Pickleball has changed. A 3.0 is different today than it was two years ago. The reason comes down to the increase of the skill gap. Now that millions of people are playing, and the professional scene has skyrocketed, the levels of play that are at the top are far greater. But, there aren’t numbers added to the ratings systems in USA Pickleball (1.0-5.5+), DUPR (2-8), or UTR-P (1-10) to account for the shift, so what ends up happening is that everything gets pushed down, so to speak. Thus, a true 2024 3.0 will easily defeat a true 2022 3.0.
In the world of tennis, their rating systems have stabilized after the technique and spin renaissance of the 2000s and 2010s. The sport is very mature, so the rating systems in place are stable and will generally stay unchanged. As in, a 1.0-7.0 NTRP rating will not require any shift in expectations. What humans can do with tennis has generally been maximized. Same with UTR. Its value is always shifting a bit due to the complexity of its algorithm, but will generally reliable in the long-term.
When designing the Level system for Slate, I wanted something that was future proof. No matter how the skill gap for pickleball increases, the Level assessments will stay unchanged. All the technical and tactical parameters, the themes, the summaries will be solid in the face of inevitable evolution. Read the Level 7 assessment, the highest Level we have. You can see that the parameters are quite incredible, up to the point where to fully master Level 7, you would essentially have to be a superhuman! Unless humans become artificially augmented, it is biologically impossible to get straight “5”s on the Level 7 assessment.
With seven Levels, there will be good separation between players without over-dividing the groupings. And you can rest assured that our coaches are all highly-trained to properly evaluate you. One coach isn’t going to have a different “opinion” on what Level you are than another. That has been clear this first week of the opening of the Brookside Backcourt, powered by Slate. All four of us founding Slate coaches are essentially agreeing on every evaluation!
This is going to create a fantastic learning and play environment at Slate when we launch our full STAGE program later this fall in our stunning indoor environment, since official Level evaluation is required for participation in STAGE programming.
You can get your Level evaluated NOW! Download the Slate Pickleball Club app in the Google Play or Apple App Store, make your account, and sign up!
App tutorial HERE
Brookside Backcourt location HERE
See you soon!
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