How to find your pickleball skill levels

Whether you’re a casual weekend player or someone who hits the courts five days a week, knowing your skill level in pickleball can make a big difference. It helps you find the right group to play with, track your progress, and even join tournaments that match your ability.

In this blog, we’ll break down the pickleball skill rating system—what each level means, how to tell where you fit, and how you can level up your game. Let’s dive in!

How to determine your level

There are several ways to rate your skill level in pickleball. If you're a casual player who plays mostly for fun, the Skill Assessment Sheets provided by USA Pickleball might be the best fit. This method is widely used among recreational players and gives a good general idea of your level based on specific skills.

But if you're looking for something more accurate and data-driven, there are two main rating systems to consider:

• DUPR, or Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, tracks lots of different aspects of your game (each scored on a scale) and counts matches from both tournaments and casual play with friends.
• UTPR, an official rating given to USA Pickleball members based on their performance in sanctioned tournaments.

Self-Rating

This rating system is a common way most pickleball players use to rate their levels, as it’s the easiest way and doesn’t require tournament experience. The Skill Assessment Sheets provide clear benchmarks for each level, ranging from 1.0 to 5.5+, helping players estimate where they stand based on their current skills.

1.0 Rating

• This player is new to pickleball.
• Struggles with the game, but can hit some slow balls.

1.5 Rating

• Has completed at least one beginner lesson.
• Developing a forehand
• Learning how to serve
• Learn basic rules of the game
• Although they can maintain some short rallies, they still struggle to return the balls consistently.

2.0 Rating

• Learning to read the ball’s direction and predict where it will bounce on the court.
• Their strokes have obvious weaknesses, and there is room to improve.
• Familiar with court positioning in doubles play.
• Can sustain a short rally with players who have equal ability.

2.5 Rating

• Understands the basic rules and is capable of consistently scoring points.
• Beginning to get their serve in more regularly.
• Understands the two-bounce rule and demonstrates it most of the time.
• Able to maintain a dink rally with players of beginner level.
• Occasionally attempts forehand lobs with inconsistent results.
• Developing their groundstrokes.
• Beginning to hit volleys in the non-volley zone.
• Court coverage is weak but is improving.

3.0 Rating

• Working on keeping both serves and return shots deep.
• Moves quickly to the non-volley zone when there's an opening.
• Trying to hit flatter returns when appropriate.
• Becoming more aware of their partner’s position and starting to move more as a team.
• Developing more power in their shots.
• Beginning to try lobs and dinks, though with limited success and without fully understanding the best time or reason to use them.
• Shows improved technique with basic strokes and shot placement, but still struggles to control direction, depth, and power consistently.

3.5 Rating

• Able to use a forehand groundstroke with a moderate level of shot control, but limited control in the backhand groundstroke.
• Can perform a variety of shots with varying consistency: lobs, groundstrokes (forehand/backhand), overheads, volleys, and extended dinking.
• Can consistently serve and return, but struggles with depth and directional control.
• Players are starting to use third shot drops, dinks, and a mixture of pace, angles, and lobs in their games.
• Communicates and coordinates better with partner, covering the court and moving up to the net as a team.
• Understand what and when to use hard game and soft game.

4.0 Rating

• Has reliable forehand and backhand strokes, with good control over direction and depth.
• Recognizes the partner's location on the court and can coordinate movement as a unit. Shows the capability to alter direction in an offensive way.
• Feels confident at the non-volley zone, working with their partner to dominate the line, push opponents back, and control the pace.
• Able to control and place serves and returns strategically for maximum advantage.
• Applies strategy actively during matches.
• Regularly varies shots to create competitive opportunities.
• Moves and communicates smoothly with a partner, easily switching court positions when needed.
• Feels confident at the non-volley zone, working with their partner to dominate the line, push opponents back, and control the pace.
• Can effectively block volleys aimed directly at them.
• Shows strong footwork, moving forward, backward, and side-to-side with ease.
• Uses dinking tactics to set up finishing shots.
• Consistently delivers effective drop shots.
• Applies a variety of third shot strategies, including drop shots, lobs, and fast-paced groundstrokes.

4.5 Rating

• Able to control the depth of their shot and handle pace.
• Mastered all skills, shot types, spin, touch, serves.
• Has good footwork and can move forward or backward well.
• Understands game strategy and adapts their play style and tactics based on the opponent’s strengths, weaknesses, and positioning.
• Makes very few unforced errors.

5.0 Rating

• Able to change the pace of the rally using drives, drops, blocks, dinks.
• Mastered all skills and strategies, can use them to create opportunities for themselves.
• Dependable in stressful situations.

5.5 Rating

• Proven to be a top-level player, with strong performances and tournament success backing their high-level play.

Pros of self-rating

• Easy to do; players are not required to enter the tournament to have a rating.

Cons of self-rating

• Use a 2-digit system, which is less accurate than the 4-digit system.
• Players can cheat by giving themselves as the system allows players to assign themselves any rating, regardless of their actual skill level.
  

 

UTPR (USA Pickleball Tournament Player Ratings)

UTPR (USA Pickleball Tournament Player Ratings) is an official rating system managed by USA Pickleball in partnership with Pickleballtournaments.com. It’s based on results from USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments, along with the UTPR of opponents, to calculate each player’s rating. The score may appear in a 4-digit format or as a rounded 2-digit version.

