Great video! I’m stuck at 3.25-3.5, and didn’t realize why I am losing to better players. So your video succinctly explains what I would have to get better at to raise my level of play. No one else has ever described the difference like you just did. Thank you so much. Now at least I have a clue on what I need to do to improve. Thank you!
There are some good, published distinctions online between the exact differences of each rating level.. I like this video as when I was at level 3.5 the things I struggled with against better players are just as he stated…best advice is to play better competition when you can…they push you, they hit harder, they make you pay if that ball is hit too high and/or to their forehand…he has some really good tips about what makes higher level players…their anticipation, foot work, putting the ball away, controlling the overhead shot, knowing where the next ball is going and where your teammate is going to be located. That all comes with seeking out better players that are working on improving their game as well.
Great vid, but I’d really like to see the comparisons more narrowed down. Like what does a 3.5 look like compared to 3.0 or 4.0? I think that’s where the confusion lies for a lot of people. Personally, I’m not sure if I’d be considered a 3.0, 3.5 or something in between.
You need to do a video on what makes you 4.0. I have felt like I was between 3.5 to 4.0 but more recently feel much more 4.0 and now after watching this video even more certain. I have a consistent drop, can reset tough shots sometimes and consistently return and serve deep and figured out how to get more power on my serves. Also I figured out top spin on my drop. I always try to play against the best guys on the court and even though I don’t hit as hard my one super power is defense. I get to what seems impossible at times but I do not have a racquet sports background. I don’t do as well as tennis players at keeping the ball down. But I have gotten a lot better. On the other hand I rarely hit the ball out of bounds.
@@gg80108 That is an excellent point, second month of doubles, have really cut down on getting my partner killed..have been playing a lot smarter and more patient lately.
I’m 3.5 and have definitely realized that most opponents I have problems with were long term tennis players (tennis probably being the closest match to pickleball)… But here’s the thing, their learning curve has primarily flattened while mines is growing by leaps & bounds… So the more we play and the more I keep learning (videos) & doing drills (dinks, drops, lobs, blocks, off the wall drills for quicker reactions, etc, etc) - it’s evident I’m creeping towards their level… 😳😄
You forgot to mention tennis background for overheads, more important than badminton and volleyball since the ball is much similar, plenty of badminton players hit into the net or use the wrong motion or have poor timing
The problem we have in this sport is that people equate their skill level to wins/losses instead of to the established USAPA Pickleball Skill Level standards. At the open plays in my area, where they are broken down by levels such as 2.0 - 2.5, 2.5 - 3.4, 3.5 - 4, etc., someone new to pickleball should not be able to show up to a 2.5-3.4 open play and win the majority of points by simply standing at the baseline and hitting hard accurate drives at their opponents, who typically cannot block effectively. I've seen this happen countless times where a mediocre tennis player shows up to an open play and dominates by simply standing at the baseline and banging at the weaker opponent that cannot block and cannot reset against pace. What happens? Tennis guy says to himself, "I knew this sport was easy. I'm advanced already!"
We do not see this as a problem. USAP based skill level is an abstract thing. Pickleball is not a figure skating. It does not matter how ugly you play if you win. Also, where do you think that person with tennis skills should go instead? At the beginners level it all the same for all racket sports. Someone with good table tennis skill will crush all the tennis beginners who play several months serving underhand and overspinning the tennis ball. I have background in tennis, table tennis, and badminton. Never played racquetball. But I tried once and beat all the locals (apparently low level) at the gym who played for 5 years. What's the moral of the story? Life is not that simple :) -- Mark
@@ThePickleballPirates I would agree if we're talking about playing singles, but not doubles. Typical scenario: open play 3.5 - 4.0; you walk onto the court as one of three legit ~4.0 level players. The other player, who consistently beats all the 3.5's via banging low hard drives down the middle but has no concept of basic strategy or line play, considers himself 4.0 because he "just wins." Do you want to be paired up with that guy? Of course not. Result: he bangs into the two opponents who just block and slam it right down his poor partner who is at the NVZ.
What is the point of PPR Certified Coach ratings assessments (where skills are evaluated typically via instructor feeding balls, not solely gameplay), or the USAPA Skill Levels themselves if we're just to go by game results? @@ThePickleballPirates
@LearnAtMyExpense if you are good and got a good banger as a partner, do shake-n-bake. There is a chance you beat opponent 4.0 team. And if not, then probably he or you or both are not 4.0 yet. Open play is about rec play. Rating is about tournaments. When you beat someone in rec play several times does not mean much, while similar results in tournaments do. It's that simple. When you go for open play, nobody owes you anything. You could be paired with 3.5 player as well, it does not matter what exactly he thinks about his own level.
