At the HHPA we strive to be honest and objective regarding the internal rating of skill levels. Players brand new to pickleball are normally rated at 2.0 and below. Experienced players or players with backgrounds in other sports may be rated higher. It must be emphasized that an HHPA rating does not translate into a tournament rating. Note that HHPA ratings will be based on .5 increments and not the DUPR or other rating system.
The normal progression is a self-rating based on the criteria below. All players with the desire, have the opportunity to improve and may ask to be re-assessed regarding their rating. Skill ratings will impact on when you can play, what clinics you can attend and your participation level in various HHPA events. It is important to note that a higher skill level rated player can always play down (except in competition events) but a lower skill level cannot play up (except in competition events), daily recreational play is not considered competition.
Historically, players tend to over-rate themselves. This causes problems as HHPA tries to deliver programs and events to players at all levels. If a player is identified as trying to play above their skill level, the HHPA Director of Coaching, or another certified Level II Teaching Professional, will rate the player in question based on a random set of skills as per below. This rating will be without charge and the decision will be final, recorded and not open for question until a further 2 months have elapsed.
Should the player still question the HHPA internal rating they may, at their own cost, pay for a Certified Rating Specialist. However, in the interim the HHPA rating will stand. The Board will review the CRS findings and determine how to move forward.
2.0 Skill level
- Knows the basic rules including two bounce rules, scoring and player position relative to scoring
- Demonstrates basic pendulum swing on the forehand & backhand side
- Demonstrates dinks down the line forehand & backhand
- Demonstrates dinks cross court forehand & backhand
- Demonstrates proper ready position
- Demonstrates punch volley
- Demonstrates proper sideways turn, arm positioning and backward movement for overhead
- Demonstrates an overhead
- Knows where to stand as the serve team and the return team
- Demonstrates proper sidestep movement while being balanced
- Has good mobility and can move forward in a safe and balanced manner
- Developing eye-hand coordination
- Demonstrates a forehand ground stroke swing low to high and striking the ball off front foot
- Demonstrates a backhand ground stroke swing low to high and striking the ball off front foot
- Demonstrates a serve
- Demonstrates return of serve
Skill Testing Requirement:
Dinks
- Forehand down the line 4/10
- Forehand cross court 4/10
- Backhand down the line 4/10
- Backhand cross court 4/10
Volleys
- Forehand Punch Volley 4/10
- Backhand Punch Volley 4/10
Serves
- Deuce Court 4/10
- Ad Court 4/10
- Return of serves
- Deuce Court 4/10
- Ad Court 4/10
2.5 Skill level should also possess all 2.0 skills
- Working on consistency while dinking down the line forehand & backhand
- Working on consistency while dinking cross court forehand & backhand
- Demonstrates proper sidestep movement while staying balanced at NVZ line
- Demonstrates a punch volley
- Is developing 3rd shot drop by long dinking from the transition area
- Attempting to hit 3rd shot drop during match play on the short court
- Moving forward to approach NVZ for dinks & volleys
- Demonstrates an overhead with the proper sideways turn, arm positioning and backward movement
- Has good mobility and can move forward in a safe and balanced manner
- Has good eye-hand coordination
- Beginning to demonstrate control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
- Uses a backhand ground stroke
- Keeps ball in play during short rallies
Skill Testing Requirement:
Dinks
- Forehand down the line 6/10
- Forehand cross court 6/10
- Backhand down the line 6/10
- Backhand cross court 6/10
3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)
- Forehand 4/10
- Backhand 4/10
Volleys
- Forehand Punch Volley 5/10
- Backhand Punch Volley 5/10
Overhead
- Overhead 2/5
Serves
- Deuce Court 3/5
- Ad Court 3/5
Return of serves
- Deuce Court 3/5
- Ad Court 3/5
3.0 Skill level should also possess all 2.5 skills
- Attempting to consistently dink while changing directions from cross court to down the line forehand & backhand
- Does not back up unnecessarily from NVZ
- Punches volley to the back 1⁄2 of opponent court
- Sustains a short volley exchange at the net
- Can perform 3rd shot drop by long dinking from the transition area
- Using 3rd shot drop during match play
- Moving forward as a team to approach NVZ for dinks & volleys
- Can perform an overhead with better control while maintaining proper position
- Has good mobility & quickness
- Demonstrates improved control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
- Better control on backhand groundstrokes
- Keeps ball in play during short rallies
- Attempts offensive lobs during play
- Demonstrates placement & depth on serves
- Demonstrates placement & depth on return of serves
- Attempting to adjust to different ball speeds (serves, groundstrokes, volleys)
Dinks
- Forehand down the line 7/10
- Forehand cross court 7/10
- Backhand down the line 7/10
- Backhand cross court 7/10
3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)
- Forehand 5/10
- Backhand 5/10
3rd shot drop from baseline
- Forehand 2/5
- Backhand 2/5
Volleys
- Forehand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 6/10
- Backhand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 6/10
- Balls must land in the back half of the opponents court when the feeder is simulating an opponent at the baseline.
