The ratings descriptions listed below are based on USA Pickleball skill ratings. Legendary coach and pickleball champion Steve Dawson also developed a rating quiz that can help determine your skill rating simply by answering a series of questions.

1.0 – 2.0 Skill Rating

• Just starting to play pickleball
• Usually does not have any other sports background
• Has a minimal understanding of the rules of the game

2.5 Skill Rating

• Has limited experience playing the game
• Able to sustain short rallies with players of similar ability
• Has better understanding of the rules and basic ability to keep score

3.0 Skill Rating

• Able to hit medium-paced forehand ground strokes
• Generally avoids backhand shots
• Shots lack directional intent and consistency
• Hits medium-paced serves and returns that lack depth
• Unable to dink or sustain a dink rally
• Able to hit medium-paced volleys but cannot consistently direct or control them
• Understands the fundamentals of the game and proper court positioning
• Knows the rules and how to keep score

3.5 Skill Rating

• Able to hit forehand strokes with moderate level of control
• Knows how to hit backhand shots and starts to develop consistency but still avoids backhands if possible
• Consistently gets serves and returns in play but has limited ability to control depth
• Able to dink with consistency and sustain medium-length dink rallies
• Has started to understand dink variations but has limited ability to control height and depth
• Uses the third shot drop as a way to get to the net
• Moves quickly to the non-volley zone (NVZ) when presented with opportunity
• Able to volley medium-paced shots with better control
• Knows the difference between the hard game and soft game
• Has basic knowledge of stacking and understands when it can be effective

4.0 Skill Rating

• Consistently hits forehand ground strokes with depth and control but is still perfecting shot selection and timing
• Has improved backhand stroke and has moderate success at hitting backhands consistently
• Able to vary the depth and speed of serves and returns
• Able to control the height and depth of dinks and sustain dink rallies with consistency
• May end dink rallies too soon due to lack of patience
• Beginning to understand the difference between attackable and unattackable balls
• Selectively mixes up soft shots with power shots to create an advantage but with inconsistent results
• Able to volley a variety of shots at different speeds
• Able to control volleys with greater consistency
• Beginning to understand the block/re-set volley
• Aware of partner’s position on the court and able to move with partner as a team
• Able to change direction in an offensive manner
• Has a moderate number of unforced errors per game
• Has a solid understanding of stacking and how it can be used during match play
• Beginning to identify opponents’ weaknesses and formulate game plan to attack these weaknesses

4.5 Skill Rating

• Uses pace and depth on forehand strokes to generate opponents’ error or set up the next shot
• Effectively and consistently directs backhand strokes with varying depth and pace
• Serves with power, accuracy, and depth and demonstrates ability to vary the speed and spin of the serve
• Able to intentionally and consistently place the ball
• Able to place dinks with high success at changing shot types
• Recognizes and attempts to hit attackable dinks
• Consistently executes effective third shot strategies that are not easily returned
• Able to block hard volleys directed at them and can consistently drop them into the NVZ
• Hits overhead shots consistently, often as putaways
• Able to hit swinging volley comfortably
• Moves laterally, backward, and forward well and demonstrates good footwork
• Uses weight transfer for more efficient footwork
• Able to change direction with ease and comfortable playing at the NVZ
• Communicates and moves well with partner
• Understands strategy and can adjust game plan and style of play according to opponents’ strengths, weaknesses, and court position
• Limited number of unforced errors

5.0 Skill Rating

• Has developed a very high level of variety, depth, and pace of serves
• Hits all shot types at a high level of accuracy from both the forehand and backhand sides
• Able to move opponents with shot placements
• Creates opportunities to attack by strategically varying the depth and pace of dinks
• Demonstrates patience during rallies and takes advantage of opportunities to attack
• Able to drop and drive ball from both the forehand and backhand side with high level of consistency
• Places overheads with ease for winners
• Able to consistently volley shots toward opponents’ feet
• Able to initiate an attack with a swinging volley, and able to counter or neutralize return
• Demonstrates mastery of pickleball strategies and able to vary strategies and styles of play
• Able to turn defensive shots into offensive shots.
• Demonstrates efficient footwork and effective use of weight transfer for improved quickness on the court
• Easily and quickly adjusts style of play and game plan according to opponents’ strengths, weaknesses, and court position
• Rarely commits unforced errors