The USTA’s National Tennis Rating Program describes each level in half-point steps. Summarised:
Level descriptions are summarised from the documents above. The questions and the averaging are ours; the result is an estimate, not an official rating.
The National Tennis Rating Program is the USTA’s skill scale for adult players, from 1.5 (new to tennis) to 7.0 (world-class). Most recreational and league players fall between 2.5 and 4.5. USTA League uses it to put players of similar ability in the same divisions.
It is a starting point. The USTA asks new league players to self-rate against its level descriptions, then calculates a computer rating from their match results, which can move them up or down. This calculator follows the same descriptions, so it should land you close to where you would self-rate.
A 3.5 can direct moderate-paced shots but is still developing depth and variety. A 4.0 has dependable strokes with both direction and depth on forehand and backhand, can use lobs, overheads, approaches and volleys with some success, and plays recognisable doubles teamwork.
The USTA’s guidelines say players new to tennis who compete in another racquet sport (squash, racquetball, badminton, platform or paddle tennis, pickleball) should not rate below 3.0, because they improve fast. The calculator applies that minimum if you say so in the last question.
They are different systems. NTRP is a 1.5–7.0 level scale used mainly by USTA leagues. UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) is a 1–16 rating calculated from match results across events. There is no official conversion between them.
Submissions go into our verification queue — we confirm against the source and publish within 48 hours.
We confirm every submission against a primary source before it publishes — usually within 48 hours. If you left an email we'll ping you when it goes live.