like Idon't even know how old is he,
do you know?
Speaker 3 (52:31):
40s 40s yeah.
Speaker 2 (52:34):
So he's not in this.
He doesn't play soccer anymore.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
No, he's, he was the manager for a second division
team, the San Diego law.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
Oh really.
Speaker 3 (52:43):
And I was like up in their front office.
Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 2 (52:46):
I didn't know that That's so cool.
Well, let's end with this,cause I don't I don't want to
dare forget your gift.
Oh, yes, i've been lookingforward to this And let me tell
you, brother, this is a goodcard.
What's this?
Carlitos Nice?
So Carlos Alcarez has, he has a2022 rookie card through NetPro
.
Yeah, but the second year.
(53:08):
I guess this is his second yearcard.
And now consider it.
Leaf Company made some coolcards.
They have some autograph cards,so there's some better versions
of that, but that's sort of thebase card, but I still like it.
You see, it's a little thick.
It's great, yeah.
And if you get it graded and itbecomes like one of the higher
grades, like I have one rightthere.
I paid four for the grade Imean it's.
(53:29):
It's a hundred dollars plus, soit's a.
It's a decent card, right,thank?
Speaker 3 (53:33):
you.
Speaker 2 (53:34):
And I think I got that for like 20 bucks.
But if you grade it and it'sgets a good grade, you're
looking pretty good.
Speaker 3 (53:40):
So And like if you hold onto these for longer, does
the value go up or it justdepends?
Speaker 2 (53:45):
I'm thinking Carlitos has to go up.
Yeah, i'm just going to keepdoing a lot of stuff, and what
I've been realizing lately withcards is that it's if you're in
the mainstream.
Sometimes the record doesn'tmatter.
To be honest, joakovic's cardsare not that crazy.
I can buy some right now prettylow, but the Federer cards are
nuts, you know.
(54:05):
Naomi Osaka's cards are off thecharts, yeah, serena.
And then obviously Carlos'scards are really off the charts
too, but that's a good one.
So I hope you enjoy it, thankyou.
Yeah, no, but thank you.
I appreciate all everyone, likeyou know, being so excited
about what I'm trying to do hereand just talk tennis, of course
, and I really appreciate it Andthis is fun.
Like I hope people really likelisten to what you're saying And
(54:28):
I think that like the biggestpoint tonight from our
conversation was just thatmental side of it And like I
don't know how how important itis just to believe in yourself
And that has, that's justeverything, truthfully, and it's
like what I'm telling my kids alot all the times too.
You know, just believe inyourself And if they come home
and feel a little dejected, likea kid made fun of them which
(54:50):
happens at school It's like no,you're, you're gorgeous, you're
pretty like these aren't lies,but it's like you know you
should be happy with yourselfand feel good about yourself And
then you can actually succeed.
You know, and that that's stuffso important, but that's why I
just love being around you, yourdad, your family, very positive
people, yeah, and so just thankyou, my friends.
Speaker 1 (55:10):
Yeah, of course.
Thanks for letting me.
I really appreciate it Yeah.
Speaker 2 (55:12):
Cool Joey, let me do it.
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