“Be more patient in defence than your opponents are in attack. Be more patient in attack than your opponents are in defence.
Then, when you’ve earned the easy ball, go for it :)”

Please use the guide below to ascertain your rating. You are required to play at one of our clubs to gain a rating; whether that be an Open Match, private coaching, group coaching, coaching clinics or our monthly Americanos.

We are proud to be a fully managed club, as opposed to just a pay and play facility, and our ratings are designed to help you immerse yourself into club life. Of course, you’re very welcome to simply book a court with three friends each week, but our clubs are designed for more. To experience the full UK Padel experience, we’d strongly advise getting a rating and getting stuck into our Open Matches, group coaching, coaching clinics and club events. This is how you’ll improve your game the fastest and expand your padel community. The bigger the pool of players you are connected with, the easier it is to play regularly.

Our ratings are very different to Playtomic and other automatic level creating apps. We don’t require you to play a multitude of competitive matches to gauge your level through an automated algorithm. Instead, we simply ask you to get involved in club life where we will constantly assess you through your padel journey.

Level 1.0: Unrated Player
All players that register on the app will be assigned a rating of 1.0 until they have been assessed, or we
have received feedback from another club member.

Level 1.25-1.50: Beginner

You’ve been assessed and are at the start of your padel journey.

• Try to attend at least three “Beginners Padel” sessions where you will be taught the basics of the game. It’s really important that you understand the importance of the positioning and get the basic tactics locked in early. Even if you’re an ex-tennis pro it’s important to attend these sessions, as embracing the vastly different tactics of padel will hugely enhance your enjoyment of the game, and your ability to progress through the levels.
• Try to play some “Beginners Matchplay” sessions.
• Meet new members at our monthly Beginner’s Americano (Level 1-2)

Level 1.75: Beginner Plus
You have attended some Beginners Padel sessions and are making good progress.

• You are consciously trying to serve and move forward for a volley after every serve.
• You will be trying hard to move forward and backwards as a pair with your partner. You understand the importance of this concept and are working hard to make it autonomous.
• You will be trying hard to avoid “No-Man’s Land”, and understand that when defending at the back you need to stand 1-step from the rear glass (bungee cord on!), and when forward at the net you stand level with the second post.
• At the net you are prioritising “Holding the net position” over “winning the point”.
• You are starting to get to grips with the glass. You may not be getting the ball back every time off the glass, but you’re getting in the right position and often making contact with the ball.
• You are trying to play some “Improver Mix-In” sessions, signing into club events and trying to occasionally attend our monthly Americano’s.
• You can now sign into our Technical and Tactical Clinics to work on specific areas of your game.
• You can now sign into our 1.75+ Group Coaching: sessions.
• You are now ready to enter the Super League. Please see the top of your whatsapp group for more info.

Level 2.00-2.50: Improver Player
You’re a handy player and are holding good rallies. The key to progressing now is most likely tactical and a
full buy-in to padel tactics and a patience mindset..

• You always serve and immediately move forward to the net position for a volley. A split tennis formation (one forward, one back) is a thing of the past.
• You will nearly always be moving forward and backwards as a pair with your partner.
• You will be trying hard to avoid “No-Man’s Land”, and understand that when defending at the back you need to stand 1-step from the rear glass, and when forward at the net you stand level (or just in front of) the second post.
• At the net you are prioritising “Holding the net position” over “winning the point”.
• At the net you prioritise deep volleys beyond your opponents service line, over short powerful volleys.
• Your glass game is proficient. You’re getting into the right position and regularly getting the ball back and in over the net.
• Your consistency and ability to maintain a rally is improving fast.
• Regularly attending Padel Clinics and Group Coaching to push your game on.
• Regularly play some “Intermediate Mix-Ins” or sign into club events and attend our monthly Level 3+ Americano.
• You are competing in the Super League to keep tabs on your improvement and get exposure to higher level players.

Level 2.75: Improver Plus Player
Generally 2.75 players are either very good racket players with tactical improvements needed, or
experienced padel players who need to develop their racket skills further. 2.75 is the “departure lounge” to
becoming a 3+ padel player.

• You always serve and immediately move forward to take the net.
• You move back and forth as a unit with your partner.
• You rarely get caught out of position (and avoid standing on the service line).
• You ALWAYS attach your bungee cord in defence (ask a coach if you’re unsure about this).
• At the net you are resisting the big winners and focusing on playing the ball predominantly down the middle, or safely into space to put your opponents under pressure.
• Only when you get a “sitter” in front of you do you hit a big attacking volley.
• Your glass game is rapidly improving. You’re regularly leaving the ball to come off the glass and keeping it in play.
• You no longer hit half volleys when the ball lands behind your service line.
• When defending you know never to move forward (disconnect your bungee cord – ask if you’re unsure of this) until you’re certain that the ball has gone past your opponents. You no longer hit and charge or creep forwards as you would in tennis.
• You are rarely the player that allows the rally to break down. You understand that the higher up the levels you go, the more important it is that you “are not the player who’s letting the rallies breakdown with unforced errors”.
• You no longer gamble the point by trying to hit big winners at the risk of hitting it out.
• You may well beat many 3.0 players, but need to fully buy into the advanced tactics of the game to progress. Rallying from the baseline may work at sub-2.75 level, but will not at 3.0+. It will frustrate 3.0 players who will expect you to take the net after serve. They won’t enjoy that you’ve relinquished your attacking advantage from the get-go.
• Regularly attending coaching to up-level your game.
• Actively playing in Level 2.75+ Open Matches and are starting to challenge in the monthly 2+ and 2.75+ level Americanos.
• You are competing in the Super League to keep tabs on your improvement and get exposure to higher level players.