- Balls must land at the feet of the feeder when he’s standing at the NVZ simulating an opponent who is dinking (balls landing a foot behind the NVZ are given credit)
Serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)
- Deuce Court 3/5
- Ad Court 3/5
Return of serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)
- Deuce Court 3/5
- Ad Court 3/5
Overhead
- Overhead 3/5
Offensive lobs from NVZ line
- Offensive lobs 3/5
3.5 Skill level should also possess all 3.0 skills
- Can consistently dink while changing directions from cross court to down the line forehand & backhand
- Punches volley to the back 1⁄2 of opponent court, to keep opponents at the baseline
- Sustains a controlled volley exchange at the net
- Performs 3rd shot drop from the baseline
- Is beginning to dink with a purpose
- Moving forward as a team to approach N VZ for dinks & volleys
- Developing directional control while performing an overhead
- Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, speed, depth, height)
- Demonstrates control on backhand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
- Keeps ball in play during rallies and is aware of minimizing errors
- Able to communicate effectively with partner & utilize different strategies to expose opponent weaknesses
- Using deeper and higher returns to approach the net quicker
- Uses offensive lobs effectively
- Demonstrates better placement and depth on serves
- Demonstrates better placement and depth on return of serves
- Improved control when adjusting to different ball speeds (serves, groundstrokes, volleys)
Dinks
- 14 out of 20 windshield wiper dinks
3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)
- Forehand down the line 8/10
- Forehand cross court 8/10
- Backhand down the line 8/10
- Backhand cross court 8/10
3rd shot drop from baseline
- Forehand down the line 3/5
- Backhand down the line3/5
Overheads
- Overheads 3/5
Offensive lobs from the NVZ line
- Offensive Lobs 3/5
Volleys (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)
- Forehand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 7/10
- Backhand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 7/10
- Balls must land in the back half of the opponents court when the feeder is simulating an opponent at the baseline.
- Balls must land at the feet of the feeder when he’s standing at the NVZ simulating an opponent who is dinking (balls landing a foot behind the NVZ are given credit)
Serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)
- Deuce Court 4/5
- AdCourt4/5
Return of serves (Ball lands in the back half of opponents court)
- Deuce Court Forehand 4/5
- Ad Court Backhand 4/5
4.0 Skill level should also possess all 3.5 skills
- Sustains a volley exchange at the net and beginning to use directional control
- Can demonstrate a block volley
- Able to hit winning volley when a ball is popped up
- Better consistency when performing 3rd shot drop from the baseline
- Can hit 3rd shot drop from baseline during match play with greater success
- Moves effectively with partner, easily switching sides, and communicates when required
- Controls play at the NVZ line, by keeping their opponent back if they’re at the baseline
- Dink with a purpose to elicit a put away shot
- Can demonstrate an effective poach, and understands when it’s appropriate
- Able to change a fast-paced strategy to a slow one and vice versa
- Can consistently perform an overhead and beginning to place the shot for winners
- Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height, spin)
- Demonstrates control on backhand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
- Understands proper shot selection to minimize errors
- Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently
- Uses offensive lobs effectively
- Beginning to use spin effectively on a variety of shots
- Maintains greater patience in dinks & rallies
- Beginning to anticipate shots more frequently (watching opponents paddle face)
Dinks
- 16 out of 20 windshield wiper dinks
3rd shot drop from transition area (middle of the court)
- Forehand down the line 4/5
- Forehand cross court 4/5
- Backhand down the line 4/5
- Backhand cross court 4/5
3rd shot drop from baseline
- Forehand 7/10
- Backhand 7/10
Volleys (Ball lands in the back one third of opponents court)
- Forehand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 4/5
- Backhand Punch Volley with directional & depth control 4/5
- Forehand Block Volley 3/5
- Backhand Block Volley 3/5
Overheads
- Overheads 4/5
Offensive lobs from NVZ line
- Offensive lobs 4/5
