Total Beginner, NTRP 1 / UTR: 0

Total beginners have less than three hours of on court experience. They are unable to rally from baseline to baseline and are technically incompetent. These players need instruction in every facet of the game.

True Beginner, NTRP 1.5-2.0 / UTR less than 1

A true beginner has already begun playing tennis regularly or semi-regularly and has had several hours of formal instruction. A true beginner may be a player coming from a relevant racquet sport like squash, racquetball, table tennis, or pickleball. They may be able to engage in short and slow-paced rallies but most shots are unreliable or technically poor. Most players in this skill group have played tennis for less than 3 months.

Beginner-Intermediate, NTRP 2.5/ UTR less than 1.5

Rising intermediate players have had enough instruction and experience to understand the fundamentals. They possess one or two reliable shots but still need technical improvement to hit with power, topspin, and accuracy. Although technique is superior to a true beginner, most rallies are short and end in unforced errors. Players in this skill group have at least 3 months of experience but many have played 1 year or more.

Rising Intermediate, NTRP 3.0/ UTR 2-3.5

Rising intermediate players are rally-competent, and possess 1-2 capable shots and a basic but reliable serve. Intermediate strategy mostly revolves around keeping the ball in play and waiting for errors or opportunities to hit easy winners. Intermediates are capable of playing both singles and doubles, although they usually have a preference. At least 50% of rallies end in unforced errors. Players in this skill group have at least 1 year of experience but many have played 3 years or more.

True Intermediate Player, NTRP 3.5/ UTR 3.5-5

True intermediate players are technically proficient in most shots but may lack the firepower, finesse, and footwork seen at higher levels of the sport. They have an established strategy but are likely to struggle when competition requires versatility. Unforced errors are prevalent at this level. Players in this skill group are near the 50th percentile of the talent pool and have at least 2 years of experience but many have played 5 years or more.

Rising Advanced Player, NTRP 4.0/ UTR 5.5-7

Rising advanced players possess a 3-4 highly capable shots and other skills that are mostly competent. Players of this level have match experience and possess some versatility, although they may struggle to change strategies if necessary or hold their nerve under pressure. Players in this skill group are near the 80th percentile of the talent pool. They have at least 4 years of experience but many have played 10 years or more.

True Advanced Player, NTRP 4.5/ UTR 7-9

True advanced players have few obvious weaknesses in their game and are “match tough.” Physicality, footwork, focus, and decision-making separate players of this level from players in higher tiers. Players in this skill group are around the 95th percentile of the talent pool. They have at least 6 years of experience but many have played 12 years or more.

Highly Advanced Player, NTRP 5.0-5.5/ UTR 9-11

Players have attained near mastery on most shots and are comfortable in high-pressure matches. Serves and returns are exceptional. Most have played at the collegiate level or in open-level tournaments. Players in this skill group are near the 99th percentile of the talent pool and are very experienced.

Professional, NTRP 6.0-7.0/ UTR ~13-16

Players in this tier are elite athletes and technical masters. They have an excellent understanding of strategy, and a robust competitive mentality. Less than 0.1% of players will reach 6.0 level, regardless of how many years they play. Even fewer, approximately the top 300 players in the world, are considered 7.0. Players at this level very often trained at academies, playing as much as 30 hours per week since childhood.