Our Group Levels

Our Club has groups of players, which have different skill levels and experience:

  • Group 1, Beginner
  • Group 2 and 2.5, Intermediate
  • Group 3, 3.25 and 3.5, Advanced
  • Group 4+, Skilled

Silveridge Pickleball Club Skill Level Definitions

 

Silveridge Pickleball Club Skill Level Definitions

The following skill level sets are a guide for evaluating your own level and determining which lessons you should sign up for. They were developed utilizing existing guidelines listed by the USAPA (usapa.org). This is a work in progress and we expect to continue to modify these descriptions with your input at least once a year.

The club will use this information to develop training clinics and for seeding fun tournament players.

The purpose of rated events is to insure a consistent and competitive level of play for all players within that event as much as possible. Please do not sign up for a lessons, clinics or round robins at a level that differs from your skill level.

The following lists each skill level from 1 to 4+. It also adds specific detail about skills required to be at a given level.

1 Beginner Skill Level

Players possess the following attributes and skills:

  • Have taken beginner’s training or the equivalent. Have been assessed by member(s) of Silveridge Executive
  • Are familiar with how to serve although they may not be able to execute serve yet
  • Are not comfortable with two-bounce rule and may not appear to know what it is
  • Are learning where to stand on the court during serves, returns and point play but are still uncomfortable with some positions
  • May not have basic ground strokes unless they are bringing in transferable skills from other sports…e.g. racquetball, tennis, badminton, paddle tennis, table tennis, squash, etc.
  • Don’t yet demonstrate the basics of how to keep score, have no idea what a dink is, unless coming from tennis where a cut-volley or drop-volley may be a demonstrable comparable
  • At best can keep a ball in play for a couple of shots

2 Skill Level

Players will also possess most/all of the skills of the 1 skill-level skills plus the following:

  • Moves in a balanced and safe manner
  • Getting at least 50% of serves in the service court and returning 50% of serves
  • Are learning where to stand on court during serves, returns and point play but are still not comfortable with some positions
  • Knows the 2 bounce rule and applies it during games. Can keep score comfortably
  • Will have basic ground strokes with a very limited use of backhand, overhead, and volley
  • Capable of keeping ball in play for a couple of shots

2.5 Skill Level

Players will also possess most/all of the skills of the 2 skill-level skills plus the following:

  • Knows the basic rules including the “two bounce rule”, scoring
  • Attempting to control forehand ground-stroke (direction, depth, height over net)
  • Attempting backhand ground-stroke
  • Getting 60% of serves in the service court and returning 60% of serve returns
  • Knows where to stand as the server, server’s partner, and receiver
  • Consistently Approaches the non-volley line for volleys
  • Can keep the ball in play for longer lasting rallies
  • Sometimes lobs with forehand
  • Attempting to “dink” the ball at the net, can do so for short duration's
  • Moves in a safe and balanced manner
  • Developing good hand-eye coordination

3 Skills Level

Players will also possess most/all of the skills of the 2.5 level skills plus the following:

  • Knows basic rules including how to keep score
  • Developing control on forehand ground-stroke (placement, direction, depth)
  • Developing control on backhand ground-stroke (placement, direction, depth)
  • Getting 70% of serves and return of serves “in”
  • Striving to place serves deep into the court
  • Beginning to develop placement of serves
  • Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to allow time to approach the net
  • Approaches the non-volley line quickly rather than staying back
  • Sustains a short volley session at the net
  • Exhibits correct court positioning for doubles and how to “move as a team”
  • Beginning to use the forehand lob with some success
  • Developing a sustained “dink” exchange at the net
  • Attempting to hit a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc. shot)
  • Attempting to adjust to differing ball speeds (hitting & returning)
  • Has good mobility
  • Developing good hand-eye coordination

3.5 Skills Level

Players will also possess most/all of the skills of the 3 skill-level skills plus the following:

  • Knows all the main rules including how to re-figure the score and correct server
  • Demonstrates control on forehand ground-stroke (direction, depth and pace)
  • Demonstrates some control on backhand ground-stroke (direction, depth and pace)
  • Getting 80% of serves and return of serves “in”
  • Regularly placing serves deep into the court
  • Regularly uses deeper & higher returns of serve to allow time to approach net
  • Approaches the non-volley line quickly (when appropriate) rather than staying back
  • Able to play with partners effectively. Beginning to use court strategies such as partner communication and team coverage of court
  • Avoids hitting “out” balls
  • Hitting the ball lower over the net consistently
  • Developing a wide variety of shots with some consistency
  • Learning when to use soft shots vs. power shots to their advantage
  • Developing consistency on shot placement, including ability to create and hit “gaps”
  • Sustains a short volley session at the net with some control and placement
  • Initiates and maintains a sustained “dink” exchange at the net
  • Able to execute a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc. shot)
  • Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently
  • Developing ability to hit overheads with control
  • Using a forehand and backhand lob when appropriate
  • Developing patience in rallies
  • Has good mobility
  • Has good quickness
  • Has good hand-eye coordination

4+ Skills Level

This is a term used to describe players who are capable of consistently executing at above a 3.5 skill-level. The 4+ player will distinguish themselves from the 3.5 player by possessing increased skills and strategy, or by more speed, power, or consistency.

  • Controls and places 90% of both serves and returns of serves
  • Consistent and dependable forehand and backhand ground-strokes, including directional control, depth, placement and pace.
  • Consistent and dependable volleys, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace
  • Consistent and dependable overheads, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace
  • Has good accuracy in placing lobs
  • Consistently makes successful ”drop shots” from the back court to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc. shot)
  • Regularly initiating and sustaining a “dink” exchange at the net until a “put away” shot is received
  • Able to change from a soft shot strategy to a hard shot strategy, and vice versa
  • Can block and return hard volleys
  • Developing the ability to return overheads hit at their feet
  • Can handle speed on shots without over-hitting or hitting out of bounds
  • Moves effectively with partner, easily switching courts and communicating when required
  • Can control play at the non-volley zone line, keeping their opponents back, driving them off the line and controlling the speed or placement of the ball
  • Consistently uses shots to create and hit “gaps”
  • Recognizes and exploits the weaknesses in their opponent’s game
  • Can poach effectively
  • Maintains patience in rallies
  • Has good mobility
  • Has good quickness
  • Has good hand-eye coordination
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