| Level
1.0 |
This
player is just starting to play tennis. |
|
| Level
1.5 |
This
player has limited experience and is still working primarily on
getting the ball into play. |
|
| Level
2.0 |
|
Forehand:
|
Incomplete swing; lacks directional intent. |
|
Backhand:
|
Avoids backhands; erratic contact;
grip problems; incomplete swing |
|
Serve/Return of
Serve: |
Incomplete service motion; double faults common; toss is
inconsistent; return of serve erratic |
|
Volley:
|
Reluctant to play net; avoids
backhand; lacks footwork |
|
Special Shots:
|
|
|
Playing Style:
|
Familiar with basic positions for
singles and doubles play; frequently out of position |
|
|
| Level
2.5 |
|
Forehand:
|
Form
developing; prepared for moderately paced shots |
|
Backhand:
|
Grip and preparation problems;
often chooses to hit forehand instead of backhand |
|
Serve/Return of
Serve: |
Attempting a full swing; can get the ball in play at slow pace;
inconsistent toss; can return slow-paced serve |
|
Volley:
|
Uncomfortable at net especially on
the backhand side; frequently uses forehand racquet face on
backhand volleys |
|
Special Shots:
|
Can
lob intentionally but with little control; can make contact on
overheads |
|
Playing Style:
|
Can sustain a short rally of slow
pace; weak court coverage; usually remains in the initial
doubles position |
|
|
| Level
3.0 |
|
Forehand:
|
Fairly
consistent with some directional intent; lacks depth control |
|
Backhand:
|
Frequently prepared; starting to
hit with fair consistency on moderate shots |
|
Serve/Return of
Serve: |
Developing rhythm; little consistency when trying for power;
second serve is often considerably slower than first serve; can
return serve with fair consistency |
|
Volley:
|
Consistent forehand volley;
inconsistent backhand volley; has trouble with low and wide
shots |
|
Special Shots:
|
Can
lob consistently on moderate shots |
|
Playing Style:
|
Consistent on medium-paced shots;
most common doubles formation is still one-up, one-back;
approaches net when play dictates but weak in execution |
|
|
| Level
3.5 |
|
Forehand:
|
Good
consistency and variety on moderate shots; good directional
control; developing spin |
|
Backhand:
|
Hitting with directional control
on moderate shots; has difficulty on high or hard shots; returns
difficult shots defensively |
|
Serve/Return of
Serve: |
Starting to serve with control and some power; developing spin;
can return serve consistently with directional control on
moderate shots |
|
Volley:
|
More aggressive net play; some
ability to cover side shots; uses proper footwork; can direct
forehand volleys; controls backhand volley, but with little
offense; difficulty in putting volleys away |
|
Special Shots:
|
Consistent overhead on shots within reach; developing approach
shots, drop shots, and half volleys; can place the return of
most second serves |
|
Playing Style:
|
Consistency on moderate shots with
directional control; improved court coverage; starting to look
for the opportunity to come to the net; developing teamwork in
doubles |
|
|
| Level
4.0 |
|
Forehand:
|
Dependable; hits with depth and control on moderate shots; may
try to hit too good a placement on difficult shot |
|
Backhand:
|
Player can direct the ball with
consistency and depth on moderate shots; developing spin |
|
Serve/Return of
Serve: |
Places
both first and second serves; frequent power on first serve;
uses spin; dependable return of serve; can return with depth in
singles and mix returns in doubles |
|
Volley:
|
Depth and control on forehand
volley; can direct backhand volleys, but usually lacks depth;
developing wide and low volleys on both sides of the body |
|
Special Shots:
|
Can
put away easy overheads; can poach in doubles; follows
aggressive shots to the net; beginning to finish point off; can
hit to opponent's weaknesses; able to lob defensively on
difficult shots and offensively on setups; dependable return of
serve |
|
Playing Style:
|
Dependable ground strokes with
directional control and depth demonstrated on moderate shots;
not yet playing good percentage tennis; teamwork in doubles is
evident; rallies may still be lost due to impatience |
|
|
| Level
4.5 |
|
Forehand:
|
Very
dependable; uses speed and spin effectively; controls depth
well; tends to overhit on difficult shots; offensive on moderate
shots |
|
Backhand:
|
Can control direction and depth,
but may break down under pressure; can hit with power on
moderate shots |
|
Serve/Return of
Serve: |
Aggressive serving with limited double faults; uses power and
spin; developing offensive; on second serve frequently hits with
good depth and placement; frequently hits aggressive service
returns; can take pace off with moderate success in doubles |
|
Volley:
|
Can handle a mixed sequence of
volleys; good footwork; has depth and directional control on
backhand; developing touch; most common error is still
overhitting |
|
Special Shots:
|
Approach shots hit with good depth and control; can consistently
hit volleys and overheads to end the point; frequently hits
aggressive service returns |
|
Playing Style:
|
More intentional variety in game;
is hitting with more pace; covers up weaknesses well; beginning
to vary game plan according to opponent; aggressive net play is
common in doubles; good anticipation; beginning to handle pace |
|
|
| Level
5.0 |
|
Forehand:
|
Strong
shot with control, depth, and spin; uses forehand to set up
offensive situations; has developed good touch; consistent on
passing shots |
|
Backhand:
|
Can use backhand as an aggressive
shot with good consistency; has good direction and depth on most
shots; varies spin |
|
Serve/Return of
Serve: |
Serve
is placed effectively with the intent of hitting to a weakness
or developing an offensive situation; has a variety of serves to
rely on; good depth, spin, and placement on most second serves
to force weak return or set up next shot; can mix aggressive and
off-paced service returns with control, depth, and spin |
|
Volley:
|
Can hit most volleys with depth,
pace, and direction; plays difficult volleys with depth; given
opportunity, volley is often hit for a winner |
|
Special Shots:
|
Approach shots and passing shots are hit with pace and a
high-degree of effectiveness; can lob offensively; overhead can
be hit from any position; hits mid-court volley with
consistency; can mix aggressive and off-paced service returns |
|
Playing Style:
|
Frequently has an outstanding shot
or attribute around which his game is built; can vary game plan
according to opponent; this player is "match wise," plays
percentage tennis, and "beats himself" less than the 4.5 player;
solid teamwork in doubles is evident; game breaks down mentally
and physically more often than the 5.5 player |
|
|
| Level
5.5 |
This
player can hit dependable shots in stress situations; has developed
good anticipation; can pick up cues from such things as opponent's
toss, body position, backswing, preparation; first and second serves
can be depended on in stress situations and can be hit offensively
at any time; can analyze and exploit opponent's weaknesses; has
developed power and/or consistency as a major weapon; can vary
strategies and style of play in a competitive situation. |
|
| Level
6.0-7.0 |
These
players will generally not need NTRP ratings. Rankings or past
rankings will speak for themselves. The 6.0 player typically
has had intensive training for national tournament competition at
the junior level and collegiate levels and has obtained a sectional
and/or national ranking. The 6.5 player has a reasonable
chance of succeeding at the 7.0 level and has extensive satellite
tournament experience. The 7.0 player is a world-class player
who is committed to tournament competition on the international
level and whose major source of income is tournament prize winnings. |
|
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