The Prodigy Maker Tennis Show

Improve Your Spacing and TopspinProdigy Maker Tennis Show EP 111Sunday, January 11, 2026In this live Q&A session, Tennis Evolution Head Coach Chris Lewit shared deep insights into spacing on groundstrokes and how players can train themselves to find better contact positions consistently.Chris—who studied literature and religion at Cornell, Harvard, and Columbia and is currently pursuing a PhD in kinesiology—is widely regarded as one of the top high-performance tennis coaches in the United States.Key Takeaways: Improving SpacingChris outlined a clear, practical framework for improving spacing, including:Let the ball fall before strikingTrick your brain to reach and extend more fullyPlay deeper near the back fence or wall to give your visual system more time to track the ballAllow the energy of the ball to die out before receiving itBe patient and avoid attacking the ball when working specifically on spacingSpacing and TopspinChris also explained how topspin generation is closely linked to spacing, emphasizing that spacing must come first before power and spin can be maximized.Key elements of effective topspin include:Letting the ball fallA loose arm and wristA smooth, low-to-high “ramping” swing pathProper spacing to allow the swing to work naturallyNew Book AnnouncementChris also discussed his upcoming book and its central thesis. You can learn more about it now at winningpretty.com.➡️ Winning Pretty

Rather than accepting the Red–Orange–Green pathway as a one-size-fits-all solution, this episode challenges current assumptions and argues that young talents should have appropriate opportunities to train with yellow balls, alongside scaled equipment, when developmentally ready.🎾 Key themes in this episode include: • Why the Red, Orange, and Green Ball system can limit long-term potential if applied rigidly • The difference between recreational participation and high-performance development • Why some young players need earlier exposure to yellow balls for timing, spacing, and skill acquisition • How over-protecting young players can delay technical and athletic growth • A more flexible, individualized approach to junior developmentThis episode is especially valuable for parents of talented young players, coaches working in high-performance pathways, and anyone interested in the long-term development of elite junior tennis players.This is a golden oldie from the archive, but the discussion remains highly relevant today as junior tennis continues to debate the best developmental models for young athletes.📌 Prodigy Maker Tennis Show – Episode 110Hosted by Chris Lewit0:00 Introduction and show update 1:00 Topic overview: Red, Orange, Green, and U10 tennis 2:20 Why this is a controversial issue in junior development 3:40 Injury prevention myth with low compression balls 5:30 Tournament mandates and parent frustration 7:30 Racket size vs ball type for young players 9:00 Power development concerns with soft balls 11:00 Why some juniors struggle to develop pace 13:00 U10 vs U6: Rethinking the age model 15:00 Can young kids handle a full court? 17:00 Movement, footwork, and athletic development 19:00 Benefits of Red/Orange/Green for grassroots tennis 21:00 Why ROG is not ideal for high performance players 23:00 Coaching vs equipment in technique development 25:00 Tactical development myths 27:00 Teaching movement instead of slowing the ball 29:00 Can talented kids play yellow ball early? 31:00 Problems with holding players back too long 33:00 Tournament progression rules explained 35:00 Why parents want choice, not mandates 37:00 Evidence vs opinion in junior tennis systems 39:00 Marketing, misinformation, and pressure on parents 41:00 Why tennis development is both a sprint and a marathon 44:00 Consequences of delayed development 46:00 Can elite players survive ROG systems? 48:00 Where junior tennis should go next 50:00 The culture of debate and dissent in tennis 52:00 Final thoughts for parents and coaches