Level 3.0: Intermediate Player
Breaking into the 3+ group is a big jump, and possibly the hardest jump of all.

• You’ve been regularly competing at the 2.75 level and your consistency is *very* solid. You’ll now have access to some games with the 3.25+ players and at this level *consistency is key*.
• Your new 3.0 and 3.25+ compadres won’t enjoy playing with you if you make wild attempts at winners. They want to see you trying to work for the point and want to enjoy long rallies. Your padel matches are becoming more tactical now, and the positioning of your shots is taking priority over power. You’re hunting for gaps as opposed to trying to blast through your opponents.
• You fully buy into the concept that when you’re attacking you need to be more patient than your opponents are in defence. And when you’re defending you need to be more patient than your opponents are in attack.
• You *always* serve and immediately move forward to take the net.
• You *always* move back and forth as a unit with your partner.
• You’re barely ever caught out of position, and when you are, you know it.
• Your bungee cord is now autonomous.
• You move well and can cover the whole court comfortably,
• You are solid off the back glass and feel at ease letting the ball go past you.
• You go into your games determined not to be the player that allows the rally to break down with unforced errors.
• You are dabbling with the triangle formation when at the net and play padel as a game of 2 vs 1. Covering the middle is critical and you don’t stand in the centre of your half of the court, but move sideways to block the angles available to your opponent.
• Regularly attending Private, Group or Coaching Clinics
• Actively playing in Level 2.75+ and 3.0+ Open Matches, and jumping on 3.25 games where possible. Please try not to always exclude the 2.75 players.
• You are competing in the Super League to keep tabs on your improvement and get exposure to higher level players.

Level 3.25: Intermediate Plus Player
This is a BIG jump from 3.0 and not easily achieved.

• You are now ready to compete in Local Level (Grade 5) LTA tournaments.
• You *always* serve and immediately move forward to take the net.
• You *always* move back and forth as a unit with your partner.
• You’re barely ever caught out of position, and when you are, you know it.
• If the ball goes past you, you’re still able to get back, retrieve it and play a quality shot.
• You are focussing on volleying with less pace, with control and are adding spin to the ball.
• Your glass game is very solid. You feel very comfortable leaving the ball to come off the glass, and consistently digging tricky balls out from the corners.
• You go into your games determined not to be the player that allows the rally to break down with unforced errors.
• Your serve is consistent and immediately applies pressure on your opponents. Accuracy and spin is the priority over power.
• You are actively trying to use the triangle formation to work one opponent at a time.
• Mastering the Bandeja and adding spin to your overheads (as opposed to just hard smashes) is a key shot to help you move on from this group.
• At club level matches, you don’t freeze better players out of the game. You may win the match by doing this, but you’ll make it a wasted trip/match for the stronger opponent, who’ll most likely not want to play against you again. In LTA tournaments, freezing players out or “putting them in the fridge” is fair game. In the club environment however, this is bad form.
• You are competing in the Super League to keep tabs on your improvement and get exposure to higher level players.

Level 3.5: Advanced Player
This level is designed to introduce you to the 3.75 players, and to fill gaps in 3.75 games.

• You are now ready to compete in County Level (Grade 4) LTA tournaments
• You’re developing your attacking shots but don’t use them unless you’re confident of not breaking down the rally too early. Your shot selection is very good. You continue to practice your attacking shots in 3.0 and 3.25 level matches.
• You don’t allow the rally to break down prematurely due to unforced errors. Often players feel they need to increase the pace of play when competing with the 3.75+ players. This isn’t the case. If you’re invited to a 3.75+ game, your role is to keep the ball in play and ONLY attempt to finish the point when there’s no danger of an unforced error.
• Your Bandeja is now very solid, and you are making very few unforced errors under the high ball.
• 4.5+ players will be able to cope with the often faster pace of the 3.75 players, who have a high level of consistency along with a strong arsenal of attacking shots. The 3.75 players want to be able to practice these attacking shots, and patiently work the rally into a place where they can deploy them. As such, as a 3.5 you must be patient and await your moment to hit winners. The 3.75 players desperately don’t want 2-shot rallies.
• Please continue to post your games at 3.25+ as this level is not designed for you to exclude the 3.25 players. You’ve earned your shot at some of the highest ranked players at the club, but you understand your role in the 3.75 matches is to give them a good game.
• You’re a regular attendee at coaching clinics, are actively self-studying the game, or getting group/private lessons.
• At club level matches, you don’t freeze better players out of the game. You may win the match by doing this, but you’ll make it a wasted trip/match for the stronger opponent who’ll most likely not want to play against you again. In LTA tournaments, freezing players out or “putting them in the fridge” is fair game. In the club environment however, this is bad form. We all want to improve and we all pay to play, so let’s get better by learning how to deal with the better players’ shots, and giving everyone an equal amount of ball time in matches.
• This level is fluid (as with all levels). If a player is injured for a long period or is struggling to fit in with the 3.75 matches, then they may be dropped back down to 3.25.
• You are competing in the Super League to keep tabs on your improvement and get exposure to higher level players.

