Skill Levels

Players are rated based on their abilities in Pickleball. So what is your rating?

2.0 Skill level

• Moves in a balanced and safe manner.
• Getting at least 50% of serves in the service court and returning 50% of serves.
• Are learning where to stand on the court during serves, returns, and point play but are still not comfortable with some positions.
• Knows the 2 bounce rule and applies it during games. Can keep score comfortably.
• Will have basic ground strokes with very limited use of backhand, overhead, and volley. • Capable of keeping the ball in play for a couple of shots.

2.5 Skill level – possesses all 2.0 skills plus:

• 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 the NVZ line.
• Demonstrates a punch volley.
• Is developing 3rd shot drop by dinking from the transition area.
• Attempting to hit 3rd shot drop from baseline during match play.
• 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, height).
• Uses a backhand groundstroke.
• Keeps the ball in play during short rallies.

3.0 Skill level – possesses all 2.5 skills plus:

• Attempting to consistently dink while changing directions from cross-court to down-the-line forehand and backhand.
• Punches volley to the back ½ of opponent’s court.
• Sustains a short volley exchange at the net • Can perform 3rd shot drop by dinking from the transition area.
• Attempting to hit 3rd shot drop from baseline during match play.
• 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 the 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).

3.5 Skill level – possesses all 3.0 skills plus:

• 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.
• Can perform 3rd shot drop from the baseline.
• Attempting to hit 3rd shot drop from baseline during match play with greater success.
• Moving forward as a team to approach NVZ for dinks and 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 a partner and 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).

4.0 Skill level – possesses all 3.5 skills plus:

• 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 a partner, easily switches sides, and communicates when required.
• Controls play at the NVZ line, by keeping their opponent back if they’re at the baseline.
• Initiates & maintains a 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 consistently perform an overhead and begin to place the shot for winners.
• Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height, spin).
• Demonstrates control on backhand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height).
• Keeps ball in play during rallies, minimizing 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 and rallies.
• Beginning to anticipate shots more frequently (watching opponents paddle face).

Useful Links