In this episode of Insider’s Playbook, dedicated to tennis over 50 players, we explore the mindset and winning tennis strategies from the book Heady Tennis by Kevin McCarthy. Kevin and host Mike Rogers discuss why clarity, and simpler thinking can help senior tennis players boost confidence and outthink opponents rather than focusing on technical perfection. Whether you’re struggling with match consistency or seeking smarter tennis over 50 tactics, this episode offers mental and tactical shifts tailored specifically for senior tennis competitors looking to elevate their game strategically and physically.

Contact Kevin McCarthy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seniortennistips

Heady Tennis: https://amzn.to/3VUIlwm

Key takeaways for senior tennis players

· Heady Tennis is about making better decisions, not perfect shots

· Senior players thrive when they simplify strategy and trust patterns

· Pressure reveals whether your mental habits are helping or hurting

· Tactical clarity builds confidence faster than technical tinkering

· Every shot should have a purpose—smart play beats highlight reels

· You don’t need to get younger or stronger—you need to get clearer

Chapter Timeline
00:00 – Intro: What is Heady Tennis and why it matters
01:40 – Kevin’s backstory: from confused competitor to clarity-first coach
04:20 – Why most senior players overcomplicate the game
07:10 – Key ideas from Heady Tennis that apply to every level
09:45 – How to break free from overthinking during matches
12:15 – Simple, repeatable patterns that make opponents uncomfortable
14:50 – The difference between playing smart and playing safe
17:30 – Confidence through clarity: what senior players often miss
20:05 – The real “practice” that creates smarter match play
22:00 – Where to find the book and follow Kevin’s work

About Senior Tennis Unpacked
Senior Tennis Unpacked brings you four ways to stay sharp and inspired on court:

· Changeover — weekly articles with insights, stories, and strategies for senior players

· Insider’s Playbook — expert interview series with coaches, champions, and performance pros

· Gold Ball Tennis — my personal journey chasing national titles and sharing what I learn along the way

· Inner Circle Membership — You don’t need to rebuild your game. You need a clearer way to play it. The Inner Circle helps competitive players simplify decisions without changing their strokes.

Explore it all at SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

In this episode of Insider’s Playbook, we dive into the world of over 50 tennis with Kevin McCarthy, the creator of the popular YouTube channel Senior Tennis Tips. Kevin, a 4.5 player, shares how he transformed his frustration on the court into a passion for helping senior tennis players improve their game smartly and effectively. We explore his tennis evolution and the strategic, mental, and tactical changes he made to enhance his performance over 50. If you're seeking actionable insights and winning tennis strategies tailored for tennis over 50 players, Kevin's story will inspire and guide you to elevate your game.

Contact Kevin McCarthy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seniortennistips

Heady Tennis: https://amzn.to/3VUIlwm

Key takeaways for senior tennis players

· You can win more without changing your strokes—by changing your decisions

· Recording matches is a game-changer for self-awareness and growth

· Smart, repeatable patterns beat flashy shots in senior tennis

· Frustration is often the first clue you're close to a breakthrough

· Creating content can sharpen your own learning and help others along the way

· Mindset, simplicity, and clarity are the foundations of better play after 50

Chapter Timeline:

00:00 – Intro: Why Kevin started Senior Tennis Tips
01:25 – From 3.5 to 4.5: what changed in his game
03:40 – “I was doing all the right things—and still losing”
05:05 – How frustration led to recording his own matches
06:40 – The moment he realized he needed to play smarter
09:20 – The tactical shift that helped him win more
11:15 – Senior tennis players often try to fix strokes instead of strategy
13:10 – What he's learned from watching hours of his own footage
14:50 – Why he focuses on mindset, patterns, and simplicity
16:30 – Building the Senior Tennis Tips YouTube channel
18:00 – What keeps him motivated to share insights with others
19:10 – The value of documenting your journey (even if no one watches)
20:05 – Where to follow Kevin and keep learning

About Senior Tennis Unpacked
Senior Tennis Unpacked brings you three ways to stay sharp and inspired on court:

· Changeover — weekly articles with insights, stories, and strategies for senior players

· Insider’s Playbook — expert interview series with coaches, champions, and performance pros

· Gold Ball Tennis — my personal journey chasing national titles and sharing what I learn along the way

Explore it all at SeniorTennisUnpacked.com

If you're a senior tennis with mindset struggles, especially after injuries, confidence dips, or frustrating match results, this episode is for you. Cognitive science expert Noah Phillips returns to Insider’s Playbook to share powerful mindset tools that help senior tennis players regain confidence, stay mentally strong during setbacks, and reframe match nerves as performance fuel. From handling pressure moments to building your own "mental highlight reel," this episode is packed with age-appropriate strategies that any 50+ player can put into practice right away.

Contact Noah Philips – Apex Cognition:

https://apexcognitioncoaching.com/training

https://apexcognitioncoaching.com/apply

Or message Noah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apex.cognition/

Key takeaways for senior tennis players

• Match-day nerves aren’t a flaw — they’re a signal that your body is getting ready to perform
• Negative self-talk often comes from comparing yourself to an idealized version of you
• The most effective players use simple mental routines between points to reset and refocus
• Confidence doesn’t come from hype — it comes from remembering and reliving real past wins
• Create a “mental highlight reel” of great moments and revisit them often to build resilience
• Journaling and visualization are powerful tools to anchor confidence before competition

Chapter Markers:

00:00 - Welcome + today’s topic: confidence and resilience after setbacks
01:10 - Why senior tennis players still get nervous before matches
03:00 - Reframing nerves as a performance-ready signal
06:00 - Negative self-talk and why it starts with unrealistic expectations
09:15 - The 3-Step Mental Reset: release, recenter, refocus
13:20 - Getting present between points and letting go of past mistakes
14:15 - What real confidence is (and isn’t)
16:00 - The Mental Highlight Reel: how to access match-ready belief
17:30 - How to build a daily mental training habit
18:30 - How to connect with Noah and learn more

About Senior Tennis Unpacked
Senior Tennis Unpacked brings you three ways to stay sharp and inspired on court:

· Changeover — weekly articles with insights, stories, and strategies for senior players

· Insider’s Playbook — expert interview series with coaches, champions, and performance pros

· Gold Ball Tennis — my personal journey chasing national titles and sharing what I learn along the way

Explore it all at SeniorTennisUnpacked.com