What does a rating mean?

Rating

1.0

Just starting to play with no other sports background and no knowledge of any aspects of the game.

  • Has NO understanding of the rules

  • Needs to learn everything from the grounds up

  • Needs to be convinced of the virtues of stretching before play

  • Forgets to bring hydration to the court

  • Drives the coach crazy before they learn the dynamics of the game

  • Obviously, this is added by the coach for fun :) Welcome to the game

2.0

Just starting to play with no other sports background.

  • Has an understanding of the rules

  • Knows how to keep score

  • Can demonstrate a forehand, backhand, volley, and serve accurately into the correct spot

  • Knows where to stand when serving and returning

2.5

Knows the differences between the hard and soft game. This person also moves quickly to the non-volley zone and also understands the benefits of “stacking”.

  • Knows the basic rules and the two-bounce rule

  • Can hit a forehand and backhand with direction

  • Is accurate with the serve

  • Is able to sustain a dink rally

  • Can volley with some direction

  • Understands fundamentals

  • Can accurately keep score

3.0

Has limited experience and can sustain a short rally.

  • Can hit a medium-paced forehead and backhand

  • Can serve with depth and accuracy

  • Can hit a medium-paced third-shot drop

  • Can hit a medium-paced volley with direction

  • UnderstandS the fundamentals of positioning

  • Has played in tournaments

3.5

Is able to identify and attack weaknesses from the other team. This player is also aware of their partner’s position on the court and is able to move as a team with their partner.

  • Can use a forehand and backhand with a moderate level of control

  • Can consistently get the serve in, return the serve in, can serve deep, and can return the serve deep

  • Can sustain medium-length dink rallies

  • Can control the height and depth of dink shots

  • Understands the variation of pace for dink shots

4.0

Understands the fundamentals as well as court positioning.

  • Has all of the skills above

  • Is accurate on overhead shots

  • Can sustain a dink rally with control, height and pace

  • Consistently executes third-shot drops from the baseline

  • Is able to change soft shots to power shots and then back to soft

  • Can block and return fast, hard volleys

  • Is always aware of their partner’s position on the court

4.5

Understands strategy, has good footwork, can communicate well, and move efficiently with their partner.

  • Can do all of the above

  • Can set up shots to generate errors from the other team

  • Recognizes and attempts to hit attackable dinks

  • Poaches effectively

  • Has effective lobs

  • Has good footwork

  • Is comfortable playing at the non-volley zone line

  • Understands strategy and can adjust during the game

5.0

Is for a person who has mastered strategy and can easily play a fast or slow game.

  • Can do all of the above …

  • … And has them mastered

  • Can serve in a variety of ways with power and accuracy

  • Mastered the dink shot

  • Exhibits patience during a rally

Credits:

  • Definitions - by the USA Pickleball Association

  • Skills - by DUPR

  • Compilation - from the PPA website

DESCRIPTION

SKILLS