There is no universal level scale in padel: every club, league and app has its own. But almost all are alike and go from 1 to 7. This is our scale, explained by what you can do on court. To find yours in two minutes, take the padel level test.
What really sets your level
It is not power. What separates one level from the next is:
- The walls: a beginner struggles with the rebound; an advanced player attacks off the back glass.
- The lob: padel’s most important shot. High, deep and with intent.
- The net and lobs: what you do when you get lobbed. The bandeja is the line between level 3 and 4.
- The pair: moving together and covering the middle. See padel tactics for pairs.
- Consistency: in padel, whoever misses least wins.
How to move up
- Play with people slightly better than you. The fastest way to improve.
- Train the shots you lack, not the ones you already have.
- Organise games with a format: an Americano makes you play with and against everyone.
- Watch matches and focus on positioning, not on the flashy shots.
The level scale, from 1 to 7
| Level | How you play |
|---|---|
| 1 · Beginner | You have just started. Keeping the ball in play is hard and the walls still confuse you. |
| 2 · Novice | You keep short rallies going, serve without trouble and start to use the lob, but wall balls and the net are still hard. |
| 3 · Lower intermediate | You play matches regularly, return the easy balls off the glass and volley when the ball comes comfortably. |
| 4 · Intermediate | You control the basic shots, play bandejas, defend from the back with lobs and know when to move up and back. |
| 5 · Upper intermediate | You build points, choose between bandeja, víbora and smash, and your lob puts your opponents in trouble. |
| 6 · Advanced | You master every shot, read the walls very well and compete in leagues and tournaments with good results. |
| 7 · Competition | You play in the top categories of the tournaments in your area. Your game has few weaknesses. |