NTRP rating chart: what every level means
The chart
| Level | What a player at this level can do |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | Little stroke development yet. Mostly trying to get the ball in play. |
| 2.0 | Needs court time and lessons. Finding the contact point is hard, and doubles positions are new. |
| 2.5 | Can keep a slow rally going with a similar player. Movement and recovery are inefficient. Ready for social matches. |
| 3.0 | Fairly consistent at medium pace, but misses when trying for direction, depth or pace. Uneasy at the net. |
| 3.5 | Dependable strokes with direction on moderate balls, little depth or variety. Starting to play doubles as a team. |
| 4.0 | Dependable on both sides, with direction and some depth. Uses lobs, overheads and volleys. Loses points to impatience. |
| 4.5 | Varies pace and spin, covers the court, plans around strengths. Strong first serve, placed second serve. Tends to overhit. |
| 5.0 | Reads the ball well and has a standout shot. Wins points off short balls, puts volleys away, good spin on second serves. |
| 5.5 | Pace or consistency is a real weapon. Can change tactics in a match and hits reliable shots under pressure. |
| 6.0–7.0 | National-level juniors and top college players (6.0) through to world-class professionals (6.5 and 7.0). |
Our summary of the USTA NTRP General Characteristics. Rate yourself against players of the same gender, and meet every point of the levels below yours too.
How you get an NTRP rating
- New players self-rate through USTA's questionnaire. Playing history sets a minimum, so a former college player can't self-rate low.
- With at least three valid matches in USTA League or NTRP tournaments, you get a computer rating at year end.
- Year-end ratings use the last 12 months, weighting recent and championship matches more. The 2025 ratings came out on 2 December 2025 and took effect on 1 January 2026.
- Ratings last up to three years for players 59 and under and two years for players 60 and over, unless a new one is generated.
Dynamic ratings and strikes
Behind the published level, USTA calculates a dynamic rating to two decimals, nightly during the season, and doesn't show it to players. It moves by how your result compared with what the ratings predicted, not just by wins and losses. A 3.5 covers everything from 3.01 to 3.50.
If your dynamic rating goes over your level's limit in league play, you get a strike. Three strikes move you up at once, and you can't return to that level for the rest of the year or the next.
How players are spread across levels
USTA League has more than 300,000 players a year. The most recent public breakdown we found, from third-party analysis of 2017 year-end ratings, put about 31 % at 3.0 and below, 34 % at 3.5 and 37 % at 4.0 and above. A 4.5 was roughly in the top 11 % and a 5.0 in the top 2 %. Treat it as old and indicative: USTA doesn't publish the split.
Questions
What is a 3.5 tennis player?
A player with dependable strokes and direction on moderate-paced balls, but little depth or variety yet, and growing comfort at the net.
Can I appeal my NTRP rating?
Computer-rated players can appeal up or down within set limits. From 2026, players at Adult 18 and 40+ championships can't appeal down.
How long does an NTRP rating last?
Up to three years for players 59 and under, two years for 60 and over, or until a new rating is generated.