Do
you really want to know your rating or standard in tennis; below
is a US rating formula which will be of help in raising the standard
of your game.
COMPLETE NTRP SCALE
RATING STANDARD
Below is Specific Characteristics of Various Playing Levels
1.0
This player is just starting to play tennis
1.5
This player has limited experience and is still working primarily
on getting the ball into play
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 BH; lacks
footwork
PLAYING STYLE: Familiar with basic positions
for singles and doubles play; frequently out of position
2.5
FOREHAND: Form developing; prepared for moderately
paced shots
BACKHAND: Grip and preparation problems; often
chooses to hit FH instead of BH
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 BH side; frequently uses FH racket face on BH 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
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 FH volley; inconsistent
BH 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
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 shot 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 FH volleys;
controls BH 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
4.0
FOREHAND: Dependable; hits with depth and control
on moderate shots; may try to hit too good a placement on a
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 FH volley; can
direct BH 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 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
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 power on moderate shots
SERVE/RETURN OF SERVE: Aggressive serving with
limited double faults; uses power and spin; developing offense;
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 BH; 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
5.0
FOREHAND: Strong shot with control, depth,
and spin; uses FH to set up offensive situations; has developed
good touch; consistent on passing shots
BACKHAND: Can use BH 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
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.
6.0 to 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 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.