Knowing your rating is important. Unfortunately, it’s the process ofself-rating is by no means precise. Use the rating sheets below to help you understand approximately what level you’re playing at. I recommend the IPTPA rating sheets because they are very objective in laying out the skills for a given level. If for example, you have most of the skills of a 3.5 player but not all of them (let’s say 80%) then you would be a 3.4 player
What’s important to know is that if you are playing at a level and you’re winning almost all of your games, then it probably makes sense to move up a level. On the other hand, if you are losing most of your games, it makes sense to move down a level.
As of December2017, there is only a handful of players in the area that are playing at 4.0 level or above. With most of the intermediate players playing in the 3.0 – 3.7 level.
The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) has defined a rating system for players to self-assess what level they are.
Rating Descriptions
| Rating | | Description | Self-Assessment* |
|---|
| 1.0 | Novice | - New and have only minimal knowledge of the game and the rules
| | |
| 1.5 | Beginner | - Limited to some rallies.
- Learning how to serve.
- Developing a forehand.
- Fails to return easy balls frequently and occasionally misses the ball entirely.
- Played a few games and is learning the court lines, scoring, and some basic rules of the game.
| | |
| 2.0 | Beginner | - Sustains a short rally with players of equal ability.
- Demonstrating the basic shot strokes – forehand, backhand, volley, overhead and the serve, but has obvious weaknesses in most strokes.
- Familiar with court positioning in doubles play.
| USAPA | IPTPA |
| 2.5 | Advanced Beginner | - Makes longer lasting slow-paced rallies.
- Makes most easy volleys and uses some backhands, but needs more work on developing shot strokes.
- Beginning to approach the non-volley zone to hit volleys.
- Aware of the “soft game.”
- Knowledge of the rules has improved.
- Court coverage is weak but improving.
| USAPA | IPTPA |
| 3.0 | Intermediate | - More consistent on the serve and service return and when returning medium-paced balls.
- Demonstrates improved skills with all the basic shot strokes and shot placement but lacks control when trying for direction, depth, or power on their shots.
- Beginning to attempt lobs and dinks with little success and doesn’t fully understand when and why they should be used.
| USAPA | IPTPA |
| 3.5 | Advanced Intermediate | - Demonstrates improved stroke dependability with directional control on most medium-paced balls and some faster-paced balls.
- Demonstrates improved control when trying for direction, depth, and power on their shots.
- Needs to develop variety with their shots.
- Exhibits some aggressive net play.
- Beginning to anticipate opponent’s shots.
- Learning about the importance of strategy and teamwork in doubles.
| USAPA | IPTPA |
| 4.0 | Advanced | - Consistent and dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand shots.
- Reliable serves, lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys and can use spin shots with some success.
- Occasionally can force errors when serving.
- Rallies may be lost due to impatience.
- Uses the dink shot and drop shots to slow down or change the pace of the game.
- Demonstrates 3rd shot strategies – drop shots, lobs, and fast-paced ground strokes.
- Aggressive net play and teamwork in doubles is evident.
- Fully understands the rules of the game and can play by them.
| USAPA | IPTPA |
| 4.5 | Advanced | - Beginning to master the use of power and spin, can successfully execute all shots, can control the depth of their shots, and can handle pace.
- Beginning to master the dink shots and drop shots and their importance to the game.
- Beginning to master 3rd shot choices.
- Displays sound footwork and moves well enough to get to the non-volley zone whenever required.
- Understands strategy and can adjust style of play and game plan according to the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and court position.
- Serves with power and accuracy and can also vary the speed and spin of the serve.
- Understands the importance of “keeping the ball in play” and the effect of making errors.
- Making good choices in shot selection.
- Anticipates the opponent’s shots resulting in good court positioning.
| | IPTPA |
| 5.0 | Expert | - Mastered all the skills – all shot types, touch, spin, serves, with control and can use them as weapons.
- Excellent shot anticipation, extremely accurate shot placement and regularly hit winning shots.
- Forces opponents into making errors by “keeping the ball in play.”
- Mastered the dink and drop shots.
- Mastered the 3rd shot choices and strategies.
Uses soft shots, dinks and lobs to set up offensive situations. - Mastered pickleball strategies and can vary strategies and styles of play in competitive or tournament matches.
- Dependable in stressful situations as in tournament match play.
- Athletic ability, quickness, agility, and raw athleticism are also qualities that are sometimes what separates the top players from those near the top.
| | |
From International Pickleball Federation (revised Nov 1, 2012)
More about ratings
Types of ratings
USAPA Rating: This rating is also known as your “tournament rating” and can only be given by participating in a USAPA tournament.
IPTPA Rating: This rating is provided by a Certified Rating Specialist who is a member of the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association.
