PLS NOTE: There is some swearing in this episode and it is not one that is suitable for children.

What’s it like to be the no.1 12U player in the World? To be the youngest player ever to be signed by the IMG management company. To win a full scholarship to one of the most famous tennis academies in the World.

Reckon the future for that player and his family was bright? Fame and riches around the corner?

Today’s guest, Todd Ley who hails from Adelaide in Australia, was in exactly that position. And has written all about that part of the journey and what happened next in a searingly honest book called Smashed.

As you’ll hear today, what happened next was not fame and fortune. What came next was darkness and at times despair. A chapter which Todd is now moving on from as he rides the rollercoaster of life working in the world of coaching - and I hope setting down what happened in the book will help him do just that. It has certainly helped me think about the journey we are on as a tennis family and why we are on it. It has helped me gain perspective of what is important and for that I thank Todd.

Today’s episode may not be easy listening at times, you might not agree with everything Todd says, but do take a listen because Todd’s story and messages will I think help our family and our tennis journeys and I hope it will maybe help yours too.

Visit Todd Ley’s website to find about more about the book and BUY A COPY OF SMASHED NOW

Thanks to FeedSpot for naming My Tennis Journey as a Top 5 UK tennis podcast - much appreciated! You can see the list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/uk_tennis_podcasts/

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In this episode on why players, parents and coaches should absolutely think about what strings they put in their rackets, the Pro Tour stringer Huw Phillips who runs RacketSpec says:

‘You wouldn’t buy rubbish tyres and put it on a Formula 1 car. It’s the same with a tennis racket - it’s the strings that hit the ball’

He explains that you can make a £100 racket play ten times better by having it professionally restrung with decent strings and you can make a £300 racket play awful by having it strung badly.

What’s more the strings you have in your racket could result in you or your player sustaining injury if they use strings which aren’t right for them.

So what are you waiting for? Dive in and find out what it’s like to be a Pro Stringer, what strings you should be using on your racket, what the different tensions mean and why a light racket isn’t necessarily the way to go for young players.

Ladies and gentleman, over to Huw Phillips to tell you all you need to know about tennis strings and tennis restringing. Enjoy…

Click this link to find out more about Huw and his company RacketSpec

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Welcome to the 100th episode of My Tennis Journey. And what an episode it is!

In many ways, Conor Niland has had the ultimate tennis journey.

He’s taken the unbelievably hard step from promising junior to pro player. He’s played Grand Slam tennis. He’s played Davis Cup tennis. He reached number 129 in the World! Some achievement. Since retiring he’s become a Davis Cup captain.

However, what Conor has become best known for is bringing the whole journey kicking and screaming to life in an absolutely brilliant book called The Racket. A book which became the first tennis book EVER to win the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year. A book that is about the rollercoaster of tennis and the rollercoaster of life.

Whether you are a player, parent, coach or someone interested in what life is really like as a sporting professional, I reckon you’ll find the book a compelling read. And I think this podcast episode will give you a whole load to think about and reflect on. And that is why I’m very happy that the 100th episode of My Tennis Journey features Conor Niland! Enjoy.

READ MORE ABOUT THE RACKET BY CONOR NILAND AND BUY IT NOW:

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