@LearnAtMyExpense we do not know (besides feeding Certified coaches). We believe it is obsolete. It made some sense when there were not so many tournaments. Now it's only good to decide which bracket you should sign up in the tournament for the first time.
I think 3.5 players respect forehand middle, but a 5.0 respects the rule of X. Also I would add tennis players to people who can angle an overhead shot. I had a great overhead in pickleball well before 3.5 because I had come from tennis.
Well sweet. Just realized at 3:20 i can make that return all the time. I pretty much destroy everyone i play if im not messing around. Looks like im looking for a 4.5 or higher league and tourney.
This video honesty stunk at explaining this topic. Jumped from 3.5 to 5.0 and was completely all over the place. To better explain, you need to pick a rank, give examples of characteristics of that rank, and compare them to the next rank above and next rank below.
What makes a 3.5 better than a 2.5/3.0 is the 3.5 has better consistency, a better understanding of court positioning, better anticipation, and is starting to develop a soft vs hard game. Is in, they know when to reset vs. when to speed up. A good way to know your over 3.0 is if you can consistently beat 3.0 players. That's me...if I'm in a group of 3.0 players, about 95% of the time, my team will win, and the score is usually very lopsided in my favor. Whenever I go to open play, most players are 3.5 and below, and I'm always guaranteed to be one of the stronger, if not strongest players, so I'm definitely over 3.0. However, put me with 4.5s, and the situation is reversed.. I'm somewhere between 3.8 and 4.2.
@@Vanessa-pe2xs hate to say it but no, this is not how it works in most places. For example, we see this all the time with good tennis players who begin playing pickleball. They can show up to a 2.5-3.4 level open play and win majority of games because they can simply stay at and defend/drive from the baseline. Their opponents at that level often cannot handle the power from those low hard drives and, even if they are at the net defending, they often can't block consistently due to poor technique. If they aren't defending at the nvz line then they are just reflexively banging the ball back back. The tennis guy is always going to win that game. Until people stop equating their skill level to wins/losses against other players who do not have an accurate rating, this is never going to change.
@LearnAtMyExpense dude, that's exactly how it works. All the pickleball ratings (DUPR, USAP, WPT, etc) are based on how well you perform against others. If you consistently beat 3.0 players...you are above 3.0. Banging will only get you so far, though...at higher levels, you have to learn strategies, as well as vary your game. For example, there are no 3.0 players that can beat me on a regular basis. Therefore, I know I'm at minimum 3.5.
@@Vanessa-pe2xs no it's not. Rating assessment is based on the standard USAPA Pickleball Skill Levels rating, not whether you can show up and win against other players who also do not understand the standard or how skill level ratings work.
@LearnAtMyExpense you can "self rate" whatever you'd like...However your "official" rating is indeed based on performance. The higher level players you beat, the higher your score.
Idk. There has to be more factors to defining these grades. Because if this is a 3.5 then it would confirm in 4.0+ because he is explaining all the obvious mistakes I learned how to not make and I never need to reset against anyone anymore I can catch all kinds slams and dink it into any extreme angle or slam back even harder even often against ranked.4.0 plus that's my been my strength other players told me.
Could the player at the 0:50 mark with the speed up winner show a little more enthusiasm? It kills me when I play against the standing tree players like I'm boring them to death in the match as they kick my ass.
I play tennis and table tennis, not great but able to hit ball back and forth. After play Pickleball several times. Originally I consider myself as 3.5 player without knowing much of the Pickleball techniques. I can hit most of the shots consistently but will get butt kicked with people know how to ding in the kitchen. So maybe I am not 3.5 yet😂
I just started 4 months ago, but already am at 3.5. Same background with tennis and table tennis, sounds like you have a lot of work to practice. I got great serves, volleys and drives in tennis so it carries over. Ping pong should carry over as well and translate in the net game. You just have to work on everything my friend, some people got it fast and some people need more time. I play 15 hours a week
To know for sure you need either to play them or at least record yourself on camera. The thing is on camera it usually looks way worse than in real life.
I think even a 2.5 competitive player would “make their opponent pay” for an ill-conceived pop up..I’m not sure that connotation is specific to a 3.5+ player .
not really. Low level players manage to punish the opponents only against the same or lower level players and they miss *a lot* of opportunities to do so.