IPTPA Skill Levels

2.0 Skill level

  • Knows the basic rules including two bounce rule, scoring and player position relative to scoring
  • Demonstrates basic pendulum swing on the forehand & backhand side
  • Demonstrates dinks down the line forehand & backhand
  • Demonstrates dinks cross court forehand & backhand
  • Demonstrates proper ready position
  • Demonstrates punch volley
  • Demonstrates proper sideways turn, arm positioning and backward movement for overhead
  • Demonstrates an overhead
  • Knows where to stand as the serve team and the return team
  • Demonstrates proper side step movement while being balanced
  • Has good mobility and can move forward in a safe and balanced manner
  • Developing eye-hand coordination
  • Demonstrates a forehand ground stroke swing low to high and striking the ball off front foot
  • Demonstrates a backhand ground stroke swing low to high and striking the ball off front foot
  • Demonstrates a serve
  • Demonstrates return of serve

Skill Testing Requirement: Dinks

  • Forehand down the line 4/10
  • Forehand cross court 4/10
  • Backhand down the line 4/10
  • Backhand cross court 4/10

Skill Testing Requirement: Volleys

  • ForehandPunchVolley4/10
  • Backhand Punch Volley 4/10

Skill Testing Requirement: Serves

  • Deuce Court 4/10
  • Ad Court 4/10

Skill Testing Requirement: Return of serves

  • Deuce Court 4/10
  • Ad Court 4/10

2.5 Skill level should also possess all 2.0 skills

  • Knows the basic rules including two bounce rule, scoring and player position relative to scoring
  • Demonstrates basic pendulum swing on the forehand & backhand side
  • Working on consistency while dinking down the line forehand & backhand
  • Working on consistency while dinking cross court forehand & backhand
  • Demonstrates proper side step movement while staying balanced at NVZ line
  • Demonstrates a punch volley
  • Is developing 3rd shot drop by long dinking from the transition area
  • Attempting to hit 3rd shot drop during match play on the short court
  • Moving forward to approach NVZ for dinks & volleys
  • Demonstrates an overhead with the proper sideways turn, arm positioning and backward movement
  • Has good mobility and can move forward in a safe and balanced manner
  • Has good eye-hand coordination
  • Beginning to demonstrate control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, and height)
  • Uses a backhand ground stroke
  • Keeps ball in play during short rallies

Skill Testing Requirement: Dinks

  • Forehand down the line 6/10
  • Forehand cross court 6/10
  • Backhand down the line6/10
  • Backhand cross court 6/10

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)

  • Forehand 4/10
  • Backhand 4/10

Skill Testing Requirement: Volleys

  • Forehand Punch Volley 5/10
  • Backhand Punch Volley 5/10

Skill Testing Requirement: Overhead

  • Overhead 2/5

Doubles – 3 Games to 11 – Rally Scoring

Skill Testing Requirement: Serves

  • Deuce Court 3/5
  • Ad Court 3/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Return of serves

  • Deuce Court 3/5
  • Ad Court 3/5

3.0 Skill level should also possess all 2.5 skills

  • Attempting to consistently dink while changing directions from cross court to down the line forehand & backhand
  • Does not back up unnecessarily from NVZ
  • Punches volley to the back ½ of opponent court
  • Sustains a short volley exchange at the net
  • Can perform 3rd shot drop by long dinking from the transition area
  • Using 3rd shot drop during match play on the short court
  • Moving forward as a team to approach NVZ for dinks & volleys
  • Can perform an overhead with better control while maintaining proper position
  • Has good mobility & quickness
  • Demonstrates improved control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
  • Better control on backhand groundstrokes
  • Keeps ball in play during short rallies
  • Attempts offensive lobs during play
  • Demonstrates placement & depth on serves
  • Demonstrates placement & depth on return of serves
  • Attempting to adjust to different ball speeds (serves, groundstrokes, volleys)

Skill Testing Requirement: Dinks

  • Forehand down the line 7/10
  • Forehand cross court 7/10
  • Backhand down the line 7/10
  • Backhand cross court 7/10

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)

  • Forehand 5/10
  • Backhand 5/10

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from baseline

  • Forehand 2/5
  • Backhand 2/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Volleys

  • Forehand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 6/10
  • Backhand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 6/10
  • Balls must land in the back half of the opponents’ court when the feeder is simulating an opponent at the baseline. Balls must land at the feet of the feeder when he’s standing at the NVZ simulating an opponent who is dinking (balls landing a foot behind the NVZ are given credit)

Doubles – 3 games to 11 – Rally Scoring

Skill Testing Requirement: Serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)

  • Deuce Court 3/5
  • Ad Court 3/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Return of serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)

  • Deuce Court 3/5
  • Ad Court 3/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Overhead

  • Overhead 3/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Offensive lobs from NVZ line

  • Offensive lobs 3/5

3.5 Skill level should also possess all 3.0 skills

  • Can consistently dink while changing directions from cross court to down the line forehand & backhand
  • Punches volley to the back ½ of opponent court, to keep opponents at the baseline
  • Sustains a controlled volley exchange at the net
  • Performs 3rd shot drop from the baseline
  • Is beginning to dink with a purpose
  • Moving forward as a team to approach NVZ for dinks & volleys
  • Developing directional control while performing an overhead
  • Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, speed, depth, height)
  • Demonstrates control on backhand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height
  • Keeps ball in play during rallies and is aware of minimizing errors
  • Able to communicate effectively with partner & utilize different strategies to expose opponent weaknesses
  • Using deeper and higher returns to approach the net quicker
  • Uses offensive lobs effectively
  • Demonstrates better placement and depth on serves
  • Demonstrates better placement and depth on return of serves
  • Improved control when adjusting to different ball speeds (serves, groundstrokes, volleys)

