Recreational tennis players can use the basic tennis rating system, also known as the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP), to assess their overall skill level and find players competing at a comparable level. The scale runs from 1.0 to 7.0, with 13 total ratings.

Players with a 1.0 rating have just stepped onto a court, and know little to nothing about the mechanics of hitting the ball. A 1.5-rated player is slightly more familiar with the basics of the sport. Once a player has hit 2.0 they can comfortably attempt to hit all basic shots, but still lack the experience to do so with any consistency or strategic intention. At 2.5, players begin to sense where the ball is going before the opponent hits it, allowing for short rallies.

Reaching 3.0 is a significant mark of progress for players. At this stage, players have developed a decent sense of court awareness and can hit basic tennis shots with moderate pace. Players rated 3.5 can blend power and control more effectively and feel confident attempting a more versatile playing style, as opposed to hitting the ball back to the opponent with no intention.

Players rated 4.0 and above can have highly competitive matches against comparably skilled players, hitting the ball with enough pace and direction to force errors or hit clean winners. Ratings from 5.0 and above are more about how a player’s skills hold up to an opponent’s pace and direction.

While ratings of 6.0 and higher exist, players at this level generally do not care about NTRP ratings, and are instead focused on sectional or even national rankings. A 7.0 player is a world-class player with a ranking on the men’s or women’s professional tour.