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