Are You New To Pickleball? Do You Know Your Skill Level?
If you are new to the sport, determining your skill level can be confusing. It seems like the criteria for this always changes! As the sport grows, you can rest assured that this will change as the sport and players evolve. However, for now, there seems to be consistent guidelines for you to self assess your skill level. This will help you in determining what court to play on (for some clubs) and even what to classify yourself as for tournaments.
Pickleball Self Assessment Skill Level
| 2.5 Skill Level | 3.0 Skill Level |
|---|---|
| Knows basic rules including how to keep score | Knows basic rules including how to keep score |
| Attempting to control forehand groundstroke (direction, depth, height over net) | Developing control on forehand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth) |
| Attempting backhand groundstroke | Developing control on backhand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth) |
| Getting 60% of serves in the service court and returning 60% of serve returns | Getting 70% of serves and return of serves “in” |
| Knows where to stand as the server, server’s partner, and receiver | Striving to place serves deep into the court |
| Consistently approaches the non-volley line for volleys | Beginning to develop placement of serves |
| Can keep the ball in play for longer lasting rallies | Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to allow time to approach the net |
| Sometimes lobs with forehand & developing good hand-eye coordination | Approaches the non-volley line quickly rather than staying back |
| Attempting to dink the ball at the net, can do so for short durations | Sustains a short volley session at the net |
| Moves in a safe and balanced manner | Exhibits correct court positioning for doubles and how to “move as a team” |
| Beginning to use the forehand lob with some success | |
| Developing a sustained “dink” exchange at the net | |
| Attempting to hit a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot) | |
| Attempting to adjust to differing ball speeds (hitting & returning) | |
| Has good mobility | |
| Developing good hand-eye coordination | |
| 3.5 Skill Level | 4.0 Skill Level |
| Knows all the main rules including how to refigure the score and correct server | Controls and places 90% of both serves and returns of serves |
| Demonstrates control on forehand groundstroke (direction, depth and pace) | Consistent and dependable forehand and backhand groundstrokes, including directional control, depth, placement and pace |
| Demonstrates some control on backhand groundstroke (direction, depth and pace) | Consistent and dependable volleys, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace |
| Getting 80% of serves and return of serves “in” | Consistent and dependable overheads, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace |
| Regularly placing serves deep into the court | Has good accuracy in placing lobs |
| Regularly uses deeper & higher returns of serve to allow time to approach net | Consistently makes successful ”drop shots” from the back court to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot) |
| Approaches the non-volley line quickly (when appropriate) rather than staying back | Regularly initiating and sustaining a “dink” exchange at the net until a “put away” shot is received |
| Able to play with partners effectively | Able to change from a soft shot strategy to a hard shot strategy, and vice versa |
| Beginning to use court strategies such as partner communication and team coverage of court | Can block and return hard volleys |
| Avoids hitting “out” balls | Developing the ability to return overheads hit at their feet |
| Hitting the ball lower over the net consistently | Can handle speed on shots without over-hitting or hitting out of bounds |
| Developing a wide variety of shots with some consistency | Moves effectively with partner, easily switching courts and communicating when required |
| Learning when to use soft shots vs. power shots to their advantage | Can control play at the non-volley zone line, keeping their opponents back, driving them off the line and controlling the speed or placement of the ball |
| Developing consistency on shot placement, including ability to create and hit “gaps” | Consistently uses shots to create and hit “gaps” |
| Sustains a short volley session at the net with some control and placement | Recognizes and exploits the weaknesses in their opponent’s game |
| Initiates and maintains a sustained “dink” exchange at the net | Can poach effectively |
| Able to execute a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot) | |
| Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently | |
| Developing ability to hit overheads with control | |
| Using a forehand and backhand lob when appropriate | |
| Developing patience in rallies | |
| Has good mobility | |
| Has good quickness | |
| Has good hand-eye coordination |
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