Toronto Pickleball Club Colour Ratings:

Green (will automatically be placed in the orange group)

• New players who do not understand the game and its rules will start in the Green group and automatically be placed in the Orange group. 

• We recommend attending a "Learn to Play" session and familiarizing yourself with the game to ensure a smooth transition and enjoyable experience during club sessions.

Orange

• Have played pickleball at least ten times

• Can hit the ball back and forth a bit, showing evidence of sustaining short rallies (that end in unforced errors rather than winners)

• Makes basic strokes such as forehand, backhand, and volley and can serve the ball with inconsistencies

• Fails to hit easy balls frequently

• Beginning to learn the basic rules such as scoring, lines, side outs, etc

• Does not understand court coverage, tracking the ball and hesitates to move up to the non-volley line

• Can sustain longer rallies but not at a fast pace

• Has a consistent serve and returns medium-paced balls reliably, but the serve does not gain an advantage 

• Able to make all basic strokes but lacks control when trying to place the ball

• Will commit foot faults at the service and non-volley lines

• Attempts lobs and dinks with limited success and aware of dinks

• Able to approach the non-volley zone and hit volleys

• Struggles to cover the entire court

• Basic understanding of the rules, scoring, two bounce rule

Red (will ALSO possess most/all of the Orange skills)

• Consistent control and placement of medium-paced shots

• Able to return fast-paced shots with slightly less success

• Improved control and placement of the ball

• Is working on developing stronger, more strategic serves

• Often plays one style of game, does not demonstrate the ability to play all styles

• Is producing more dead dinks that are easily attacked by the opponent

• Cannot not sustain cross-court dinking rallies for very long

• Becomes impatient and looks to end the rally quickly

• Struggles with consistent mid-court resets

• Playas rallies with a faster pace 

• Needs to gain more shot variety

• Will play aggressively at the non-volley zone, doesn’t always know when or how to slow down the pace of the game 

• Anticipates opponent's shots and starts to learn the strategy of doubles play

Purple (will ALSO possess all of the Red and Orange skills)

• Consistent with both forehand and backhand strokes

• Can use spin with some success

• Will occasionally force errors when serving

• May lose rallies due to impatience

• Uses the dink and drop shot successfully 

• Attempting mid-court resets

• Can dig out balls defensively 

• The rallies are a balance of pace, strategy and placement

• Demonstrating some offensive dinks

• Demonstrates 3rd shot strategies

• Aggressive net play in during doubles 

• Complete understanding of the rules

Blue (will ALSO possess all of the Red, Purple and Orange skills)

• Mastering placement and spin

• Mastering 3rd shot choices

• Great footwork and positioning

• Adjusts game style to account for opponent's strengths/weaknesses and court position

• Displays smart shot selection and does not force shots

• Serves consistently and can vary pace, direction and depth

• Good court positioning and will anticipate the opponent's next shot