Indoor Pickleball Hours starting January 4, 2025

2.5 - 3.5
This player has limited experience. Can sustain a short rally with players of equal ability. Basic ability to keep score.

3.5

FOREHAND: Improved stroke development with moderate level of shot control.

BACKHAND: Learning stroke form and starting to develop consistency but will avoid if possible.

SERVE / RETURN: Consistently gets serve/return in play with limited ability to control depth.

DINK: Increased consistency, with limited ability to control height/depth. Sustains medium length rallies. Starting to understand variations of pace.

3RD SHOT: Developing the drop shot in a way to get to the net.

VOLLEY: Is able to volley medium paced shots thereby developing control.

STRATEGY: Moves quickly towards the non-volley zone (NVZ) when opportunity is there. This player acknowledges difference between hard game and soft game and is starting to vary own game during recreation and tournament play. Can sustain short rallies. Is learning proper court positioning. Basic knowledge of stacking and understands situations where it can be effective.

4.0

FOREHAND: Consistently hits with depth and control. Is still perfecting shot selection and timing.

BACKHAND: Has improved stroke mechanics and has moderate success at hitting a backhand consistently.

SERVE / RETURN: Places a high majority of serves/returns with varying depth and speed.

DINK: Increased consistency with moderate ability to control height/depth. May end dink rally too soon due to lack of patience. Is beginning to understand the difference between attackable balls and those that are not.

3rd SHOT: Is electively mixing up soft shots with power shots to create an advantage with inconsistent results.

VOLLEY: Able to volley a variety of shots at different speeds. Is developing consistency and control. Starting to understand the block/reset volley.

STRATEGY: Aware of partner’s position on the court and is able to move as a team. Demonstrates ability to change direction in an offensive manner. Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the rules of the game. Has a moderate number of unforced errors per game. Solid understanding of stacking and when and how it can be used in match play. Beginning to identify opponent’s weaknesses and attempting to formulate a game plan to attack weaknesses and seek out competitive play.