NATIONAL TENNIS RATING PROGRAM - USTA

1 1. 01. 8 7 65 4 321 This player is just starting to play player has limited experience and is still working primarily on getting the ball into swing; lacks directional intentForm developing; prepared for moderatelypaced shotsFairly consistent withsome directional intent;lacks depth controlImproved consistencyand variety on moderateshots with directionalcontrol; developingspinGood consistency; hitswith depth and controlon moderate shots; maytry to hit too good aplacement on a difficultshotVery good consistency;uses speed and spineffectively; controlsdepth well; tends toover-hit on difficult shots; offensiveon moderate shotsStrong shots with control, depth, and spin;uses forehand to set up offensive situations; hasdeveloped good touch;consistent on passingshotsAvoids backhands;erratic contact; gripproblems; incompleteswingGrip and preparationproblems; often choosesto hit forehand insteadof backhandFrequently prepared;starting to hit with fair consistency onmoderate shotsHits with directionalcontrol on moderateshots; has difficulty onhigh or hard shots;returns difficult shotsdefensivelyDirects the ball withconsistency and depthon moderateshots;developing spinCan control directionand depth but maybreak down under pressure; offensive onmoderate shotsCan use backhand asan aggressive shotwith good consistency;has good direction anddepth on most shots;varies spinThis player is capable of hitting dependable shots in stress situations; has developed good anticipation; can pick up cues from such things as oppo-nent s toss, body position, backswing, preparation; first and second servescan be depended on in stress situations and can be hit offensively at anytime.

2 Can analyze and exploit opponent's weaknesses; can vary strategiesand style of play in a competitive players will generally not need NTRP ratings. Rankings or past rankingswill speak for themselves. The player typically has had intensive trainingfor NATIONAL tournament competition at the junior level and collegiate levelsand has obtained a sectional and/or NATIONAL ranking. The player has areasonable chance of succeeding at the level and has extensive satellitetournament experience. The is a world-class player who is committed totournament competition on the international level and whose major sourceof income is tournament prize in Wheelchairs: Players in wheelchairs should use these general characteristics to determinetheir NTRP skill level. The only differences are as follows:Mobility:While players in wheelchairs may have skills that would normallyprovide them a certain RATING , the mobility factor suggests that whencompeting against able-bodied players, they should participate at an NTRP skill level that provides for competitive rather than compatible ability:Due to the nature of the player s injury or disability, a powerful serve may not be possible.

3 In this case, it may be more realistic toself-rate below , as service strength becomes key beyond this level. Many tournament players in wheelchairs have already received an NTRP RATING . Wheelchair players should check with players whose skills matchtheir own before determining their RATING . The very best world-class players inwheelchairshave an NTRP RATING in the low servicemotion; double faultscommon; toss is inconsistent; return of serve erraticAttempting a full swing;can get the ball in playat slow pace; inconsistenttoss; can return slow-paced serveDeveloping rhythm; little consistency whentrying for power; second serve is oftenconsiderably slowerthan first serve; canreturn serve with fairconsistencyStarting to serve withcontrol and some power;developing spin; canreturn serve consistentlywith directional controlon moderate shotsPlaces both first andsecond serves, oftenwith power on firstserve; uses spin;dependable return ofserve; can return withdepth in singles andmix returns in doublesAggressive serving withlimited double faults;uses power and spin;developing offense; onsecond serve frequentlyhits with good depth andplacement.

4 Frequentlyhits aggressive servicereturns; can take paceoff with moderate success in doublesServe is placed effectivelywith intent of hitting toa weakness or developingan offensive situation;has a variety of servesto rely on; good depth,spin, and placement onmost second serves toforce weak return or setup next shot; can mixaggressive and off-pacedservice returns withcontrol, depth, and spinReluctant to play net;avoids backhand; lacksfootworkUncomfortable at net,especially on the backhand side; frequentlyuses forehand racquetface on backhand volleysConsistent forehand volley; inconsistentbackhand volley; hastrouble with low and wide shotsMore aggressive netplay; some ability tocover side shots; usesproper footwork; candirect forehand volleys;controls backhand volleybut with little offense; difficulty in putting volleys awayDepth and control onforehand volley; candirect backhand volleys but usually lacksdepth; developing wideand low volleys on bothsides of the bodyCan handle a mixedsequence of volleys;good footwork; hasdepth and directionalcontrol on backhand;developing touch; mostcommon error is stilloverhittingCan hit most volleyswith depth, pace anddirection; plays difficultvolleys with depth;given an opportunityvolley is often hit for awinnerNATIONAL TENNIS RATING PROGRAMFOREHANDBACKHANDSERVE ORVOLLEYSPECIAL SHOTS PLAYING STYLERETURN OF SERVEF amiliar with basic positions for singles and doubles play; frequentlyout of positionCan sustain a short rallyof slow pace; modestconsistency; weak court coverage; usuallyremains in the initialdoubles positionFairly consistent on medium-paced shots;most common doubles formation is still one up,one back.

5 Approachesnet when play dictates but weak in executionImproved consistencyon moderate shots withdirectional control;improved court cover-age; starting to look forthe opportunity to cometo the net; developingteamwork in doublesGood consistency onground strokes withdirectional control anddepth demonstrated onmoderate shots; not yetplaying good percentagetennis; teamwork indoubles is evident; ralliesmay still be lost due toimpatienceVery good consistency;more intentional varietyin game; is hitting withmore pace; covers upweaknesses well; begin-ning to vary game planaccording to opponent;aggressive net play iscommon in doubles;good anticipation;beginning to handle paceFrequently has an out-standing shot, consistency,or attribute around whichgame is built; can varygame plan according toopponent; this player is match wise, plays percentage TENNIS and beats himself or herself less than the player;solid teamwork in doubles is evident; gamebreaks down mentallyand physically moreoften than the playerCan lob intentionally but with little control;can make contact onoverheadsCan lob fairly consistently on moderate shotsConsistent overhead on shots within reach;developing approachshots, drop shots, andhalf volleysCan put away easyoverheads; can poachin doubles; followsaggressive shots to thenet; beginning to finishpoint off; can hit toopponent's weaknesses;able to lob defensivelyon difficult shots andoffensively on set-upsHits approach shotswith good depth andcontrol; can consistentlyhit volleys and over-heads to end the pointApproach shots andpassing shots are hitwith pace and highdegree of effectiveness;can lob offensively;overhead can be hitfrom any position.

6 Hitsmid-court volleys withconsistency USTA, IHRSA, USPTA, 1979 Revised, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005 ITNNTRPNTRP Poster 3 3/27/06 4:34 PM Page 1