Have you ever wondered about your tennis rating? For the purposes of this article we are talking about the National Tennis Rating Program or NTRP rating system. If you are just starting to play tennis your rating is between 1.0 to 2.5. People come to the game with different experiences. It can sometimes be easier for those that have played other sports to pick up the game.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) uses the NTRP rating system to determine the level you should play in a league. This ensures that players of similar skills are competing on the court together. Players may see changes in their rating as they compete with others in local leagues. As you increase your skill level your rating will go up.
Each year I play I focus on improving my skills. Improving your stroke production and knowledge of the game makes the game challenging and fun. It is good to know your rating and the skills expected for each level.
Here are some resources that you may find helpful:
- USTA Detailed Characteristics for each NTRP level (pdf)
- USTA About Ratings
- USTA General Characteristics of each level (pdf)
When signing up for your first USTA league you will need to provide a self-rating. During the self-rating process you will complete a form. The form will include questions about your past experience in tennis and sports. The questions are there to help with determining an appropriate rating level. The USTA “About Ratings” resource link will help you get started. A good local adult beginner league is the ENO CTA Penn Pal 2.0 league. This league will include monitors to help with scoring and rules. If you have questions you can always ask your local pro to help you with determining a good level for you to start.
Nice article!