Everything competitive tennis players need to know about the National Tennis Rating Program — how it works, what each level means, and how bumps happen.
The National Tennis Rating Program is the USTA's official rating system used for league play across the United States. Every USTA league player is assigned an NTRP level — a number from 2.0 (beginner) to 7.0 (touring professional) — that determines which division they compete in.
Your NTRP rating is based on your match results in USTA-sanctioned play. Internally, the USTA calculates a "dynamic" rating that updates throughout the year as you play matches. However, this number is not published. Your official NTRP level only changes at year-end, when the USTA reviews all match data and decides whether to "bump" players up or down.
For most recreational and competitive players, NTRP is the single most important rating because it determines league eligibility. You cannot register for a USTA league without one.
What each rating level means for your game, from beginner fundamentals to professional-level play.
| NTRP | Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | Beginner | Just starting out. Learning basic stroke mechanics and working on getting the ball over the net consistently. |
| 2.5 | Beginner+ | Can sustain a short rally on moderate-paced shots. Developing forehand and backhand consistency. Learning court positioning. |
| 3.0 | Adv. Beginner | Fairly consistent on medium-paced shots. Developing directional control. Serve is mostly reliable. Beginning to approach the net. |
| 3.5 | Intermediate | Consistent rallying with variety. Developing topspin, slice, and net game. Most popular USTA league entry level — this is where the majority of competitive players start. |
| 4.0 | Adv. Intermediate | Dependable strokes with directional control and depth. Can hit with power when the opportunity presents itself. Good serve with placement variety. |
| 4.5 | Advanced | Beginning to master power and spin. Can handle pace and vary strategies mid-match. Strong serve with first-serve weapon potential. Sound footwork. |
| 5.0 | Expert | Good shot anticipation and can execute a game plan. Serves are reliable weapons. Comfortable at net. Can adapt strategy based on opponent weaknesses. |
| 5.5 | Elite Amateur | Has developed weapons (big serve, heavy topspin). Can compete at USTA sectional and national level. Typically former college players. |
| 6.0–7.0 | Professional | National and international tournament competitors. Current or former touring professionals with exceptional shot-making ability. |
The year-end process that moves players between levels — and what drives it.
At the end of each USTA league year, every player's match record is reviewed. The USTA's algorithm evaluates your dynamic rating — a hidden internal number that updates after each match — and compares it against the thresholds for your current level.
If your dynamic rating has risen above the upper threshold for your level, you get "bumped up" to the next level. If it has fallen below the lower threshold, you may be "bumped down." Most players stay at the same level year over year.
Key factors that influence bumps include your win/loss record, the strength of your opponents (their ratings), and whether you played at a level above or below your assigned NTRP. Playing up and winning has a stronger effect than winning at your own level.
The official number assigned to you at year-end. This is what determines your league eligibility and the division you play in. It only changes once per year and uses half-point increments (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, etc.).
An internal, unpublished number the USTA calculates continuously based on your match results. It's a decimal value (like 3.72 or 4.15) that fluctuates after every match. This is what feeds the year-end bump decision. Sites like TennisRecord attempt to estimate it.
How the USTA rating cycle works from January through year-end bumps.
New ratings take effect. Players register for spring leagues at their assigned level. Any appeals from the previous year's bump decisions are processed.
Spring league season. Your dynamic rating starts moving based on match results. Early-season matches can have outsized impact since there's less data.
Playoffs, sectionals, and nationals. High-stakes matches against strong opponents. These results carry significant weight in the bump algorithm.
Fall leagues and late-season tournaments. Last opportunities to influence your dynamic rating before the year-end review.
Year-end review. The USTA runs the algorithm, bump decisions are published, and players find out their new level for the following year. Appeal window opens.
Yes. The USTA offers an appeal process after year-end ratings are published. Contact your local USTA section for specific deadlines and procedures. Appeals are most successful when you can demonstrate unusual circumstances (injury, limited matches, etc.) rather than simply disagreeing with the rating.
The USTA doesn't publish a minimum, but most analysts believe 8–12 matches per year produces a reasonably stable dynamic rating. Fewer matches means each result has outsized impact, which can lead to ratings that feel inaccurate.
If you're new to USTA league play and have no prior rating, you "self-rate" by selecting the level that best describes your game. The USTA provides guidelines for each level. After your first season, your self-rate is replaced by a computer-generated rating based on your actual match results.
Because NTRP uses half-point increments, each level spans a wide range of ability. A player who just got bumped up to 4.0 and a player who's been a strong 4.0 for years (but not quite at the bump threshold for 4.5) can feel very different to play against. This is one reason players increasingly use UTR for a more granular picture.
Yes. USTA leagues allow players to "play up" at a higher level. You cannot play down. Playing up and winning against higher-rated opponents has a strong positive effect on your dynamic rating, which can accelerate a bump. Many competitive players strategically play up to improve faster.