What Skill Level Am I?
The Group skills listed below were gleaned from a variety of pickleball organizations with input from local contributors that have experience with various rating criteria. The skills listed are not definitive but should be used as a guide for self-evaluation only. Playing in the group with the “best fit” will ensure the most enjoyment and still allow you to develop your skills.
"C" Group: 2.0-2.5 players range from being new to the sport, to having only developed minimal skills, might have physical inabilities that limit their movement on the court and for players that do not want or desire to participate in higher competitive play. For those players wishing to progress to the higher level groups "C" Group players generally possess the following skills, but have not developed "B" Group player skills:
• Able to keep some short rallies going but still fail to return balls frequently
• Know how to keep score and where to stand at the beginning of each point (serving, returning, and point play)
• Know the basic rules of the game.
• Are developing eye/hand coordination and able to keep quite "Ca few balls going with their forehands, make most of the easier volleys, and are beginning to make more backhand shots
• Are able to get most of their serves in and learning to hit higher returns of service as they are thinking about moving to the NVZ
• Are working on the serve in consistently
• Are working on developing ALL of their strokes: forehands: should be able to keep long rallies going; backhands and volleys need to be more consistent
• Are working on dinks, lobs, and overhead slams
• Are working on making returns flatter, not popping them up in the air; and eventually lower and harder
• Knows where to stand on the point during play --- including “no man’s land” and the ability to stay out of it most of the time.
• They are thinking more about coming up to the NVZ to hit volleys and are making an effort to be more aggressive.
• Are working on the nuances of playing at the NVZ --- approaching it, how to move along it, and knowing when and where to move
• These players are learning to judge where the ball is going.
"B" Group: 3.0-3.5 players are players that have developed their skill sets to an intermediate level but lack the ability and experience to play at the "A" Group level. They may possess some of the "A" Group skills but do not execute them consistently. They should possess most of the following skills:
• Meets all criteria for “C” Group Level Play
• Moves on the court in a balanced, safe manner
• Consistent serves “in” to mid-court or deeper. Regularly returns serves deep.
• Using both forehand and backhand on returns and forehands on overhead returns.
• Sometimes lobs with forehand with varying degrees of success.
• Moves quickly towards the non-volley zone when opportunity is there.
• Trying to make flatter returns (where appropriate).
• More in-depth understanding of the rules of the game than C level players.
• Often hits to the weak side of opponent.
• Dinks mostly in opposing kitchen and is dinking lower over the net.
• Able to sustain short dinking rallies in a game
• Demonstrates strategies of playing during games.
• Oftentimes works with partners in communicating, covering court, moving to net.
• With varying consistency executes lobs, forehand/backhand groundstrokes, overheads, net volleys, and sustained dinking.
• Some use of drop shots to get to the net.
• Has begun to place shots rather than just hitting shots anywhere.
• Developing the ability of mixing up soft shots with power shots to create an advantage.
• Hits fewer balls out of bounds or into the net than a C player.
• Has a moderate # of unforced errors per game.
• Working on the ability to keep play going for extended periods, both soft and hard game combinations.
"A" Group: 4.0-5.0 players are competitive players that have more advanced skills, physical abilities, and experience.
• Meets all criteria for Levels “C” and “B” Groups
• Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the rules of the game
• Gets a high majority of serves in deep & returns serve deep
• Often hits to the opponent’s weaknesses
• Demonstrates strategies of playing during games
• Actively works with partners in communicating, covering court, moving to net
• With varying consistency executes lobs, forehand/backhand groundstrokes, overheads, net volleys, and sustained dinking
• Demonstrates use of drop shots to get to the net
• Specifically places shots rather than just hitting shots anywhere
• Selective in mixing up soft shots with power shots to create an advantage
• Hits fewer balls out of bounds or in the net
• Has a low # of unforced errors per game
• Communicates and moves well with partner — easily “switches” court positions
• Puts strategy into the game, particularly in dinking
• Consistently varies shots for competitive advantage, uses power shots selectively
• Comfortable playing at the non-volley zone. Works with partner to control the line, keeping opponents back and driving them off the line.
• Can block hard volleys directed at them
• Has good footwork and moves laterally, backward and forward
• Hits overhead shots consistently, often as put-a-ways
• Ability to change a hard shot to a soft shot
• Regularly demonstrates “anticipation of play”