My Pickleball Skill Level

Pictona at Holly Hill

Let's Make Every Match More Fun, Fair, and Competitive!

With Pictona's new skill level play, you need to know your skill rating to know what courts to play on and to ensure fair and enjoyable matchups. We will record your skill level in CourtReserve.

If you already have a rating from a recognized rating system such as DUPR, UTR-P, or Heinze please submit that rating to us. If you do not have a DUPR or UTR-P rating, we request that you use our Pictona Skill Rating Guide to determine your skill level.

How to Share Your Rating

If you have a DUPR or UTR-P rating:

If you do not have a DUPR or UTR-P rating:

Visit our Self Rating Guide below, determine your rating, and click the Submit button.

Not Sure About Your Rating?

Our self-rating guide is designed to be simple and fair, based on skills like shot consistency, strategy, and mobility. If you're unsure, give us your honest opinion.

If after playing, you see that your rating is too high or too low, you can request that it be changed by asking one of our RPO certified instructors to watch you play a game or two.

Another Option: Get a Professional DUPR Assessment

Sign up for a DUPR Assessment with our Director of Instruction, Scott Thornton! These fun evaluations will give you a clear rating and give you a pathway on improving your game.

Pictona Self-Rating Guide

This self-rating form asks you to consider your technical and tactical skills when playing pickleball. Read through all the descriptors for each skill level. Then be honest with yourself and select the rating that most accurately describes your skill level.

Note: Not every descriptor has to match your estimated skill level to select a specific rating.

2.0 Level
  • I just started playing and I have limited sports experience.
2.5 Level
  • I have limited experience playing pickleball.
  • I can sustain a short rally with players of equal ability.
  • I know how to keep score.
  • I make many unforced errors.
3.0 Level
  • I can hit medium paced forehand shots but lack consistency in direction.
  • I avoid backhands if I can because I lack control and consistency.
  • I can usually serve to the correct court.
  • I can return a serve but lack depth, direction, and consistency.
  • I am learning to dink but can't really sustain a dink rally.
  • I'm able to hit a medium paced volley (hitting the ball without bouncing) but lack direction and consistency.
  • I understand the fundamental strategies of pickleball and am learning the proper court positions.
  • I know the basic rules and can keep score.
3.5 Level
  • I'm more consistent with dinks by controlling the height and depth of shots.
  • I'm learning to vary the pace.
  • I'm developing the third shot drop as part of my strategy to get to the no volley zone line.
  • I'm gaining control of my volley shots.
  • I'm aware of adjusting my strategy between a hard, driving game and a soft, dinking game.
  • I'm sustaining short rallies better and understand the value of stacking in certain situations.
  • I make fewer unforced errors than at the 3.0 level.
4.0 Level
  • I can consistently hit my forehand shots with depth and control.
  • I'm still perfecting my shot selection and timing.
  • My backhand is much improved hitting the ball with some direction more consistently.
  • I'm able to place serves and returns where I want varying depth and speed the majority of the time.
  • I'm dinking more consistently controlling the height and depth.
  • I'm gaining an understanding of the difference between attackable balls and those that are not.
  • I'm able to volley a variety of shots at different speeds with consistency and control.
  • I'm able to mix up third shot drops and drives with inconsistent results.
  • I'm aware of my partner's position on the court and able to move as a team.
  • I'm learning to adjust my game to attack the weaknesses of my opponents.
  • I commit fewer unforced errors than at the 3.5 level.

Submit Your Pickleball Skill Rating

Enter your numeric skill rating (e.g., 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, etc.)
Thank you! Your skill rating has been sent to Nick Kovacs. He will update your CourtReserve account soon.
There was an error submitting your assessment. Please try again or contact Nick directly at nickk@pictona.org
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