Padel Levels: What Level Am I?
Also known as: what level padel player am I, padel level chart, padel skill levels, padel level descriptions, beginner intermediate advanced padel, padel self assessment
Padel levels describe what you can do on court. Beginners are still learning the rules, the walls and basic control. Intermediate players sustain longer rallies, volley well and use simple tactics. Advanced players use the walls to attack and defend and control the lob, bandeja and chiquita.
There is no single official padel level scale. Apps, clubs and federations use their own numbers. Playtomic, for example, uses 0 to 7. The descriptions below follow Playtomic's own guide and can help you place yourself on any scale.
A beginner is learning the rules, court positioning and how the ball comes off the walls. Control and serves are still uneven, and fast rallies are hard. An intermediate player has dependable forehands and backhands, better volleys and net play, and more varied serves. They sustain longer rallies, read some shots early and use simple tactics.
An advanced player hits with precision and variety and uses the walls for both attack and defense. They control lobs, chiquitas and bandejas, move quickly and stay composed under pressure. The top players compete in national and international events. Many coaches suggest rating yourself by your weakest area, such as balls off the back glass.
Tips by skill level
If you are still learning to play balls off the back glass, you are a beginner, whatever your tennis level. That is the skill to build first.
To move up, look at what the next description adds. For most intermediate players that means wall exits, the bandeja and the chiquita.
Example
A former tennis player volleys well but struggles with balls off the back glass. He rates himself a lower intermediate, not advanced, and books games with players at that level.
Why it matters
An honest level gets you close, fun games and fair tournament draws. It also shows which skills to build next.
Common mistakes
- Rating yourself on groundstrokes alone and ignoring wall play
- Assuming your tennis level equals your padel level
- Comparing numbers from different apps or clubs as if they were one scale
Frequently asked questions
What level padel player am I?
If you are learning the rules and how the ball comes off the walls, you are a beginner. If you sustain rallies, volley well and use simple tactics, you are intermediate. If you use the walls to attack and control lobs, chiquitas and bandejas, you are advanced.
Is my tennis level the same as my padel level?
Not usually. Tennis helps your volleys and footwork. Wall play, the lob and the bandeja are new skills that shape your padel level.
Are padel levels the same on every app?
No. There is no single official scale. Playtomic uses 0 to 7, and other apps and clubs use their own numbers. Compare what players can do, not the numbers.
Sources
Related terms
- Playtomic LevelsPlaytomic levels rate padel players on a scale from 0 to 7, with 7 the highest. Your starting level comes from a questionnaire, and it then moves after competitive matches with a confirmed result. Wins push it up and losses push it down, by amounts based on the players' levels, your reliability and the result.
- Wall PlayWall play means using the enclosure — letting a ball come off the back or side panel and playing it afterwards — which keeps rallies alive far longer than in tennis and makes positioning matter more than power.
- BandejaA bandeja is a controlled sliced overhead — Spanish for "tray" — hit to maintain net position while placing the ball deep with backspin, prioritizing position preservation over outright winning the point.
- ChiquitaA chiquita (Spanish for "little one") is a soft, dipping ball hit at the net players' feet. It forces them to volley up, neutralizing their net position without risking a lob.
- LobA lob is a high, deep shot over the opponents at the net that pushes them back. It is padel's most important defensive weapon for winning back a losing rally.
- Back GlassThe Back Glass is the tall transparent wall at each end of a padel court. This players use intentionally to extend rallies by letting shots rebound back into play.
Related guides & benchmarks
Have a question about this?
There is nothing here to film. Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question, or keep reading the related terms above.