The padel rating scale
The Universal Padel Rating (UPR) uses one scale from 1.00 to 13.00 for every player in the world. Each range has a named tier, so a number always comes with a plain-language level.
UPR padel levels at a glance
| Tier | UPR range | What it looks like on court |
|---|---|---|
| Not Rated | Establishing | Your first five competitive matches calibrate your starting rating. |
| Beginner | 1.00 – 2.00 | Serving to get the ball in play; short, reactive rallies; the glass still catches the player by surprise. |
| Advanced Beginner | 2.00 – 3.50 | A consistent serve and a repeatable forehand; the backhand and volleys still break down under pace. |
| Low Intermediate | 3.50 – 4.50 | Rallies with basic direction, more comfort at the net, and wall play that is attempted but unreliable. |
| Intermediate | 4.50 – 6.00 | Solid on both wings, a reliable forehand volley, the lob as a real weapon, and a rudimentary bandeja. |
| Transition Band | ~6.00 – 6.25 | Dependable under pace, a workable bandeja, and functional defense off the back and side glass. |
| True Midpoint ★ | 6.25 | The centre of the scale: no chronic weakness, net position actively sought and held, bandeja used correctly. |
| Upper Intermediate | 6.25 – 7.75 | Volleys become weapons; pace, slice and placement are used deliberately; the bandeja is reliable. |
| Advanced | 7.75 – 9.25 | Offensive returns, precise volleys, a reliable vibora, and back glass defense that launches counter-attacks. |
| High Advanced | 9.25 – 10.50 | Real pressure from serve and groundstrokes, a disguised bandeja, a powerful vibora, and a confident gancho. |
| Tournament Player | 10.50 – 11.50 | Peak performance in decisive moments; reliable gancho, confident bajada and rulo, well-timed por quatro attempts. |
| Professional | 11.50 – 12.00 | Full-pace precision on every shot; por quatro executed with conviction; clean, reliable bajada and rulo. |
| World Class / WPT–APT | 12.00 – 13.00 | The top of the sport: invents solutions under pressure and manufactures advantage from neutral or defensive positions. |
For full descriptions of serve and return, groundstrokes, volleys, lobs and overheads at every tier, open the interactive tier table in The Standard.
How your padel level is established
New players start as Not Rated. Your UPR is established over your first five competitive matches, using your results, your opponents' ratings and the match scores to calibrate an accurate starting point. Those five matches carry full weight. Once the fifth rated match is complete, your rating and tier are assigned and then update after every match.
Why one padel scale matters
Clubs, apps and federations often describe levels differently, so the same player can be “intermediate” in one place and “advanced” in another. One shared scale means a 6.25 is a 6.25 at any club, in any country, on any platform. Learn more in What is a padel rating?
What moves your rating
Match results and opponent strength form the foundation of every UPR. Compatible shot-level data from capture platforms adds detail on how you play: stroke quality, court positioning, serve and return, and decision-making. Read more about the shot-level padel rating.