🎾 Classic From the Archive | Episode 109: Junior Tennis Tournaments, Pathways & Predicting PotentialThis is a classic archive episode (Episode 109) where Chris breaks down one of the most confusing—and important—topics in junior tennis: tournaments, development pathways, and how to realistically evaluate future potential.Over the years, Chris has received countless questions from parents and coaches about how many tournaments kids should play, when to move up levels, how much to train, and how to navigate the maze of junior tennis systems. In this episode, he pulls everything together in one deep, honest conversation.Chris explains the different tournament options for prodigies and non-prodigies at every stage of junior development—from 5 years old through the teenage years—and discusses what actually matters versus what is often just noise.In this episode, Chris covers: • Why most true prodigies don’t do group classes at young ages • Why elite juniors often bypass Red, Orange, and Green ball programs • The importance of building world-class technique early • The heavy-handed tournament mandates in junior tennis • The typical ranking and tournament pathway of Division 1 college players • Junior age and ranking trends that accurately predict D3, D1, pro, or Slam-level potential • The difference between being dominant in your own age group vs. 2–3 age groups up • How much top sectional juniors really practice and compete • Tournament volume and training hours for Top 100 nationally ranked juniors • USTA National Circuit vs. ITF Junior World Tour—which makes more sense and when • Using UTR, Little Mo, and Junior Tennis Tour to bypass U10 mandates • Skipping USTA tournaments under age 10—smart or risky? • Whether UTR actually matters in long-term development • How Chris evaluates junior pathways and measuring sticks for future successThere’s no crystal ball—but as Chris explains, the trends are there to see if you know what to look for.📌 Episode 109 is a must-watch for parents, coaches, and players looking for clarity, realism, and long-term perspective on junior tennis development.0:00 Intro: Classic episode on tournament planning 0:26 Episode focus: Junior tournament progression (ages 5–18) 1:14 Breaking junior ages down (5–10, 10–18) 2:32 Young prodigies: training volume & early development 3:44 Why prodigies avoid group classes early 5:17 Why Red/Orange/Green programs slow development 7:05 When groups can work (motor talent vs. reps needed) 9:08 Building world-class technique early (creating the “gap”) 10:52 Prodigy markers: winning multiple age divisions up 14:09 Non-prodigy kids: realistic training approach & enjoyment 16:48 Why most clubs mis-handle early coaching 19:47 USTA under-10 mandates & frustration 21:20 Push through Orange/Green fast (get to Yellow ball) 22:50 Example: age rules that block talented kids 24:44 Bypassing USTA: UTR, Little Mo, other circuits 26:36 Little Mo explained + why it matters 29:38 Best options for ages 5–10: what to prioritize 32:21 Over 10: USTA levels, nationals, points system 36:53 ITF Junior World Tour: grades & junior slams pathway 39:32 Starting the pro path: Futures / ITF World Tour 41:14 USTA vs ITF: which route makes sense (money/travel/training) 45:05 Ranking “signals”: D1 vs pro vs slam-level potential 48:40 Non-prodigy pathway: sectional → national ranking targets 53:02 What rankings typically predict: D1 vs D3 vs club tennis 56:03 How many tournaments per month (and why too many hurts) 1:00:46 Training hours per week: elite vs non-elite 1:02:36 Is D1 hard to reach? (recruiting reality) 1:03:23 Wrap-up + invite for follow-up questions

The Elastic Forehand of the Modern Game🎾 Live Coaching Podcast Prodigy MakerTennis Show — Episode 108 (LIVE)This is a live coaching podcast and tennis show focused on the elastic forehand of the modern game. We break down how today’s players create effortless power through acceleration, lag, and whip, and—most importantly—how to teach and develop these skills in players of all levels.Join us live to ask your questions and learn directly from one of the best tennis coaches in the country. This is an interactive show designed for coaches, players, and serious tennis fans who want a deeper understanding of modern technique and performance.📍 Live from the Chris Lewit Tennis Academy🗓 Every Sunday evening⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM start time depending on when Chris finishes practice!Tune in live, join the chat, and be part of the conversation and our YouTube community. YouTube.com/ChrisLewit to join!

