Play Level Guidelines

Level D

● New and have only minimal knowledge of the game and the rules.

● Limited to some rallies.

● Learning how to serve.

● Developing a forehand.

● Fails to return easy balls frequently and occasionally misses the ball entirely.

● Played a few games and is learning the court lines, scoring, and some basic rules of the game. ● Sustains a short rally with players of equal ability.

● Demonstrating the basic shot strokes – forehand, backhand, volley, overhead and the serve, but has obvious weaknesses in most strokes.

● Familiar with court positioning in doubles play.

Level C

● Makes longer lasting slow-paced rallies.

● Makes most easy volleys and uses some backhands, but needs more work on developing shot strokes.

● Beginning to approach the non-volley zone to hit volleys.

● Aware of the “soft game.”

● Knowledge of the rules has improved.

● Court coverage is weak but improving.

● More consistent on the serve and service return and when returning medium-paced balls.

● Demonstrates improved skills with all the basic shot strokes and shot placement but lacks control when trying for direction, depth, or power on their shots.

● Beginning to attempt lobs and dinks with little success and doesn’t fully understand when and why they should be used.

Level B

● Demonstrates improved stroke dependability with directional control on most medium-paced balls and some faster-paced balls.

● Demonstrates improved control when trying for direction, depth and power on their shots.

● Needs to develop variety with their shots.

● Exhibits some aggressive net play.

● Beginning to anticipate opponent’s shots.

● Learning about the importance of strategy and teamwork in doubles.

Level B+

● Consistent and dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand shots.

● Demonstrates some 3rd shot strategy by way of fast-paced ground stokes.

● Aggressive net play and teamwork in doubles is evident.

● Fully understands the rules of the game and can play by them.

Level A

● Further demonstrates 3rd shot strategies - drop shot and lob.

● Reliable serves, lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys and can use spin shots with some success.

● Occasionally can force errors when serving.

● Uses the dink shot and drop shot to slow down or change the pace of the game.

● Beginning to master the use of power and spin, can successfully execute all shots, can control the depth of their shots, and can handle pace.

● Beginning to master the dink shots and drop shots and their importance to the game.

● Beginning to master 3rd shot choices.

● Displays sound footwork and moves well enough to get to the non-volley zone whenever required.

● Understands strategy and can adjust style of play and game plan according to the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and court position.

● Serves with power and accuracy and can also vary the speed and spin of the serve.

● Understands the importance of “keeping the ball in play” and the effect of making errors.

● Making good choices in shot selection.

● Anticipates the opponent’s shots resulting in good court positioning.

Level A+

● Mastered all the skills – all shot types, touch, spin, serves, with control and can use them as weapons.

● Excellent shot anticipation, extremely accurate shot placement and regularly hit winning shots.

● Forces opponents into making errors by “keeping the ball in play.”

● Mastered the dink and drop shots.

● Mastered the 3rd shot choices and strategies.

● Uses soft shots, dinks and lobs to set up offensive situations.

● Mastered pickleball strategies and can vary strategies and styles of play in competitive or tournament matches.

● Dependable in stressful situations as in tournament match play.

● Athletic ability, quickness, agility, and raw athleticism are also qualities that are sometimes what separates the top players from those near the top.

*Note – All IronOaks skill levels use official USAPA rating definitions to determine level of play. IronOaks skill levels convert to USAPA levels as follows:

A+ = 5.0. A = 4.0 – 4.5. B+ = 3.5+ - 4.0-. B = 3.5. C = 3.0. D = 1.0 – 2.5.

International Federation of Pickleball Rating Descriptions