Welcome to Season 10, Episode 34, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. In this week's episode, coaches Mark Merklein and Matt Daly explain the importance of using proper grips and share a new tool they developed - Grip MD - to help players find that sweet spot on their racquet.

Grip MD is a revolutionary new unique training device developed by two former collegiate tennis stars with the goal to aid players of all levels to perfect the proper volley, serve, and slice grip.

Grip MD is the creation of former ATP World Tour doubles No. 38 and NCAA Champion Mark Merklein (University of Florida) and former Notre Dame No. 1 Matt Daly. The device simply slips on to the handle of the racquet, allowing the player to feel the perfect Continental grip. The Continental grip is used for the slice, serve and volleys in tennis and is vital to a player’s development. 

“Having worked with players of all levels from beginners to pros, I have found that teaching the correct grip is the most important part of any player’s technical development,” said Daly, Co-Founder of GripMD. “It is also extremely hard to teach and commonly misunderstood. This device greatly simplifies the process, allowing players to find the perfect grip in a short period of time.” 

Merklein appears in several information YouTube videos demonstrating how to master the slice, volley and second serve using Grip MD. 

“Learning the Continental grip is an important piece in player development,” said Merklein, who won the NCAA singles title in 1994 and the doubles crown in 1993 playing for the University of Florida. “With the proper foundation you will have the opportunity to be the best player you can be! Don’t let your grips limit your level!” 

Several high-level professionals have come out and endorsed Grip MD. 

“Having the correct grips for your strokes is one of the starting blocks for a successful career in tennis,” said James Blake, the former ATP World Tour No. 4 in singles. “Whatever your goal is, starting at the right spot and making sure the basics are taken care of is so important. The Grip MD will start you on a path that makes it easy to learn and improve quickly.” 

“Mastering the serve and the volley requires the perfect grip,” said John Isner, the former No. 1 American who reached a career-high No. 8 on the ATP World Tour. “The Grip MD makes that infinitely easier for you.” 

To purchase and for more information or to purchase GripMD, visit at: https://www.thegripmd.com/. ParentingAces Premium Members can get 20% off when ordering using the special discount code at https://parentingaces.com/articles/member-discounts/. 

Follow along on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GripMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gripmd/

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here. And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!).

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