What do padel levels mean?
A padel level is expressed as a number between 0 and 7. The ten bands below describe what the number from the test corresponds to, and what the game looks like at that level.
0.0 – 1.5 Beginner
You're learning the rules and the basic strokes. Rallies are short and wall balls aren't part of your game yet. Focus on racket face control and keeping the ball in play.
1.5 – 2.0 Basic
You can build a rally with serves and simple strokes. You're starting to use the wall but results are inconsistent. Your positioning is taking shape.
2.0 – 2.5 Developing
You handle most back wall balls and know how to move to the net. You know the bandeja but it isn't reliable yet.
2.5 – 3.0 Lower Intermediate
Rallies are getting longer; lobs and bandejas are part of your game. Positioning is sound but errors climb under pressure.
3.0 – 3.5 Intermediate
Your bandeja is safe and you handle most double-wall balls. Tactical choices are deliberate. You can compete in local tournaments.
3.5 – 4.0 Upper Intermediate
The víbora and the x3 smash are in your repertoire. Block movement with your partner is settled. Your simple error rate is low.
4.0 – 4.5 Advanced
You control shot selection and tempo. You can finish points with the x4 smash. You compete in category tournaments.
4.5 – 5.0 Advanced +
Your technical range is complete with no obvious weakness. You change plans mid-match and break up your opponents' game.
5.0 – 5.75 Competitive
The profile of a nationally competing player. You're at a high level both technically and physically.
5.75+ Elite
Near-professional or professional level. Above this band (7.0) sit the players on the world rankings.
How is a level calculated?
On Playtomic a level starts with a questionnaire: the answers you give when you create a profile produce a starting estimate. That estimate isn't final; the real level settles through match results.
Only competitive matches move your level. If a match is set up as friendly, entering the result leaves your level where it was.
Every player also has a reliability percentage. With few matches played, reliability is low and your level swings a lot after each one; as your competitive matches add up, reliability rises and the changes get smaller. Players who take a levelling session at a certified club start at 50% reliability.
The test on this site is a starting estimate too: without looking at match history, it works out a level and a confidence range from questions about what you do on court. Your level in the app may drift from it as you play.
How it maps to other systems
Clubs use different apps and each has its own scale. The table gives a rough equivalence.
| Level | Playtomic | Padel Mates | MATCHi | LTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1.0–2.0 | 1.0–2.0 | 2–3 | 1.5–2.0 |
| Improver | 2.0–3.0 | 2.0–3.0 | 4 | 2.5–3.0 |
| Intermediate | 3.0–4.0 | 3.0–4.0 | 5–6 | 3.5–4.0 |
| Advanced | 4.0–5.0 | 4.0–5.0 | 7 | 4.5–5.0 |
- Padel Mates uses the same 0–7 scale as Playtomic and calculates it from match results.
- On MATCHi a level is a whole number from 1 to 10 that players pick themselves; matches don't update it.
- The LTA scale runs from 1.0 to 7.0 in half steps and is earned in sanctioned competitions. The same number isn't the same level: an LTA 3.5 describes a stronger game than a Playtomic 3.5.
Ran into a term you don't know?
Bandeja, víbora, x3 smash — every shot name used in the band descriptions is explained in the glossary. A glossary of padel terms
So which band are you in?
Picking yourself off a list is misleading: most players place themselves a band too high. The test measures it in 20 questions and gives you the result with a confidence range.
Start the test