Pickleball Skill Level Descriptions

Use this as a guide to self-rate your level for YLW Pickleball. Providing self-ratings help ensure balanced, fun play for everyone and allows us to make sure we are creating relevant sessions for our members.

2.0 – Beginner

• New to the game and learning basic rules, scoring, and court positioning.

• Developing control to keep the ball in play.

• Focused on getting serves and returns over the net rather than placement.

2.5 – Advanced Beginner

• Can sustain short rallies with similar players.

• Serves and returns are becoming more consistent.

• Starting to move toward the kitchen but still unsure of positioning.

• Learning basic shot selection and simple strategies.

2.75 – Developing Intermediate

• Can maintain rallies of moderate length.

• Beginning to control direction and depth but still makes frequent unforced errors.

• Understands positioning and when to move forward but execution can be inconsistent.

• Experimenting with dinks and drop shots, though not yet reliable.

3.0 – Intermediate

• Keeps the ball in play consistently with moderate pace.

• Understands and applies basic strategies (move together, target weaknesses).

• Beginning to use dinks, volleys, and third-shot drops in games.

• Ready for more structured play and competitive drills.

3.25 – Advancing Intermediate

• Serves, returns, and third shots are more reliable.

• Varies shot types (drives, drops, dinks) with purpose.

• Understands court positioning and transition play but may still rush or overhit.

• Recognizes opponent tendencies and adjusts accordingly.

3.5 – Strong Intermediate

• Confident with all basic shots and developing tactical awareness.

• Uses dinking, drops, and volleys effectively to build points.

• Moves fluidly with partner, maintaining good communication and court coverage.

• Makes fewer unforced errors; starting to control pace and placement strategically.

3.75 – Competitive Intermediate

• Consistent with all shots, including third-shot drops, dinks, drives, and volleys.

• Comfortable transitioning to the kitchen and sustaining long dink rallies.

• Begins to anticipate opponents’ shots and set up offensive opportunities.

• Plays strategically with pace, spin, and placement to force errors.

• Typically competes successfully in organized leagues and tournaments.