Pickleball Skill Levels - What's a Pickleball Skill Rating?

Have you started playing pickleball, gotten a bit more serious, and are wondering what your skill level is? Pickleball skill ratings allow a player to quickly assess a competitor, understand their level compared to others, and properly align you against other players of the same level.

This is important if you're registering for a league or tournament. No one wants to show up and feel out of their depth or embarrassingly good compared to the newbies. Please, at least vaguely, know your skill rating before registering. It doesn't matter what level you are, playing against others who generally match your pickleball rating is better for everyone!

What are the pickleball skill levels?

At any pickleball court or pickleball facility, you might see leagues for 3.5, or 4.0. You also might hear someone say, "Oh, I'm a 3.0." What does that all mean? How do players get these ratings? Can you self assess? 

The answer is, absolutely. You can also get an official rating from a club or DUPR that might carry across multiples clubs or systems. In this post, we will share some simple ways to figure out your baseline skill level and help you pursue the next level.

2.0 (New Pickleball Player)

Fresh, new paddle and ready to play for the first time? You're a 2.0 rating. This rank could either be someone that hasn't ever played pickleball before, or someone who is now yet performing the majority of novice 2.5 skills regularly. If you are a new pickleball player or a 2.0, please do not register for a 4.0 league. You will not have fun and neither will your opponents.

2.5 (Novice Pickleball Player)

Our 2.5 players are starting to get the hang of the basics and fundamentals of pickleball. They can benefit from looking at the FAQs and are learning to understand the following components:

• Where to stand at the beginning of each point
• Can serve in the proper "in" location
• Understands the two-bounce rule on returns
• Can keep score without mistakes
• Keeps the ball in play for a few hits
• Aware of a dink shot and is working toward this fundamental skill

3.0 (Intermediate Pickleball Player)

Moving beyond pickleball beginners and novice basics, our intermediate player earns a 3.0 rating. This player will understands everything from 2.0 and 2.5 lists and is also to able to do the following:

• Has learned the basic rules, might not be aware of higher-level play rules
• Positions themselves appropriately on the court relative to other players and action sometimes, but perhaps not consistently
• Working on consistent serves and returns but may lack depth, power, and speed
• Understands why shallow dinks are necessary and is working on consistent execution
• Able to rally approximately 4 dinks in a row with a player of equal ability
• Executes backhand shots without messing up
• Adds more power or softness to the game when needed

3.5 (Advanced Intermediate Pickleball Player)

Increasing in strategy and deepening understanding? You're moving into 3.5 rating territory. The advanced intermediate player understands everything previously and is also to able to do the following:

• Knows most of the rules and how they affect the game (includes net rules, net post issues, kitchen lines/NVZ, etc.)
• Has learned more scenarios and positions themselves appropriately on the court relative to other players and needs
• Moves quickly to the net
• Sustains rallies easily with strategic hits that may miss the mark
• Serves and returns are almost always deep
• Successfully hits third-shot drops sometimes
• Understands not to pop up dinks, but can't execute consistently
• Understands hard and soft game and varies shots appropriately
• Can actually work with their partner to win a point

4.0 (Advanced Pickleball Player)

Advanced pickleball players score a 4.0 in the rating system. They not only know the rules and how to play, but really apply strategy and anticipate opponents' shots. A 4.0 player understands everything previously and is also to able to do the following:

• Consistently hits forehand and backhand with varying speed and control
• Can often finish the point when their opponents gives them an opening
• Moderate consistency with drop shots and dink shots
• Starting to understand balls that are attackable and those that should be reset
• Sustains rallies of 20-30 hits without much difficulty
• Almost always plays at the non-volley line and gets there quickly
• Can handle lobs and reset position
• Moves as a team with their partner and  can cover most of the court
• Able to be patient and wait for an opening while selectively placing shots

4.5/5.0 (Expert Pickleball Player)

Moving into tournament-winning territory, a 4.5 to 5.0 player is essentially and expert. This pickleball player understands everything from the lower levels plus incorporates precision, consistency and agility.

• High level of shot placement and consistency
• Sustains rallies of various shot types and speeds with rallies of 40 hits
• Can anticipate and convert a hard shot to a soft shot
• Knows how to execute an overhead shot and can easily and successfully attack putaways
• Patiently waits for an opening with minimal unforced errors
• Rarely make unforced errors
• Adjusts style and play to opponents
• Has mastered dinks and third-shot drops
• Consistently playing and winning 4.5-level or higher tournaments

Hopefully this gives you a good idea of where you're at and where you're aiming for determining pickleball skill ratings. You can always check out USA Pickleball Definition of Player Skill Ratings for a more detailed look at what goes into each level. Best of luck achieving your pickleball goals!