DIRECTIONS

1. Begin reading NTRP 1.0. Then, read each of the ascending NTRP levels carefully and thoroughly to better understand the terminology contained in each description. Never rate yourself relative to someone else because his or her rating might very well be inaccurate.

2. Be certain you qualify on most points of all preceding NTRP levels before reading the next level.

3. For all NTRP levels, assume you're playing an opponent of the same gender and ability.

4. For competitive situations, place yourself in the higher NTRP level when you're undecided between two NTRP levels.

5. To be more accurate, graduations of one-tenth of an NTRP point may be used to rate yourself.

6. Ultimately, your true NTRP rating is based upon your ability to win matches.

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NTRP 1.0 - Played Only 1 or 2 Times

A. Just starting to play tennis, or has played only 1 or 2 times

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NTRP 1.5 - Beginner Level

A. Has played tennis several or more times

B. Still trying to get the ball over the net

C. Some knowledge of scoring, but unfamiliar with position and strategy for singles and doubles play

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NTRP 2.0 - Improved Beginner Level

A. May have had some lessons, but still needs a great deal of on-court experience

B. Has obvious stroke weaknesses

C. Starting to feel comfortable with position and strategy for singles & doubles play

 

Forehand: Incomplete swing; Lacks directional intent

Backhand: Avoids backhands; Has grip problems; Erratic ball contact; Incomplete swing

Serve & Return: Incomplete service motion; Double-faults common; Inconsistent toss; Erratic return of serve

Volley: Reluctant to play net; Avoids backhand volley; Lacks footwork

Playing Style: Familiar with basic positions for singles and doubles play, but frequently out of position

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NTRP 2.5 - Advanced Beginner Level

A. Somewhat more dependable strokes

B. Still learning to judge where the ball is going

C. Weak court coverage; Often out of position

D. Can sustain a short rally of slow pace with other players of the same ability.

 

Forehand: Form starting to develop; Prepared for moderately paced shots

Backhand: Grip and preparation problems; Often chooses to hit forehand instead of backhand

Serve & Return: Attempting full swing; Inconsistent toss; Can get the ball in play at slow pace; Can return slow 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 slow mid-court rally; Weak court coverage; Usually remains in the initial doubles position

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NTRP 3.0 - Low Intermediate Level

A. Places shots with moderate success

B. Can sustain a slow baseline rally; Lacks control when hitting with power

C. Still not comfortable with all strokes

 

Forehand: Fairly consistent, with some directional intent; Lacks depth control

Backhand: Frequently prepared; Starting to hit with fair consistency on moderate shots

Serve & Return: Developing rhythm; Low consistency when trying for power; Second serve very much slower than first; Returns 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; Approaches net when play dictates, but is weak in execution

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NTRP 3.5 - Improved Intermediate Level

A. Has achieved some stroke dependability and direction on shots within reach, including volleys

B. Has moderately good control, but still lacks depth and variety

C. Beginning to develop spins

D. Seldom double faults; Occasionally forces an error on serve

 

Forehand: Good consistency and variety on moderate shots; Good directional control; Beginning to develop spin

Backhand: Hits with direction on moderate shots; Has difficulty on high or hard shots; Returns difficult shots defensively

Serve & Return: Starting to serve with control and some power; Beginning to develop 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; Has difficulty putting volleys away

Special Shots: Consistent overhead on shots within reach; Beginning to develop 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 net; Developing teamwork in doubles

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NTRP 4.0 - Advanced Intermediate Level

A. Consistent strokes on both forehand and backhand sides

B. Improved use of power & spins

C. Has a variety of shots including lobs, overheads, approach shots, and volleys

D. Hits first serves with power; Places second serves slowly; Forces errors more often

E. Seldom out of position in a doubles game

 

Forehand: Dependable stroke; Hits with depth and control on moderate shots; May try to hit too finely on difficult shots

Backhand: Can direct the ball with consistency and depth on moderate shots; Improving spins

Serve & Return: Frequent power on first serve; Good placement on second serves; 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

Special Shots: Can put away easy overheads; Can poach in doubles; Follows aggressive shots to net; Beginning to finish-off the point; 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

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NTRP 4.5 - Advanced Level

A. Beginning to master power and spins

B. Has sound footwork

C. Can control depth of shots; Is able to move opponent up and back

D. Hits first serves with power & accuracy; Places second serve; Some success with “Serve & Volley”

 

Forehand: Very dependable stroke; 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: Aggressive serving with limited double faults; Uses power and spin; Developing offense; Frequently hits with good depth and placement on second serve; Frequently hits aggressive service returns; Can take pace off ball with moderate success in doubles

Volley: Can handle a mixed sequence of volleys; Good footwork; Has depth and directional control on backhand volley; Developing touch; Most common error is 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; Hits with greater pace; Covers up weaknesses well; Beginning to vary game plan according to opponent; Aggressive net play common in doubles; Good anticipation; Beginning to handle pace

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NTRP 5.0 - Local Tournament Level

A. Good shot anticipation

B. Frequently has an outstanding shot or exceptional consistency

C. Can regularly hit winners, or force errors on short balls

D. Successfully executes lobs, drop shots, half volleys, overhead smashes

E. Has good depth and spin on most second serves

 

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: Serve is placed effectively with the intent of hitting to a weakness or developing an offensive situation; Has a variety of serves; Uses spin, good depth, and placement on most second serves to force weak returns 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 the proper opportunity, often hits winning volley

Special Shots: Approach shots and passing shots are hit with pace and a high degree of effectiveness; Lobs offensively; Hits overheads from most positions; Hits mid-court volley with consistency; Mixes aggressive and off-paced serve returns

Playing Style: Frequently has an outstanding shot or exceptional consistency; Can vary game plan according to opponent; Plays “percentage tennis”, beating himself less often than the 4.5 player; Solid teamwork in doubles is evident; Game breaks down mentally and physically more often than the 5.5 player

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NTRP 5.5 - USTA Sectional Tournament Level

A. Executes all strokes offensively and defensively

B. Hits dependable shots under pressure

C. Analyzes opponents' styles; Can employ patterns of play to assure greatest success

D. Can hit winners or force errors with both first and second serves

E. Return of serve can be an offensive weapon

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NTRP 6.0 - USTA Ranked Sectional or National Tournament Level

A. Has mastered all of the above skills

B. Has developed power and/or consistency as a major weapon

C. Can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation

D. Often has had intensive training for national competition at junior or collegiate levels

E. Has obtained a USTA sectional or national ranking

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NTRP 6.5 - USTA Satellite Tournament Level

A. Has mastered all of the above skills

B. Has obtained a USTA national ranking

C. Regularly competes in USTA Satellite tournaments

D. Income may be partially derived from prize winnings

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NTRP 7.0 - World-Ranked Tournament Level

A. Professional, touring, world-class player who earns a living competing in international tournaments

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