CSTA SATELLITE TENNIS TOUR
T H E O F F I C I A L S I T E O F T H E C S T A C I T Y S A T E L L I T E T E N N I S T O U R
CSTA SATELLITE TENNIS TOUR
PLAYING LEVELS ON THE TOUR
Tour Since 1987
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THE NATIONAL TENNIS RATING PROGRAM
General Characteristic Of Various Playing Styles & Levels
Join The Tour On The Level That Best Describes Your Abilities
You do not have to be USTA rated, but know your playing abilities and skill level
.
5.0-5.5 TOP LEVEL PLAYERS
Forehand:------Is a strong dependable shot during rallies with control, depth, and spins. Uses forehand to set up offensive situations. Has
developed good touch. Can hit both moderate and hard pace shots when setting up an offensive play during rally and is consistent on passing
shots.
Backhand:------Can use backhand as an aggressive shot with good consistency. Has good direction and depth on most shots.
Can use backhand slice to stay in a rally.
Serve:------Can serve to opponent's forehand side, into the body, or backhand side of the serving box when hitting 1st serves to set up an
offensive situation. Has a variety of serves to rely on. Good depth, spin, and placement on most 2nd serves to force weak return. Frequently
tries to ace opponent on 1st serves.
Volley:------Can hit most volleys with depth, pace, and direction. Plays difficult volleys with depth. With most opportunities will hit the volley
for a winner.
Playing Style:------This Player frequently has an outstanding shot around which their game is built on. Can vary game plan according to
opponent. Can handle hard pace shots during a rally. Can hit most passing shots on the run. Player is vary comfortable during a 6 to 10 ball
rally using forehand and backhand shots. Player is wise and rarely beats themselves. Can run down side to side shots using slice, and spins
to stay in points if necessary. Can quickly go to offence from defense in a single shot.
5.0 PLAYER:------ has a similar game but is not as consistent as the 5.5 Player.
Errors Usually Occur:------When trying to aggressively attack opponent's weaknesses.
4.0-4.5 ADVANCED LEVEL PLAYERS
Forehand:------Is dependable. Uses speed and spin effectively. Controls depth well on some shots, but tends to over hit on difficult shots.
Can be offensive on moderate pace shots.
Backhand:------Can control direction and depth, but may break down under pressure. Can hit with power usually cross court, but tends to
hit soft down the line backhand shots.
Serve:------Hits good 1st serves with limited double faults and placement. Attempting to ace opponents on some 1st serves. Uses power
and spin developing offensive shots on 2nd serves. 2nd serve has some depth with good moderate pace.
Volley:------Can handle a mixed sequence of moderate pace volleys. Has good footwork on most volleys. Has depth and directional control
on backhand volleys. Developing some touch volleys. Common error in volleys is still over hitting. Attempting to hit some drop shot volleys
during a rally. Moving to net with more confidence. Can put away a variety of volleys at the net for a winner.
Playing Style:------More intentional variety in game. Is hitting more with pace, confidence and control. Covers up weakness well with good
footwork. Developing good anticipation. Beginning to handle hard pace shots on forehand side and backhand side. Uses slice shots more with
confidence. Depends more on forehand to set up approach to net.
4.0 PLAYER: ---------is confident in both forehand and backhand strokes during a rally, but is a little weaker on volleys, and can double fault
more than a 4.5 Player.
Errors Usually Occur:------In footwork in a 6 to 10 ball rally. Over hitting to end a point too quick. Having to hit 3 or more backhands in a
row to stay in a rally.
3.5 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL PLAYERS
Forehand:------Good consistency and variety on moderate pace shots. Good directional intent on some shots. Beginning to handle some
hard pace shots to the forehand side. Relies more on hitting with the forehand in rallys.
Backhand:------Hitting with some directional intent, but with less confidence. Backhand does not handle hard pace shots well, still wants to
slice rather than hit a backhand shot. High balls to the backhand side can still be a problem. Returns difficult shots defensively when having to
hit with backhand. Can be late getting into position to hit a backhand.
Serve:------Starting to serve with directional intent to either side of serving box. 1st serve is moderate pace, but is consistent. Tends to hit 2nd
serve much slower than 1st serve to keep from double faulting. Rarely tries to ace an opponent on 1st serves. Beginning to over come foot
faulting when serving, but still can be a problem.
Volley:------Gaining confidence when approaching the net to make a volley. Ability to cover side shots at net better using better footwork.
Can direct forehand volleys, but hits backhand volleys with little offense, and difficulty putting away backhand volleys at net.
Playing Style:------Consistency on moderate pace shots during short rallys. Beginning to handle some hard pace shots on the forehand
side during rallys. Improving on court coverage, and starting to look for opportunities to come to net on short balls. Can stay in a moderate pace
4 to 6 ball rally easily hitting mostly forehands before footwork or backhand breaks down.
Errors Usually Occur:------When trying to over hit with power. Footwork breaks down approaching net to make volleys.
3.0 NOVICE LEVEL PLAYERS
Forehand:------Fairly consistent with the forehand during a short rally. Little directional intent and shots lack depth and control. Forehand is
mostly soft to moderate pace.
Backhand:------Frequently prepared during rallys, but mostly the backhand is weak. Attempting to try and hit more backhands that usually
are blocked or bunted back over of possible. Footwork is starting to catch up with preparing for the backhand shot.
Serve:------Starting to developing some rhythm on 1st serves, but has no consistency when trying to hit hard on 1st serves. Tends to bloop
the 2nd serve in rather than hit it and causes more double faults.
Volley:------Consistent on some soft forehand volleys, but weak on backhand volleys. Rarely comes to net to volley, and is uncomfortable when
drawn to net to make any volleys.
Playing Style:------Some consistency on soft to moderate pace shots. Player will rarely try to attack opponent, and groundstrokes are quite
weak during rallys. May stay in a short 2 or 3 ball rally before footwork starts to breakdown. Avoids hitting too many backhands, and tries to slice
more balls back. Usually has little game plan in a match, but just tries to hit the ball back over net.
We sometimes will combine the 2.5 Players with the 3.0 Players if there is not enough Players in either division so all Players can play.
Both levels are similar in abilities and playing styles with the 3.0 Player being a little more consistent on some shots.
Errors Usually Occur:------Usually footwork will breakdown early in a short rally which causes more shots to be hit into the net.
Court coverage is weak, and anticipation of shots is slow to react.
2.0-2.5 ENTRY LEVEL PLAYERS
Forehand:------Trouble getting footwork ready on forehand side, but can hit very short soft ball rally mostly using forehand.
Backhand:------Still learning backhand grip, and proper footwork. Backhand swing has little, or no direction if hit.
Serve:------Will tend to bloop both 1st and 2nd serves in play. More double faults due to inexperience and lack of confidence.
Volley:------Uncomfortable trying to hit any volleys up at net. Poor footwork, and preparation due to inexperience.
Playing Style:------Can sometimes sustain a very short soft 1 to 3 ball rally.
We sometimes will combine the 2.5 Players with the 3.0 Players if there is not enough Players in either division so all Players can play.
Both levels are similar in abilities and playing styles with the 3.0 Player being a little more consistent on some shots.
Errors Usually Occur:------Many errors due to inexperience, and still working on all the basics.