Club Grading
Introduction to Club Grading
Please read the ABPA Grading Policy in conjunction with the information on this page.
Why grade members?
Club grading ensures that participants are allowed to play with players of a similar standard. This offers members a better chance to have a competitive and fun match. Determination of this grade can be controversial as players often believe that they are at a higher level than their skills dictate.
Our Club has appointed a Grading Committee to assign a club grade to all our members. Click here to look up your current grade.
How does our ABPA grading policy work?
The Grading Committee is using the below skill level guidelines to form a view of the grade achieved by members to date.
ABPA Skill Level Guidelines
Read this blog post first if you are unsure of some of the pickleball terminology.
Helpful links:
What is a dink? (4-5 minute video)
What is a 3rd shot drop? (4-5 minute video)
When to use a 3rd shot drive instead of a 3rd shot drop? (4-5 minute video)
How do you refigure (keep track of) the score? (PDF)
1.5 Skill Level - Beginner
1) Can hit the ball back and forth a bit
2) Learning to serve
3) Fails to hit easy balls frequently
4) Beginning to learn the basic rules including scoring
2.0 Skill Level - Lower Intermediate
1) Moves in a balanced and safe manner
2) Getting at least 60% of serves in the service court and returning 60% of serves
3) Is learning where to stand on court during serves, returns and point play but is still not comfortable with some positions
4) Knows the 2 bounce rule and applies it during games. Is learning how to score
5) Has basic ground strokes with a very limited use of backhand, overhead and volley
6) Capable of keeping ball in play for several shots
2.5 Skill Level - Intermediate
1) Knows the rules and is confident with scoring
2) Learning to control forehand groundstroke (direction, depth, height over net)
3) Able to play backhand groundstroke
4) Getting 70% of serves in the service court and returning 70% of serve returns
5) Striving to place serves deep into the court
6) Knows where to stand as the server, server’s partner, and receiver
7) Consistently approaches the non-volley line for volleys
8) Can keep the ball in play for longer lasting rallies
9) Sometimes lobs with forehand
10) Able to “dink” the ball at the net for short durations
11) Attempting to hit a soft "drop shot" to approach the net (3rd, 5th etc shot)
12) Moves in a safe and balanced manner
13) Developing good hand-eye coordination
3.0 Skill Level - Upper Intermediate
1) Has control of forehand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth)
2) Has control of backhand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth)
3) Getting 80% of serves and return of serves “in”
4) Beginning to develop variations in placement of serves
5) Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to allow time to approach the net
6) Approaches the non-volley line quickly rather than staying back
7) Able to sustain a lengthy volley session at the net
8) Learning how to “move as a team” in doubles
9) Able to use the forehand lob with some success
10) Able to sustain a “dink” exchange at the net
11) Usually hits the ball low over the net
12) Sometimes able to hit a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot)
13) Able to adjust to differing ball speeds (hitting & returning) and spin
14) Has good mobility
15) Has good hand-eye coordination
3.5 Skill Level - Advanced
1) Knows how to reconfigure the score and correct server
2) Demonstrates control on forehand groundstroke (direction, depth and pace)
3) Demonstrates control on backhand groundstroke (direction, depth and pace)
4) Getting 90% of serves and return of serves “in”
5) Regularly placing serves deep into the court
6) Regularly uses deeper & higher returns of serve to allow time to approach net
7) Approaches the non-volley line quickly (when appropriate) rather than staying back
8) Able to play with partners effectively. Beginning to use court strategies such as partner communication
9) Avoids hitting “out” balls
10) Hits the ball lower over the net consistently
11) Developing a wide variety of shots with some consistency
12) Able to use soft shots vs. power shots to their advantage
13) Developing consistency on shot placement, including ability to create and hit “gaps”
14) Able to sustain a lengthy volley session at the net with control and placement
15) Initiates and maintains a sustained “dink” exchange at the net
16) Able to execute a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot) consistently
17) Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently
18) Has the ability to hit overheads with control
19) Uses a forehand and backhand lob when appropriate
20) Developing patience in rallies
21) Has very good mobility
22) Has quick reflexes
23) Has very good hand-eye coordination
4.0+ Skill Level
1) Controls and places 95% of both serves and returns of serves
2) Consistent forehand and backhand groundstrokes, including directional control, depth, placement and pace
3) Consistent and dependable volleys, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace
4) Consistent and dependable overheads, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace
5) Has good accuracy in placing lobs
6) Consistently makes successful ”drop shots” from the back court to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot)
7) Regularly initiates and sustains a “dink” exchange at the net until a “put away” shot is received
8) Able to change from a soft shot strategy to a hard shot strategy, and vice versa
9) Can block and return hard volleys
10) Developing the ability to return overheads hit at their feet
11) Can handle speed on shots without over-hitting or hitting out of bounds
12) Moves effectively with partner, easily switching courts and communicating when required
13) Can control play at the non-volley zone line, keeping their opponents back and controlling the speed or placement of the ball
14) Consistently uses shots to create and hit “gaps”
15) Recognises and exploits the weaknesses in their opponent’s game
16) Can poach effectively
17) Maintains patience in rallies
18) Has excellent mobility
19) Has good quickness
20) Has excellent hand-eye coordination
4.5, 5.0 and 6.0+ Skill Levels
The 4.5 player is distinguished from the 4.0 player by increased skills, a higher level of strategy, quickness of hands, judicious use of power, superior placement of shots and consistently fewer unforced errors. The 5.0 player is even more consistent in all skills than the 4.5 player with very few, if any, unforced errors. The 5.5 to 6.0+ player consistently wins against the best professional pickleball players at the tournament level.