Prodigy Maker Show — Episode 107A classic archive episode exploring why so many players and coaches say “UTR is God.”We break down the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) system, how the algorithm really works, and why it has reshaped player habits, tournament choices, recruiting, and the global tennis landscape.In this episode: • What the UTR algorithm actually measures • Why players are changing schedules, training, and match strategy because of UTR • The good: accuracy, transparency, incentive to play up • The bad: pressure, ranking-chasing, distorted development paths • Real stories of how UTR impacts players worldwide • What coaches and parents need to knowChapters0:00 Classic archive intro – “UTR Is God”0:25 Today’s topic: UTR, tournaments and Q&A1:02 UTR as a new “religion” in tennis2:10 Tech, algorithms and how UTR took over2:51 Early days of UTR and rapid growth3:32 Parents, kids and UTR obsession4:27 UTR app, rating addiction and development5:22 Broken tournament structures and backdraw issues7:05 Ducking tournaments based on UTR numbers8:45 App addiction and unhealthy focus on ratings9:55 Old-school ranking days vs now12:13 Character building vs ducking competition15:03 “Just sign up and battle” mindset17:16 Why kids won’t use tournaments to work on skills18:26 Fear of the algorithm and missed growth20:12 Protecting kids from rating obsession21:29 USDA criticism and 10U red–orange–green24:03 Fragmented system: UTR, USTA, ITF and others26:09 Long-term development vs chasing the number29:04 Tennis vs pickleball (and padel)31:12 Using UTR but managing its downsides33:29 UTR as the SAT score of tennis35:22 Low participation and UTR as partial solution36:27 How parents and coaches should handle UTR38:02 Final message: no ducking, play anyone, anytime39:36 Tournament pathway questions (UTR, USTA, ITF)40:05 Outro, holiday camps and Vermont summer camp promoWhether you love it or hate it, UTR has changed tennis forever.➡️ Subscribe for more Prodigy Maker Show episodes, tennis development insights, and archive classics.➡️ Comment with your own experiences with the UTR system!

Prodigy Maker Tennis Show EP 106Unlock the Elite Serving Strategy used by top players around the world. In this video, we break down the key tactical elements that help both junior athletes and adult competitors build a dominant, reliable serve.You’ll learn: • The essential components of elite serve strategy • Smart serving patterns for match play • How juniors can build a champion foundation early • Tactical serves to apply under pressure 0:00 Elite Serving Blueprint – Show Intro0:56 Slice vs Kick – Which Serve Should You Teach First?3:01 How Many Serves Juniors Need (and Gender Differences)5:01 Core Strategy: Serving Wide to Open the Court8:02 Deuce vs Ad Court – Best Serves on Each Side11:04 Spanish Secrets: Abierto & Angulado Wide Serves15:53 First-Serve Priorities & the “Working Serve” Concept18:47 Building a Rock-Solid Second Serve Under Pressure23:09 Reviewing the Serve Strategy Blueprint24:22 Power Trap: Why Spin Can Be Tougher Than Pace26:22 Match Targets: Double Faults & First-Serve Percentage27:21 Adding Variety, Disguise, and Body Serves28:59 Custom Game Plans vs Different Opponents30:25 Final Takeaways & How to Train These PatternsWhether you’re a developing junior, a competitive adult player, or a coach looking to sharpen your athletes’ skills, this breakdown gives you the tools to build a champion-level serve.

Prodigy Maker Tennis Show Ep. 104There are 3 types of tennis parents — which one are you?Learn what really helps (and hurts) a young player’s journey to becoming a champion.🎯 Insights from years of junior-player development, coaching psychology, and real-court experience.#tennis #tennisparents #juniortennis #prodigymaker #tenniscoach #mindset

The Western grip is dominating more in modern tennis — but is it really the best option for every player?Prodigy Maker Tennis Show EP 103In this video, I break down when the Western grip helps, when it hurts, and whether you should consider changing your forehand grip.You’ll learn:• The pros and cons of Western grips• When a Semi-Western or Eastern grip might be better• How grip choice affects consistency, spin, and injury riskI’ve coached hundreds of high-performance players, and the right grip can completely change your control, power, and long-term development.🎾 Want more in-depth tennis insights? Visit chrislewit.com📬 Subscribe for weekly coaching videos on performance, technique, and mastery.—#TennisCoaching #TennisTips #ForehandGrip #WesternGrip #TennisTechnique #ChrisLewit