NTRP Rating |
Description |
1.0 |
This player is just beginning 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 backhand;
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 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 racket 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 |
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 |
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 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 |
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 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 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 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 |
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 Servce: 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. |