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Amherst LTC Club Player Levels (Provisional – 25.3.26)

Find out which events, mix-ins and tournaments that you will enjoy taking part in by seeing which Club Player Level best describes your tennis.

Level 1 – Top Club Level

You are comfortable playing with the best players in the club, and can/do play for the Mens/Ladies or Wealden first teams. If you play in the Amherst Box Leagues, you'll be in Box 1 if male (Box 1 or 2 if female). You would expect to reach at least the semi-finals of the Club Championships doubles events.

Skills

• All court player.

• Can hit consistently at pace.

• Can vary spin and speed.

• Will often have at least one weapon to attack with.

• No obvious weaknesses.

• Bulletproof volleys - can manage fast, dipping and high balls. Pro-active when at the net.

• Consistent serve under pressure – fast and accurate with spin variation.

• Very Good tactical awareness.

• Very experienced match-player – enjoys playing pressure points.

• Very good level of fitness to last a long, hard, club match.

• Play and train several times a week.

Level 2 – Advanced

You can/do play for the Mens/Ladies second team. You are less comfortable playing against top club players. You may occasionally play for the first teams if they are short of players. If you play in the Amherst Box Leagues, you'll be evenly matched in Box 2. You would be very pleased to make it to the later stages of the Club Championships.

Skills

• All-court player.

• Can manage rallies at pace comfortably.

• May have one or two technical gaps in spin variation or with managing difficult shots.

• Good volleys but not quite bulletproof and may not be pro-active at the net.

• Consistent serve under pressure but may not have a full range of spin and accuracy with speed.

• Very good tactical awareness.

• Experienced match-player – may struggle at times under pressure.

• Good level of fitness – can manage a long match but may need longer recovery time!

• Play and train several times a week.

Level 3 – High Intermediate

You can/do play for the Mens/Ladies third or fourth teams and occasionally the second teams. If you play in the Amherst Box Leagues, you'll be evenly matched in Box 3. You enjoy entering the Club Championships without high expectations of getting through many rounds.

Skills

• You could feel less comfortable at the net even though you may be developing an all-court game.

• Less comfortable with fast shots and rallies.

• Fairly consistent shots, but some favourites and some weaknesses.

• Volleys are pretty resilient, but there are some weaknesses.

• Fairly consistent serve, but could be without pace, accuracy and/or spin variation.

• Good tactical awareness, although there are some areas that are off the radar!

• Could be an older experienced match-player or a less experienced younger player keen to play more matches and learn.

• May play to your ability well under pressure or could still be acclimatising to pressure or learning more effective mental skills.

• Fitnesss level could be anything from not very high to athlete!

• May play once a week or several times a week – sometimes even less.

Level 4 – Low Intermediate
Rusty Rackets coaching sessions and Social Mix-ins are an enjoyable challenge for you. You may or may not be looking to improve your game and are very happy to play recreational tennis. You may be interested in playing more competitive tennis but don't feel quite ready for teams and tournaments yet.

Skills

• Can rally at an easy pace without too many mistakes.

• Developing feel with different spins.

• Getting more confident with volleys, especially at an easy pace.

• Serving can be a bit random, but can usually get it over and in after two or three goes.

• Aware of some basic tactics, but can forget about them once the point starts!

• Fitness level could be anything from not very high to athlete!

• May play once a week or less frequently.

Level 5 – Improver

Getting a bit more used to fundamentals of technique and tactics. You can dip your toes in Rusty Rackets sessions, but they are quite challenging.

Skills

• Developing more feel with slow rallies in the service box – getting more comfortable from further back.

• Getting used to how to hold the racket and developing spin skills.

• More comfortable with simple volley technique in the service box and developing volley feel when balls coming from further back.

• Developing simple abbreviated serve – comfortable in the service box, developing feel from further back and beginning to add elements to simple technique.

• Learning about the game – more confident with basic rules and tactics, where to stand.

• Fitness level – could be anything from not very high to athlete!

Level 6 – Beginner

You're completely new to the game and learning the basics.

Skills

• Developing feel with slow rallies in the service box – less comfortable from further back.

• Learning how to hold the racket and beginning to understand spin.

• Developing simple volley technique in the service box – less comfortable when balls coming from further back.

• Developing simple abbreviated serve – OK in the service box, but less easy from further back.

• Learning about the game – basic rules and tactics, where to stand.

• Fitness level – could be anything from not very high to athlete!