top of page

Surrey Downs Skills
Self Assessment

At present, determining your skill level in pickleball is via self assessment. We have set out below our club's expectations of skill sets at the various levels. The levels range up to 5 (the highest non-professional level).

2.0

  • Moves around court in balanced, safe manner.

  • Gets some serves “in”, maybe not regularly.

  • Realises aspects of score-keeping, rules and where to stand on court during serve, receipt of serve and general play.

  • Has some basic stroke skills.

2.5

  • Is able to serve “in” more regularly.

  • Knows two-bounce rule and demonstrates it most times.

  • Knows where to stand on the court during serve, receipt of serve and general play.

  • Is mastering keeping score.

  • Attempts to dink but not always effective at it.

  • Is working on their form for ground strokes but accuracy is variable.

  • Can keep the ball in play longer.

Min Club Standard

CLUB MINIMUM PLAY STANDARD

3.0

  • Knows the fundamental rules and can keep score.

  • Regularly gets serves “in” to mid-court or deeper.

  • Can use both forehand and backhand on returns and forehands on overheads.

  • Moves quickly towards the non-volley zone when opportunity is there.

  • Is aware of the tactic of the “drop shot ” and tries to use it to allow to approach the kitchen.

  • Is able to sustain short dinking rallies in the game.

  • Tries not to pop the ball up when dinking at the kitchen line.

  • Is working at keeping the serve deep and return of serve deep.

  • Is becoming aware of partner’s position on the court & the benefit of moving as a team.

  • Is developing more power and/or softness in their shots.

  • Is working at broadening their playing repertoire.

  • Is not lobbing the opponent on every or the majority of shots.

3.5

  • Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the rules of the game

  • Gets a high majority of serves in deep & returns serve deep

  • Tries to play the appropriate shot rather than just playing their favourite or preferred shot

  • Demonstrates strategies of playing during games.

  • Actively works with partners in communicating, covering court, moving to net

  • With varying consistency executes: forehand/backhand ground strokes, overheads, net volleys and sustained dinking plus some lobs where appropriate.

  • Regularly uses drop shots to get to the net Continues on next page

  • Specifically places shots rather than just hitting shots anywhere

  • Is selectively mixing up soft shots with power shots to create an advantage

  • Hits fewer balls out of bounds or in the net

  • Has a moderate amount of unforced errors per game

  • Demonstrates ability to intentionally play in offensive mode

  • Is aware when/if they make mistakes

  • Demonstrates extended periods of multi-dimensional play

4.0

  • Primarily plays in an offensive mode rather than reactively

  • Controls and places serves and return of serves to best advantage

  • Puts advanced playing strategy into the game, particularly in dinking

  • Consistently varies shots for competitive advantage, uses power shots selectively

  • Communicates and moves well with partner — easily “switches” court positions

  • Is very comfortable playing at the non-volley zone. Works with partner to control the line, keeping opponents back and driving them off the line.

  • Can block hard volleys directed at them

  • Has good footwork and moves laterally, backward and forward with ease.

  • Hits overhead shots consistently, often putting them away

  • Has the ability to change a hard shot to a soft shot

  • Consistently executes effective drop shots that are not easily returned for advantage

  • Can effectively poach

  • Hits a low percentage of unforced errors per game

  • Regularly demonstrates “anticipation of play” ‘

  • Is naturally self-correcting during play

  • Consistently is a multi-dimensional player and/or is exceptionally dominate in a limited playing repertoire.

4.5

  • Can regularly convert a hard shot to a soft shot

  • Exhibits patience in play at a superior level

  • Shows noticeably increased skills, a higher level of strategy, quickness of hands and movement, judicious use of power, superior placement of shots, superb anticipation of play, sustained volleying skills, superior put-aways —all with consistency

  • Makes very few unforced errors

  • Differences between 4.5 and 5.0 are subjective – but, generally, each of the four points above is even more pronounced at the 5.0 level.

bottom of page