Skill Tiers
There are six tiers. Your tier is worked out from your current padel rating, so it moves as you play — it is not something you set once and keep.
Starter
New to padel, or new to rated play. Still building consistency on serve and return.
Rally Player
Comfortable in a rally. Can keep the ball in play and is starting to use the walls.
Club Player
Regular club player. Reads the game, positions well, and plays the back glass with intent.
Competitive
Plays to win. Consistent lobs and bandejas, with deliberate court positioning as a pair.
Elite
Strong competitive player. Controls points, finishes at the net, and rarely gives away cheap errors.
Pro
Top of the local game. Tournament-level play with a complete shot range.
How your tier is used
Organisers can limit an event to selected tiers. If a tournament card shows a tier label, only players in those tiers can enter. When your rating crosses a band, your tier follows automatically.
Official events are judged on your official rating; everything else uses your community rating. The two can differ, so you may be eligible for one and not the other.
If you have no rating yet, you will need a skill assessment or an organiser-assigned tier before you can join a padel event. Tier gating applies to padel only — pickleball events are open to all levels while DUPR support is being added.