Players receive separate UTPR ratings for singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, depending on which types of events they participate in during official tournaments.

Pros of UTPR

• Measure performance in 4-digit format.
• Unbiased information from sanctioned tournaments and how it measures performance on a 4-digit scale. But, because it requires sanctioned pickleball tournaments to source

Cons of UTPR

• It uses results from official tournaments to give players a 4-digit rating. But since only tournament matches count, casual players won’t be able to get a UTPR unless they compete in those events.

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Rating)

DUPR is currently the most widely used and recognized pickleball rating system in the world. It's trusted by top clubs, tournaments, leagues, and players across all skill levels.

DUPR tracks both casual and competitive matches and uses a consistent 3-digit rating scale to evaluate players. Each player receives one rating for singles and one for doubles, though there’s no separate rating for mixed doubles. The system is designed to be inclusive, covering players of all ages, locations, and skill levels. Pickleball skill levels range from 2.00-8.00 with this system.

• 2.00 – 2.99: Beginner to early intermediate players who are building foundational skills and working on shot consistency.
• 3.00 – 3.99: Intermediate players developing better control, placement, and starting to use basic strategies.
• 4.00 – 4.99: Advanced players with strong game sense, consistent execution, and strategic variety.
• 5.00 – 8.00: Highly skilled players, including elite and professional athletes who compete in top-level tournaments.

Pros of DUPR

• It takes both recreation matches and tournament scores into account.
• It is globally trusted.

Cons of DUPR

• Can be inaccuracy for players who don’t regularly play pickleball because DUPR requires a consistent stream of match results to provide an accurate assessment of a player’s skill level.
• Casual players may find DUPR overwhelming because of its complexity. The data-driven nature of DUPR can cause some players to feel like they’re being judged instead of having fun on the court.

How long does it take to get better at pickleball?

After exploring how to find your current skill level, the next big question is: How long does it actually take to improve? The truth is, it depends on how often you play and how seriously you train. In this blog, we’ll break down the typical timeframes to reach an intermediate level, depending on the type of player you are—whether you're a casual Sunday smasher or an everyday grinder.

However, please note that these are only general estimates, and actual progress may vary depending on your athletic background, dedication, coaching, and overall playing conditions.

Sunday Player

If you’re mostly playing once a week on the weekend, the progress to reach around a 3.0 or 3.5 rating may be slow and take around 9-12 months if you have no background in any racket sport.

What helps:

• Learn the rules and court positioning
• Join open games to meet new opponents with different backgrounds and techniques.
• YouTube tutorials are your best friend; watching how others play can help you understand strategy and avoid common mistakes.

 

Serious Player

With regular games 2-3 times per week and some focused practice, you’ll build skills much faster. Reaching 3.0 might take just 3–4 months, and 3.5 could be within reach in 6–9 months.

What helps:

• Plays with slightly strong partners and observes how they play or asks for their advice.
• Taking a course is another way to boost your skills since you’ll be guided by experienced instructors.
• Add basic drills like dinking and serve returns.

 

Everyday Player

The committed players who play pickleball more than 3 times a week tend to build their skills faster. With regular and the right training plan, reaching 3.5 may take around 3-6 months.

What helps:

• Compete in local leagues. This enables players to face more challenging opponents.
• Improve your skills by following a structured plan.

 

What about going pro?

If your dream is to go on an even more serious route, like being a part of the national tournament, expect years of regular and intensive training, coaching, and competitions. A lot of high-level players have years of experience in racket games or train like full-time athletes.

 

Aura Farming with Pickleball Merch: Because Skill Isn’t Everything

Whether you’re a pro player or just someone who plays for fun, how you present yourself matters—it’s the little detail that can turn heads on the court. PickleballGoats.com is here to help you become the next star with our Crazy pickleball lady t-shirt that’s sure to grab attention. Prefer to show your softer side? Give our gift collection a go! From mugs and candles to journals and towels, we’ve got just the thing to match your vibe.

References

USA Pickleball. (2025). Definitions of Player Skill Ratings. https://usapickleball.org/player-skill-rating-definitions/

Paddletek Pickleball. (2022). How to Figure Out Your Pickleball Rating in 3 Steps. https://www.paddletek.com/blogs/news/pickleball-ratings-guide?srsltid=AfmBOopQDtkouNlU5_APrdBk0OyUruSRIkaZnmMUnsHLZjXzYE68wLRU

Kennebunk Parks & Recreation Department. (n.d.). What is My Pickleball Rating? Retrieved from https://kennebunkme.myrec.com/documents/what_is_my_pickleball_rating.pdf 

The Albert Club. (n.d.). Pickleball Rating Standards. https://thealbertclub.co.uk/pickleball/skills-levels/

PPA Tour. (2023). How to Find Your Pickleball Rating. https://www.ppatour.com/how-to-find-your-pickleball-rating/

DUPR. (2025). Pickleball Ratings Explained: How Skill Levels Are Calculated. https://www.dupr.com/post/pickleball-ratings-explained-how-skill-levels-are-calculated

Big Dill Pickleball Co. (2025). The Drawbacks of DUPR in Pickleball. https://www.bigdillpickleballcompany.com/blogs/news/the-drawbacks-of-dupr-in-pickleball?srsltid=AfmBOooloXUeyLM7HVuJ_iwPiX531O1waM9VFpTs8LFA0dMDAL2IQYBT