Skill Levels – Silveridge Pickleball Club

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

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