Skill Testing Requirement: Dinks

  • 14 out of 20 windshield wiper dinks

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)

  • Forehand down the line 8/10
  • Forehand cross court8/10
  • Backhand down the line 8/10
  • Backhand cross court 8/10

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from baseline

  • Forehand down the line 3/5
  • Backhand down the line 3/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Overheads

  • Overheads 3/5

Doubles – 3 Games to 11 – Rally Scoring

Skill Testing Requirement: Offensive lobs from the NVZ line

  • Offensive Lobs 3/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Volleys (Ball lands in the back half of opponents’ court)

  • Forehand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 7/10
  • Backhand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 7/10
  • Balls must land in the back half of theopponentscourt when the feeder is simulating an opponent at the baseline. Balls must land at the feet of the feeder when he’s standing at the NVZ simulating an opponent who is dinking (balls landing a foot behind the NVZ are given credit)

Skill Testing Requirement: Serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)

  • Deuce Court 4/5
  • Ad Court 4/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Return of serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)

  • Deuce Court Forehand 4/5
  • Ad Court Backhand 4/5

4.0 Skill level should also possess all 3.5 skills

  • Sustains a volley exchange at the net and beginning to use directional control
  • Can demonstrate a block volley
  • Able to hit winning volley when a ball is popped up
  • Better consistency when performing 3rd shot drop from the baseline
  • Can hit 3rd shot drop from baseline during match play with greater success
  • Moves effectively with partner, easily switching sides, and communicates when required
  • Controls play at the NVZ line, by keeping their opponent back if they’re at the baseline
  • Dink with a purpose to elicit a put away shot
  • Can demonstrate an effective poach, and understands when it’s appropriate
  • Able to change a fast paced strategy to a slow one and vice versa
  • Can consistently perform an overhead and beginning to place the shot for winners
  • Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height, spin)
  • Demonstrates control on backhand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
  • Understands proper shot selection to minimize errors
  • Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently
  • Uses offensive lobs effectively
  • Beginning to use spin effectively on a variety of shots
  • Maintains greater patience in dinks & rallies
  • Beginning to anticipate shots more frequently (watching opponents paddle face)

Skill Testing Requirement: Dinks

  • 16 out of 20 windshield wiper dinks

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)

  • Forehand down the line 4/5
  • Forehand cross court 4/5
  • Backhand down the line 4/5
  • Backhand cross court 4/5

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from baseline

  • Forehand 7/10
  • Backhand 7/10

Doubles – 3 Games to 11 – Rally Scoring

Skill Testing Requirement: Volleys (Ball lands in the back one third of opponents’ court)

  • Forehand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 4/5
  • Backhand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 4/5
  • Forehand Block Volley 3/5
  • Backhand Block Volley 3/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Overheads

  • Overheads 4/5

Skill Testing Requirement: Offensive lobs from NVZ line

  • Offensive lobs 4/5

4.5 Skill level should also possess all 4.0 skills

  • Consistently punches volley to the appropriate spot on the court
  • Consistently demonstrates a block volley
  • Can demonstrate a swing volley
  • Sustains a controlled volley exchange at the net, with directional control, creating unforced errors
  • Able to consistently hit winning volley when a ball is popped up
  • Can consistently hit 3rd shot drop from baseline during match play
  • Can drive a third shot for power as an option
  • Initiates & maintains an extended dink exchange to elicit a put-away shot
  • Can demonstrate an effective poach, and understands when it’s appropriate
  • Able to change a fast paced strategy to a slow one and vice versa
  • Can stack with partner on the serve and the return
  • Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height, top spin and under spin/slice)
  • Demonstrates control on backhand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height, top spin and under spin/slice)
  • Keeps ball in play during rallies and is aware of minimizing errors
  • Knows the rules including player position, relative to scoring and stacking on the return and serve
  • Uses offensive lobs effectively
  • Demonstrates placement, spin and depth on return of serves
  • Can adjust to different ball speeds and spins (serves, groundstrokes and volleys)
  • Uses spin effectively on a variety of shots

Skill Testing Requirement: Dinks

  • 18 out of 20 windshield wiper dinks

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drop from baseline

  • Forehand down the line 4/5
  • Forehand cross court 4/5
  • Backhand down the line 4/5
  • Backhand cross court 4/5

Skill Testing Requirement: 3rd shot drive from baseline

  • 3rd shot drive from baseline 4/5

Doubles – 3 Games to 11 – Rally Scoring

Skill Testing Requirement: Volleys

  • Forehand swing volley 4/5
  • Backhand swing volley 4/5
  • Forehand punch volley with directional control 4/5 (Ball lands in the back third of the opponents court)
  • Backhand punch volley with directional control 4/5 (Ball lands in the back third of the opponents court)
  • Forehand block volley 3/5 (with the ball landing in opponents NVZ)
  • Backhand block volley 3/5 (with the ball landing in opponents NVZ)