Level 3.75: Advanced Plus Player

• You are now ready to compete in Regional Level (Grade 3) LTA tournaments
• You may also be able to scrape into some National Level (Grade 1 & 2) LTA Tournaments
• You’re highly consistent, but equally as dangerous when given the opportunity.
• You are consistently playing the bandeja, viboras, chiquita, rulo, gancho and are constantly developing the technical side of your game with self-study or group/private lessons.
• Your attacking game is varied with spin, power and precision. Your defense is excellent.
• You are extremely fit and your movement in all areas of the court is extremely good.
• You are competing in the Super League to keep tabs on your improvement and get exposure to higher level players.

Level 4.00+: Advanced Regional Player

• You do all the above and are regularly reaching the latter stages of Regional Level (Grade 3) LTA Tournaments.
• Unless you start regularly reaching the latter stages of Grade 1/2 LTA tournaments, 4.0 is the ceiling.

Level 4.25+: Advanced National Player
*You do all the above and are regularly reaching the latter stages of National Level (Grade 1 & 2)
LTA Tournaments.

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*PLEASE NOTE* The actual number associated with our levels isn’t really important. Padel levels will vary
throughout the UK (and the world) due to unreliable algorithms and people playing within their own bubbles. What
we feel is most important is that people are pooled as accurately as possible in level-based groups, to ensure
they are having enjoyable, friendly and competitive matches. This is our priority. Sometimes we get it right,
sometimes we get it wrong, but please rest assured our rating system is designed to help you and your fellow
peers get the most from the game.

Q&A
Q: I get lobbed when I serve and come to the net. It’s better to stay back isn’t it?
A: If you’re getting lobbed after coming to the net, please don’t blame the tactics. Blame your serve. Hit a better slice serve that lands “deep in the court” and close to the glass so your opponent is under pressure. This will prevent them hitting a perfect lob. And don’t forget what coming to the net does to your opponent. It puts them under huge pressure; to get the ball past you they either need to find a gap or hit a perfect lob. If they get either of those things even a fraction wrong then they’ll be under even more pressure.

Q: My volleys and racket skills are way better than some of the players rated higher than me. Why?
A: Positioning and tactics are what matter most. A player playing tactically correctly will be more fun to play with than a player who has great racket skills but is playing incorrectly. We’re all about fun and enjoyment of the game. A 4.25 player will have a great game alongside a 3.25 player if they’re in sync with each others movement/tactics.

Q: Why can’t we play competitive matches and record scores to work on our rating?
A: Many clubs do this. We don’t. We feel this brings an extra level of seriousness to club matches that make people less inclusive and more intense. When the score “matters” the vibe changes. If you want a slightly more intense encounter then please enter our Super League or one of our LTA sanctioned tournaments.

Q: Why don’t we play in fixed pairs?
A: Getting two fixed players together is infinitely more difficult then getting 4 players together in an Open Match. Also, when players mix in and adjust their partnerships to ensure the most competitive match it keeps things friendly and light. With fixed partnerships comes an increase in tribalism and awkward partner-switching when one player improves faster than the other. This is the antithesis of what UK Padel clubs are about, If you want to play in regular fixed pairs I suggest entering any of our sanctioned LTA tournaments or signing up to our Club Championships.

Q: I’m a 3.25 and have competed and beaten loads of 3.50 players recently. Why aren’t you putting my rating up?
A: Playing at 3.5 level isn’t about being as good as other 3.5 players. It’s about being able to compete and fill in with the 3.75 players. It’s the same throughout all levels. Playing at 3.0 level isn’t about being as good as other 3.0 players. It’s about being able to compete and fill in with the 3.25 players. As an example, you may be a dominant 2.75 player, but if you were raised to 3.0 and ended up in a match with a 3.25 players you may struggle, and much like we try to protect the standard of your games, we also need to protect the standard of the 3.25 players games.

Q: I feel held back. Why aren’t you putting my rating up?
A: Feel free to ask which areas you need to work on to improve your rating. Please understand that protecting the level of the majority will always outweigh the aspirations of the individual. We 100% want to increase people’s level as quickly as possible, but we need to be sure that you will fit in with the group of players above you.

Should you have any questions please feel free to drop me a message anytime.