3.5, 4.0, 4.5, etc.

[Kirkus]

Can someone explain the ranking system to me? I'm a new member of our local tennis association and I see these rankings next to tournament players' names. I don't have a clue how those are reached or what they mean.

[Sebastien447]

Can someone explain the ranking system to me? I'm a new member of our local tennis association and I see these rankings next to tournament players' names. I don't have a clue how those are reached or what they mean.

loaded question!

My advice is to have your local teaching pro rate you. Then you'll have a reference point.

Beyond that, I'm thinkin I noticed t4 lurking about earlier ...

[tennis4you]

Always lurking for this type of post. :)

Here is the official rating system: http://www.tennis4you.com/rate-yourself/rate-yourself.htm

I agree with Seb, have a local pro rate you. I find when players read the NTRP they rate themselves .5 high, sometimes even 1.0 higher than they should. I read 5.0 and think that is me, but I play 4.5 USTA leagues and that is more than enough for me to handle. 5.0 players around here would make me look silly.

[Kirkus]

Thank you, t4. I should've checked you site first. Doh!

[tennis4you]

:)

No problem. I use to get the same question a lot, especially from juniors because that rating system doesn't really apply to them. They are use to rankings in their age division and that is about it. Hell, I did not even know what they were until I was in college and started looking at USTA leagues. Even then I signed up with some guys on a 4.0 league who were closer to 4.5 than 4.0. In 2002 we ended up winning the Columbus title, Southern Ohio title, Ohio Title, Regionals and then went to Nationals where we got thumped on, but it was great, all the way to Arizona. Usually when you get to Nationals you get bumped to the next higher level and now we all play 4.5, which is what we should have been playing anyways. But once we won the Southern Ohio level most everyone we played was 4.5, you do not make it to 4.0 Nationals as a 4.0. Hell, the guys who won Nationals looked like 5.0 to me.

[Sebastien447]

:)

No problem. Â*I use to get the same question a lot, especially from juniors because that rating system doesn't really apply to them. Â*They are use to rankings in their age division and that is about it. Â*Hell, I did not even know what they were until I was in college and started looking at USTA leagues. Â*Even then I signed up with some guys on a 4.0 league who were closer to 4.5 than 4.0. Â*In 2002 we ended up winning the Columbus title, Southern Ohio title, Ohio Title, Regionals and then went to Nationals where we got thumped on, but it was great, all the way to Arizona. Â*Usually when you get to Nationals you get bumped to the next higher level and now we all play 4.5, which is what we should have been playing anyways. Â*But once we won the Southern Ohio level most everyone we played was 4.5, you do not make it to 4.0 Nationals as a 4.0. Â*Hell, the guys who won Nationals looked like 5.0 to me.

You just explained why I don't like that rating system t4.

There are also too many divisions ... here, should be more like this ...

SUCK BAD
SUCK
NOT BAD
GOOD
VERY GOOD
SCARY GOOD
TENNIS GOD

Just think what a thrill it would be for somebody to move up from "suck bad" and finally just suck! :P

[tennis4you]

The rating system really does have some flaws. When I was bumped up to 4.5 a 4.0 team asked me to appeal my rating and play a little 4.0, maybe 2 matches per season when they needed help like against the better 4.0 teams. I only need to play 2 matches per season to qualify to play in a post season if they win the Columbus division. Well, I appealed my rating since I was barely into the 4.5 rating. They bumped me down to 3.5. lol... 3.5? 1.0 is a huge difference. I played a little 3.5 the other day (free tennis in the winter, I pass nothing up). I played 3 sets, played very easy, didn't hit any first serves, hit my volleys where they could get them etc. I lost only a few games in 3 sets.

So anyways, since I was 3.5 I could play 4.0 again. I played two matches on court 1 doubles. I won both matches 6-1, 6-2. I was immediately bumped back to 4.5 and they disqualified both of my wins at 4.0. lol.

There are guys in our 4.5 league that play for other clubs that are 5.0, but they blow some games on purpose so it looks like their matches are closer and that will keep them in the 4.5 rating. I have even heard they will fudge scores of matches for the same reason. Usually that team wins the Columbus division of 4.5 every year. Today is the last match of the season and our club is scheduled to play their club, and no matter what happens these guys have already won the Columbus division. So they will probably throw some matches. They did last year, we won all 5 courts against guys none of us had beaten before. Cheating the system if you ask me.