PadelPadel Level Test: What Level Do You Really Play?
Most players rate themselves too high – not out of vanity, but because they have no yardstick. So this test doesn't ask how good you think you are, but what you recognise and decide on court. The result: your level from 1.0 to 7.0, to the decimal – the scale Playtomic and most clubs use.
The seven padel levels at a glance
Padel apps and clubs nearly all work with the same scale from 1 to 7. The whole number is the level, the decimal says where you sit within that level – in matchmaking it decides whether a game will be close.
| Level | Category | How to recognise it |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 – 1.9 | Starter | The basic rules are in place and the ball comes back. Wall balls and net play remain a matter of luck. |
| 2.0 – 2.9 | Starter+ | Balls off the wall are played regularly, the way to the net is known. Volleys come, but still without placement. |
| 3.0 – 3.9 | Intermediate | The bandeja holds the net position. Points are built rather than forced, the lob is used as a tool. |
| 4.0 – 4.9 | Intermediate+ | Chiquita, lob and bandeja work together tactically. Opponents are deliberately played out of position, smaller tournaments are routine. |
| 5.0 – 5.9 | Advanced | Víbora and bandeja are placed, not just hit. Competition routine in higher tournament categories and league. |
| 6.0 – 6.9 | Expert | National elite. Points are constructed through sequences, errors are the exception. |
| 7.0 | Professional | International elite at Premier Padel and FIP level. Padel is the job, every point is played with intent. |
How the test works out your level
The test runs in two parts. First come five gates, each testing one skill: basics, wall and net, bandeja, chiquita, competition. Every gate you pass opens the next band – if you miss one, you can't get past it. Someone who doesn't know when to go to the net can't be a level 3, however hard their smash. After that come ten fine-tuning questions from exactly the range you reached; they produce the decimal. It is deliberately strict: half the points doesn't mean the middle of the band but the lower third – the upper tenths only go to someone for whom practically everything works.
The focus is deliberately on repeatability rather than self-image: not “can you play the shot”, but “do you hit the spot you called beforehand several times in a row”. Your own estimate is asked at the start but does not feed into the result – it is only used for comparison at the end. That is exactly the point of the test.
The test runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is stored, nothing is transmitted, and you don't need an account.
What your level means for choosing a racket
Your level is the single most important factor when choosing a racket – more important than brand, looks or price. Up to about level 2, forgiveness is what counts: round shape, large sweet spot, soft core. Between 2 and 3.5 the teardrop shape becomes interesting, because control and power balance each other out. From 3.5 more head weight pays off, from 5.0 a real diamond – but it demands a clean contact point, otherwise it costs more balls than it wins.
A racket bought too high up is the most common wrong purchase in padel: it feels high-quality in the shop and holds your development back on court. The Racket Finder builds on exactly this question and names three specific models with reasons.
Frequently asked questions about padel levels
What does level 3 mean in padel?
Level 3 (Intermediate) means: the bandeja holds the net position, points are built rather than forced, and the lob is a tool. But the chiquita, lob and bandeja do not yet work together tactically – that is exactly what the step up to level 4 depends on.
Is the scale the same as on Playtomic?
It follows the same logic: a level from 1 to 7 plus a decimal. Playtomic calculates the value from matches played, this test from your answers. The test rates deliberately strictly, because self-assessments tend to come out too high – if your Playtomic level is a little higher, that is not a contradiction.
Why doesn't my own estimate count?
Because it is systematically too high – not out of vanity, but because there is no yardstick. The test therefore asks about concrete situations and decisions. Your own estimate is asked at the start and only held up against the result at the end.
How long does it take to move up a level?
Between levels there are usually several months when you play once or twice a week. The jump rarely comes from hitting harder, but from adding a whole skill – such as the bandeja, with which you hold the net position.
What level do I need for a tournament?
For open amateur tournaments and the lower GPS categories, a solid level 2 to 3 is enough. From GPS 250 you regularly meet level 4 and above, in the higher categories and the league level 5.
Which racket suits my level?
Up to level 2, forgiveness is what counts: round shape, large sweet spot, soft core. Between 2 and 3.5 the teardrop shape suits, from 3.5 more head weight, from 5 a real diamond. The Racket Finder builds on this question and names three specific models.
Are my answers stored?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser, nothing is transmitted and nothing is stored. You don't need an account.
Level determined – and now the racket?
Seven short questions, three recommendations with reasons and today's price from 21 shops.
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