Club-Rating: This rating is generally performed by your pickleball club and is used when setting up clinics and tournaments. While this is not an official rating, it is typically a rating that can be generally used when visiting other pickleball clubs
Self-Rating: Knowing what level you are at is very helpful for you and others. You can use the guidelines above to evaluate yourself and assign yourself a level. In addition, there are a number of assessment sheets that are available from the USAPA and IPTPA to help you with the process.
FAQs
3.5 (Advanced Intermediate Pickleball Player)
You're moving into 3.5 rating territory. The advanced intermediate player understands everything previously and is also to able to do the following: Knows most of the rules and how they affect the game (includes net rules, net post issues, kitchen lines/NVZ, etc.)
How do I know my skill level in pickleball? ›
A pickleball player's skill level is determined by looking at physical and strategic abilities, namely control, consistency, and adaptability. Physically, this includes forehands, serves, dinks, volleys, etc. Strategically, this includes adaptive play styles, pace control, tactical placement, etc.
What is a level 2.5 pickleball player? ›
Ratings. 1.0-2.0 player if you're just starting to play and have no other sports background. 2.5 – A player who has limited experience and can sustain a short rally. 3.0 – Is someone who understands the fundamentals as well as court positioning.
What is a 4.0 level pickleball player? ›
4.0 (Advanced Pickleball Player)
They not only know the rules and how to play, but really apply strategy and anticipate opponents' shots. A 4.0 player understands everything previously and is also to able to do the following: Consistently hits forehand and backhand with varying speed and control.
What is the difference between 3.5 and 4.0 pickleball player? ›
The 4.0 player will distinguish themself from the 3.5 player by possessing increased skills and strategy, or by more speed, power or consistency. The 4.5+ skill level player is consistently capable of executing at the 4.5 and/or 5.0 levels.
What is an intermediate level pickleball player? ›
Intermediate Pickleball: (Level 3.2 -3.8).
This player demonstrates a broad knowledge of the rules of the game, gets high majority of serves in, is able to serve and return serves deep, hits to the weak side of opponent often, demonstrates more strategies of playing during games.
How many skill levels are there in pickleball? ›
Pickleball players are rated on a skill scale from 1.0 to 5.5 under USA Pickleball standards. The lower the number, the less experience a player has. Players between 1.0 and 2.5 are just starting, while 3.0 to 4.0 players can recognize an opponent's weakness. Players 5.0+ are considered experts.
What is sandbagging in pickleball? ›
If you got gold at 4.0 in your last tournament and you enter another tournament of the same size at 4.0, you are sandbagging. If you got 4.0 gold at a small local tournament and plan to enter a PPA sized event at 4.0, I don't call that sandbagging either.
How do you get to the next level in pickleball? ›
So, grab your paddle, put on your game face, and get ready to have some fun while taking your pickleball game to the next level!
- Make the Ready Position an Automatic Reflex. ...
- Don't Underestimate a Well-Paced Dink. ...
- Target Your Opponent's Backhand. ...
- Come Up With a Pre-Serve Routine. ...
- Master the 3rd Shot. ...
- Practice Your Footwork.
Your match history and how it impacts your WPR can be found in your player profile on PickleballTournaments.com.
Hand-eye coordination, footwork, and agility are three essential skills that form the foundation of pickleball success. By focusing on these skills and incorporating targeted practice and drills, players can improve their overall game and take their performance to the next level.
How do I know what level I am in pickleball? ›
Pickleball players' ratings are typically determined by how well they execute certain types of shots and their ability to understand the game itself. Every aspect of how an individual plays pickleball is factored in when determining what their rating is going to be.
What is a 3.5 skill level in pickleball? ›
3.5 Skill Rating. FOREHAND: Improved stroke development with moderate level of shot control. BACKHAND: Learning stroke form and starting to develop consistency but will avoid if possible.
How many levels are there in pickleball? ›
Pickleball players are rated on a skill scale from 1.0 to 5.5 under USA Pickleball standards. The lower the number, the less experience a player has. Players between 1.0 and 2.5 are just starting, while 3.0 to 4.0 players can recognize an opponent's weakness. Players 5.0+ are considered experts.
What does 1.5 mean in pickleball? ›
Level 1.5 -‐ Beginner
• Has taken at least one beginner lesson. • Learning how to serve. • Developing a forehand. • Fails to return easy balls frequently. • Learning to play the game, scoring and some.
How to get a pickleball ranking? ›
How to acquire a Pickleball rating?
- Filling out a USA Pickleball questionare.
- Complete the USA Pickleball skill assessment form.
- Go through the assessment process by a USA Pickleball certified member.
- Acquire a certification letter from an experienced USA Pickleball tournament player, tournament director or ambassador.
4.0. Advanced. Consistent and dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand shots. Reliable serves, lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys and can use spin shots with some success.
