Skill Levels in Pickleball

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 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 a very limited use of backhand, overhead, and volley.
Capable of keeping 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 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 ground stroke.
Keeps 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 & backhand.
Punches volley to the back 1?2 of opponent 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 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 1?2 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 & 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).

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 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.
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 beginning 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 & rallies.
Beginning to anticipate shots more frequently (watching opponents paddle face).