USTA Ratings Definitions

The USTA uses a complicated algorithm to determine your computer ratings (ex. matches won against players with a similar rating, matches won against "benchmark players" - players in teams who were previous season winners) but these rating definitions will give you an idea of where you may stand. My general experience has been that a player at one level during normal play will perform at a level below during actual tournament play due to nerves.

THE NATIONAL TENNIS RATING PROGRAM
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS PLAYING LEVELS

1.0 THIS PLAYER IS JUST STARTING TO PLAY TENNIS.

1.5 THIS PLAYER HAS LIMITED EXPERIENCE AND IS STILL WORKING PRIMARILY ON GETTING THE BALL INTO PLAY.

2.0 THIS PLAYER NEEDS ON-COURT EXPERIENCE. THIS PLAYER HAS OBVIOUS STROKE WEAKNESSES BUT IS FAMILIAR WITH BASIC POSITIONS FOR SINGLES AND DOUBLES PLAY.

2.5 THIS PLAYER IS LEARNING TO JUDGE WHERE THE BALL IS GOING ALTHOUGH COURT COVERAGE IS WEAK. THIS PLAYER CAN SUSTAIN A SHORT RALLY OF SLOW PACE WITH OTHER PLAYERS OF THE SAME ABILITY.

3.0 THIS PLAYER IS FAIRLY CONSISTENT WHEN HITTING MEDIUM PACED SHOTS, BUT IS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH ALL STROKES AND LACKS EXECUTION WHEN TRYING FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DEPTH, OR POWER. MOST COMMON DOUBLES FORMATION IS ONE-UP, ONE-BACK.

3.5 THIS PLAYER HAS ACHIEVED IMPROVED STROKE DEPENDABILITY WITH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON MODERATE SHOTS, BUT STILL LACKS DEPTH AND VARIETY. THIS PLAYER EXHIBITS MORE AGGRESSIVE NET PLAY, HAS IMPROVED COURT COVERAGE, AND IS DEVELOPING TEAMWORK IN DOUBLES.

4.0 THIS PLAYER HAS DEPENDABLE STROKES, INCLUDING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND DEPTH ON BOTH FOREHAND AND BACKHAND SIDES ON MODERATE SHOTS, PLUS THE ABILITY TO USE LOBS, OVERHEADS, APPROACH SHOTS AND VOLLEY WITH SOME SUCCESS. RALLIES MAY BE LOST DUE TO IMPATIENCE. TEAMWORK IN DOUBLES IS EVIDENT.

4.5 THIS PLAYER HAS BEGUN TO MASTER THE USE OF POWER AND SPINS AND IS BEGINNING TO HANDLE PACE, HAS SOUND FOOTWORK, CAN CONTROL DEPTH OF SHOTS, AND IS BEGINNING TO VARY GAME PLAN ACCORDING TO OPPONENTS. THIS PLAYER CAN HIT FIRST SERVES WITH POWER AND ACCURACY AND PLACE THE SECOND SERVE. THIS PLAYER TENDS TO OVERHIT ON DIFFICULT SHOTS. AGGRESSIVE NET PLAY IS COMMON IN DOUBLES.

5.0 THIS PLAYER HAS GOOD SHOT ANTICIPATION AND FREQUENTLY HAS AN OUTSTANDING SHOT OR ATTRIBUTE AROUND WHICH A GAME MAY BE STRUCTURED. THIS PLAYER CAN REGULARLY HIT WINNERS OR FORCE ERRORS OFF OF SHORT BALLS AND CAN PUT AWAY VOLLEYS, CAN SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE LOBS, DROP SHOTS, HALF VOLLEYS, OVERHEAD SMASHES, AND HAS GOOD DEPTH AND SPIN ON MOST SECOND SERVES.