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Revised November 1, 2012

The IFP Rating System has been created to help describe differences in the various skill levels.
Rating Rating Description
1.0
  • New and have only minimal knowledge of the game and the rules.
1.5
  • Limited to some rallies.
  • Learning how to serve.
  • Developing a forehand.
  • Fails to return easy balls frequently and occasionally misses the ball entirely.
  • Played a few games and is learning the court lines, scoring, and some basic rules of the game.
2.0
  • Sustains a short rally with players of equal ability.
  • Demonstrating the basic shot strokes – forehand, backhand, volley, overhead and the serve, but has obvious weaknesses in most strokes.
  • Familiar with court positioning in doubles play.
2.5
  • Makes longer lasting slow-paced rallies.
  • Makes most easy volleys and uses some backhands, but needs more work on developing shot strokes.
  • Beginning to approach the non-volley zone to hit volleys.
  • Aware of the “soft game.”
  • Knowledge of the rules has improved.
  • Court coverage is weak but improving.
3.0
  • More consistent on the serve and service return and when returning medium-paced balls.
  • Demonstrates improved skills with all the basic shot strokes and shot placement but lacks control when trying for direction, depth, or power on their shots.
  • Beginning to attempt lobs and dinks with little success and doesn’t fully understand when and why they should be used.
3.5
  • Demonstrates improved stroke dependability with directional control on most medium-paced balls and some faster-paced balls.
  • Demonstrates improved control when trying for direction, depth and power on their shots.
  • Needs to develop variety with their shots.
  • Exhibits some aggressive net play.
  • Beginning to anticipate opponent’s shots.
  • Learning about the importance of strategy and teamwork in doubles.
4.0
  • Consistent and dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand shots.
  • Reliable serves, lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys and can use spin shots with some success.
  • Occasionally can force errors when serving.
  • Rallies may be lost due to impatience.
  • Uses the dink shot and drop shots to slow down or change the pace of the game.
  • Demonstrates 3rd shot strategies – drop shots, lobs, and fast-paced ground strokes.
  • Aggressive net play and teamwork in doubles is evident.
  • Fully understands the rules of the game and can play by them.
4.5
  • Beginning to master the use of power and spin, can successfully execute all shots, can control the depth of their shots, and can handle pace.
  • Beginning to master the dink shots and drop shots and their importance to the game.
  • Beginning to master 3rd shot choices.
  • Displays sound footwork and moves well enough to get to the non-volley zone whenever required.
  • Understands strategy and can adjust style of play and game plan according to the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and court position.
  • Serves with power and accuracy and can also vary the speed and spin of the serve.
  • Understands the importance of “keeping the ball in play” and the effect of making errors.
  • Making good choices in shot selection.
  • Anticipates the opponent’s shots resulting in good court positioning.
5.0
  • Mastered all the skills – all shot types, touch, spin, serves, with control and can use them as weapons.
  • Excellent shot anticipation, extremely accurate shot placement and regularly hit winning shots.
  • Forces opponents into making errors by “keeping the ball in play.”
  • Mastered the dink and drop shots.
  • Mastered the 3rd shot choices and strategies.
  • Uses soft shots, dinks and lobs to set up offensive situations.
  • Mastered pickleball strategies and can vary strategies and styles of play in competitive or tournament matches.
  • Dependable in stressful situations as in tournament match play.
  • Athletic ability, quickness, agility, and raw athleticism are also qualities that are sometimes what separates the top players from those near the top.

Source: http://ifpickleball.org/ifp-rating-descriptions/

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