GC PICKLEBALL CLUB SELF-RATING GUIDELINES

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RATING DESCRTIPTIONS: 

BEGINNER: (2.0)

• New and have only minimal knowledge of the game.

• Has taken at least one beginner lesson.

• Working on developing hand/eye coordination.

• Learning how to serve.

• Learning score-keeping, court lines, rules and how to move around the court in a balanced and safe manner.

• Learning where to stand on the court during the serve, receive of serve, and general play.

• Has participated in beginning skills practice and can now get more serves in.

• Frequently misses the ball entirely, but can hit some of the slower balls with their forehand.  Has a hard time playing games because they can’t keep a rally going.

• Demonstrates basic shot strokes, but still has obvious weaknesses in most of their strokes.

• Is developing their forehand and can now keep some short rallies going with players of equal ability during games.

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NOVICE: (2.5)

• Continues to work on hand/eye coordination.

• Knows the 2-bounce rule and demonstrates it most times.

• Learning now to get the serve in more regularly.

• Makes longer lasting, slow-pace rallies with the use of their forehand, makes most easy volleys and some backhands, but still needs more work on developing shot strokes.

• Is beginning to approach the non-volley zone to hit volleys, is aware of the “soft game”, and is making an effort to be more aggressive.

• Court coverage is weak but improving.

• Is fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but is not comfortable with all strokes and lack control when trying for direction, depth, or power on their shots.

• Is beginning to attempt lobs and dinks with varying degrees of success.

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INTERMEDIATE: (3.0)

• Gets high majority of serves “in”, can serve and return serves deep

• Can occasionally force errors when serving.

• Working on mixing up soft and power shots.

• Improved blocking of hard volleys.

• Dinks mostly in opponent’s kitchen and is dinking lower over the net to sustain dinking game.

• Can use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success.

• Able to hit to weak side of opponent.

• Improved control when trying for direction, depth and power on both forehand and backhand shots.

• Exhibits more aggressive net play, anticipates opponent’s shots better and is developing communication and teamwork in doubles play.

• Hits fewer balls out of bounds or into the net.

• Rallies may be lost due to impatience.

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ADVANCED: (3.5)

• Developed the use of power and spin, successfully executes most shots, can control the depth of their shots and can handle pace.

• Has sound footwork and moves well enough to get to the non-volley zone when required.

• Understands strategy and adjusts style of play according to opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and position on the court.

• Serves with power and accuracy and can vary the speed and spin of the serve.

• Consistently executes effective drop shots.

• Demonstrates/mastered 3rd shot strategies.

• Can block volleys directed at them.

• Abel to convert a hard shot to a soft shot.

• Exhibits patience at a high level.

• Accurate shot placement and can regularly hit wining shots.

• Makes very few unforced errors.

 

This self-rating system is in no way intended to make players feel that they have to fit into a defined framework for recreational play.  Players are free to play with who they want and when, regardless of skills and abilities.  It is only intended to help with “organized play”, such as scheduled daily play.  If you are not sure how to rate yourself, there are players of different skill groups who would be willing to help determine your group skills and abilities.

 

“GC Pickleball; a fun, recreational, healthy, social and competitive activity for players of ALL skills and abilities.”

 

Last Update: Oct. 15, 2021