Pickleball Rating Descriptions

1.0. Beginner

1.5 Beginner

Players keep short rallies going but fail to return balls frequently, and occasionally miss the ball entirely.
Have played a few games and knows how to score and knows some of the basic rules of the game
Learning how to serve and be accurate
Developing a forehand

2.0 Beginner

Players start to learn to judge where the ball is going and can sustain a short rally with players of equal ability
They have obvious weaknesses in their strokes, but are working on improving them
Able to keep score and are familiar with the court positions for doubles play.
Still reluctant to come to the net.

2.5 Advanced Beginner

Players are able to sustain longer rallies
Many make easier volleys and use the backhand more often but need to work on stroke development
They think more about coming to the Non Volley Zone (NVZ) and start to become more aggressive in their play
Begin to use dinks and lobs, but don’t fully understand when and where they should be used.
Serve becomes more reliable
Knowledge of the rules improves
Court coverage may still be week but improves consistently.

3.0 Intermediate

Players are fairly consistent on the serve and serve return when hitting medium paced shots
Players demonstrate improved skills with all the basic shots strokes and placement, but lack control when trying for direction depth or power on these shots.
They are using dinks and lobs on a regular basis as part of their game

3.5 Advanced Intermediate

Players have achieved stroke dependability with directional control on most medium paced and some harder hit shots
They still need to develop more depth and variety with their shots but are exhibiting more aggressive net play
They anticipate their opponent’s shots and are developing team work in doubles.
They start to use the “third shot drop” and mix play with dinks, soft shots, more pace, angles and lobs.

4.0 Advanced

Players have dependable strokes, directional control and depth on forehand and backhand strokes
Use lobs, overheads, approach shots, and volleys with success and occasionally force errors when serving
Successful third shot drops, dinks, pace mixture, angles and lobs are now regular parts of their game.
They fully understand the rules, and can play by them
They understand the importance of “keeping the ball in play” and the effect of making errors.
Rallies may only be lost due to impatience.
Teamwork in doubles is evident

4.5 Advanced Tournament Level

They have mastered all the skills, shot types, touch, spin, serves and can control the depth of their shots, and handle pace.
They have excellent shot anticipation, extremely accurate shot placement and regularly hit winning shots
They force opponents to make errors by keeping the ball in play
Anticipate opponents shots resulting in good court positioning
Mastered shot choices and strategies, varying these and their style of play according to the opponents strengths and weaknesses, and court position
Excellent shot mix, soft, dinks, pace, angles and lobs. All to set up offensive situations.
Unforced errors are kept to a minimum to take advantage of opponent’s errors.

5.0 Champion Level

All the skills have been mastered all shot types, with touch spin serves all controlled to use as weapons
Excellent shot anticipation extremely accurate shot placement and winning shots
Force opponent’s error by keeping the ball in play.
Mastered the dink and drop shot
Mastered the 3rd shot choice and also strategies
Use soft shots, dinks and lobs to set up offensive situations
Mastered the strategies and can vary them and their style of play to compete.
Dependable in stressful situations as in tournament or match play
Athletic ability, quickness, agility and raw athleticism are also qualities that separate the top players from those near the top

NOTE:

These rating descriptions are taken from the USA Pickleball website. You can find these rating descriptions along with a Skill Assessment worksheet at:
Definitions of Player Skill Ratings – USA Pickleball