Tennis Ratings Explained - NTRP and UTR

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We get a lot of comments from people wondering how ratings work, or arguing about the legitimacy of players ratings. I'm going to make a chart that helps tennis players understand the tennis rating systems, and the types of players that fall into certain categories. What level do you think you are?

#ntrp #tennis #usta————————————
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If you can read this you have an impressive scrolling game.

:-)

[EssentialTennis]

Important note: the NTRP and UTR rating comparisons on my chart are VERY rough. Depending on where you live the numbers might match up very differently. One of the countless reasons why tennis ratings are so confusing!

[shimassi]

For those that dont know:

GOAT is a type of animal, a bit like a sheep

[Ziamilis]

Troll: “Ugh, my no look down the line backhand is off today. What an unforced error”

[raymccrory]

As a previously unaware, now self-identified 3.0/3.5 troll, this video was the most useful, the most practical, the video I could have ever watched. Pure knowledge. I will continue to love that one-out-of-five winners that feel so good—but I am so much more consciously aware now of the need to “work” at improving my consistency (as an active tactic, rather than a hopeful by-product of just “getting better” at my shot making.) In a nutshell, best tennis video EVER produced. Thank you, sincerely.

[ChadSkeeters]

I think you could have given a second label for the Troll Zone of Weapon Developer. This would encompass players that are working on winning points by being offensive but are still learning the technique and strategy required to be either an Aggressive Baseliner or a Net Rusher/All Court player. I'm a 4.0 player that has worked through this zone and can beat many players with an All Court approach as a result. I love playing pushers because it tests my offense and tactics.

[martyblack]

Very good video and quite accurate too! Two years ago I played a doubles match at the USTA Nationals (Senior Men, 9.0 level), and my partner and I, who were both solid 4.5's lost to a team from Nor Cal 6-1, 6-2. It was my worst loss at Nationals in over 20 matches. But afterward, I looked up our opponents on the UTR website and found both had ratings of 9+. So, we really played against two 5.0 sandbaggers! I think UTR will be good for tennis since NTRP ratings can be wildly inaccurate.

[DavidTsung]

Another way to describe Troll Zoners is: Terrible tennis partner.

[cinema]

Fun video. For many of us that are doubles players, there are more classifications. There is a huge difference between those that have multiple types of serves (first and second, power and spin, consistent serving box targets) and can communicate before and during each point so that they run plays, as well as playing out of different formation (I, Australian) and changing tactics mid-match. In CA, where I play, the difference between 6.0 and 7.0 tennis is mostly seen in footwork/court positioning and ability to volley (particularly backhand volleys). 7.5-8.5 doubles sees a massive improvement in serving, court positioning, the return of serve, and communication. A mediocre 7.5 team beats a great 6.0 team 6-0, 6-0.

[nikol]

Thanks Ian, well said, I agree! I'm at the 4.0 level now, and realize I need to develop more of my offense to take it to the next level. Year ago I was too aggressive and not consistent enough, so I really worked on my consistency and made progress. Now I'm working on being more strategically aggressive and offensive, while maintaining my consistency; realizing I will make more mistakes and that's OK if I want to get better.

[linguaEpassione]

I'm 2 minutes into the video and I'm already lovin' it! :D I mean, the goat and the galaxy!!! You simply rock... Keep up the great work

[Naomi-grfm]

I admittedly entered and played a lot of college in the "Troll Zone." 🥴 Super appreciative our coach hammered needing to work on my consistency bc that's what won or lost a lot of matches at that level. Was a FRUSTRATING process, but I love every challenge to improve.
Consistency is also heavily predicated on fitness! If you gas out easily after a long rally, impatience is more common. I have always been a sprinter type. Nearly no ball goes unretrieved if I have to make a quick dash. Our coach really improved our team's endurance (crack it up to that military training 🥴) though which definitely helped in the marathon matches I often found myself in. (Ironically enough, I theorized and was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma my senior year of college too so I was fighting two battles. For a long time I thought it was normal)!
My serve and BH are my weapons, but weapons don't matter if you can't keep the ball IN so you aren't consistently giving away free points. My close friend and classmate used to FRUSTRATE me to no end as she is a textbook pusher and won a lot of matches at her position with that style of play. Challenge matches against her used to spike my anxiety! My consistency and shot selection developed exponentially in the latter half of my college career and I was able to finally beat her. For me, a lot of it was needing CONTROLLED aggression to set myself up. Eventually, I wasn't getting frustrated and just playing my pusher friend's game letting her wait for my errors. I'm now more apt to playing offensively smart with better margin.
The mindset you take to pushers is extremely important in your development. They ARE legitimate players whether you think it's "real tennis" or not. If you are losing to them, give them their respect. They have just as much ability to expose deficiencies in your game irregardless of where their level caps.

[davidcobo]

I really like the way that you simplify the two aspects of tennis play: consistency and offense. It is not about good or bad. It is about understanding choice. For real growth you need to develop both. Underlying your thesis is non judgement. It is about understanding where one is and how you would assess others.

[Wannabe-Pro]

I once bowled a strike. Dang, I can’t understand why I’ve never bowled a 300.
Another great video @ET

[kevincywu]

Hi Ian, so glad you did this video. It really reaffirms what I have been telling my daughter and as always it is more pleasant to hear from someone else beside the parents per my daughter point of view. My daughter is playing advance competitive tennis at age 12 and she is getting up to the 4.5 - 5.0 UTR and I consistently tell her she needs to have a balance of offensive and defensive 50/50 if she wants to continue to grow in her development. she is a very consistent player so aka “pusher” and now aka “counter puncher” as her UTR climbs. I inform her she needs to continue to work on her net play and also develop a “consistent” offensive tools which fits her style. Just a shot out to “feel tennis” video series which I love by the way to develop what feels naturally, don’t force it and try to become something you are not.

[tonylasala]

Great video. After playing for almost 35 years, I’ve finally realized that good form is the key to having a “pusher” mentality AND still hanging with aggressive baseliners. Now, of course, there’s a difference between realizing it and actually making it happen!

[malatestov]

Great video. An Spanish Pusher here, working my way to the centerline thanks to your videos, among other channels 😉
Great topic. Last week I had a bad experience with a friend of mine, who is in the Troll Zone. I won. He blamed me for loosing, said mean comments about my stile of playing and hurt my feelings. He did not shook hands at the end nor apologized. I won't play with him anymore, unless he changes his attitude.
Yesterday I played with other friend, who is way better than me. I stayed more balance between offence and consistency, and although I lost, enjoyed the match much more.
Than you for your videos and keep up with this quality content.

[lptevadog]

I've always told my players that, "in general" a higher rated player should beat the next lower level 6-1 or 6-2. While USTA keeps a lid on their "special formula" for determining movement after matches are recorded, this "formulae" seems to work when players are wondering why they did or did get moved up or down when the new ratings come out in November.
Thanks for your explanation - It made a lot of sense.

[bobschroyer]

Nice description of Tennis ratings & playing styles -- Offense vs Consistency.
I've seen this over the years of my playing but never thought of this concept.
Good job

[MrRockrobstr]

That universe analogy is perfect. Many years ago I played some guys headed for that zone…a couple who went on to play on tour, and it’s like you’re not even on the same court with them.

[ranjanjha]

This is EXCELLENT. I am a new player (started only about 2-3years ago) and I have been encountering all these kind of players in the local circuit….. and I myself have been thinking about my own game and this chart sums it up so perfectly in what I see in others and myself. WELL DONE!!