Determining your level of play in Paddle.

How do you determine your own level of play? How to understand how best to organise the game on an account so that all participants have fun, for this we have gathered for you the information and criteria that define each level.

The seven categories are divided into subcategories: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Find out how to move up to the next level of the Paddle.

It is important to know your level of play and to have some guidelines when preparing for tournaments and meeting friends on the courts, which is why we have created this article.

The main purpose of this Padel level calculation is to have an idea of your level when organising games with players who do not know each other.

And you, do you know what your level is?

When someone says: “My level of play is low, or medium, or high”, on what basis do they say that? How many times have we met someone who claimed to have the same level as us and it was not true and the game was not enjoyable.

Situations like this often happen, especially on padel forums when we start playing with people we don’t know.

And it is on the forum, this idea of determining your level of play, has been adapted and translated from the NTRP scoring system used in the USA to catalogue tennis players.

A guide that will help you learn a lot and meet new people you haven’t played a single match with yet in padel, and participate in tournaments with threats of your level.

What is my level of play in Paddle?

Calculating the level of play in Paddle according to a timetable of one to seven, and this is the instruction to assess yourself:

BEGINNER’S LEVEL OF PLAYING PADDLE

– Level 1.0: For people who have just started playing padel …

– Level 1.5: Fans with very little experience, whose level is limited to trying to keep the ball in play.

– Level 2.0: In this group could be included all those players who avoid going to the network because they feel more secure in the back of the track. They still have trouble returning the ball after the rebound in the wall.

– Level 2.5: The ball speed has improved and, although it is about ‘avoiding’ the backhand, it does try to execute it from time to time. Although the network continues to command a lot of respect, it begins to go to it more frequently. In this phase some rebounds on the wall begin to be returned with ease, new blows such as balloons and finishes are sought,… In short: we start to have fun.

AVERAGE LEVEL OF PLAY IN PADDLE

– Level 3.0: The fans already make flat and cut shots, the serve and the rest are taking shape, the volleys are acceptable, we strengthen the rebounds on the wall … That is, our paddle begins to be more consistent.

– Level 3.5: Very similar to the previous one. The main differences are that the direction given to the different blows is better controlled and that the ball speed that we are capable of holding is much higher. In turn, we are also better positioned according to the partner.

– Level 4.0: From this point, we can already talk about experienced players who are very reliable in most of the so-called basic hits (right, backhand, both volleys, serves, rest and balloons) and who are developing blows such as the descent of wall on both sides and the tray. The air play ceases to be a problem because the shots begin to come out with the right power and direction. One of the most common causes of loss of points is the lack of patience and the bad reading of the wall rebounds that enter the other way round.

– Level 4.5: Let’s list the things that the player is already capable of doing in each hit as well as the facets of the game that he can master:

Right: Very reliable. Use speed, control and variety of strokes with depth.

Reverse: You can control direction and depth but suffers when defending difficult shots.

Take out and rest: Take out with placement and control, committing few double faults. Use power and cut balls. His remains are aggressive and in control.

Volleys: It is positioned well on foot, controls rallies on the volleys. He has power, control and depth in the right volleys but he still makes mistakes when playing with power.

Rebounds: Good descent of right wall. As for the reverse slope, get depth and placement

Other hits: Get final shots, getting to take the ball by 4 in some occasions. It is no longer strange that I get left volleyed.

Therefore, it could be said that his style of play is based on hits with relative power and good coverage on the court. You can start to vary the game depending on the opponent. It presents an aggressive game on the net, with good anticipation.

ADVANCED LEVEL OF PADDLE PLAYING

– Level 5.0: He has managed to consolidate and strengthen all of the above … He hardly makes mistakes with the backhand and his volley, the wall descents are aggressive and he begins to be more intelligent and disciplined on the court. Prepare the points by taking them to the terrain where it is safest, being more aware of when to take risks. Take advantage and see better the weak points of the opponent, so he can attack them.

– Level 5.5: The differences between levels are already minimal. In this case, the players are a point better prepared both physically and mentally.

– Level 6.0 – 7.0: Expert professionals. The different professionals, who are now called World Paddle Tour Players, would form part of this group.