Ranked Games & Ratings
We use a simple rating system so games stay fair, fun and competitive. Every regular player gets a personal rating. Your rating goes up when you win and goes down when you lose – especially against players at a different level.
1. Your starting rating
New players don’t need to stress about their rating straight away. We can discuss your level in the WhatsApp group and place you in a suitable group for your first session. After that, we’ll re‑evaluate your rating more accurately based on how you play. Rough guide:
- 1000–1250 – Beginners & High Beginners
Casual gameplay, still building consistency. Learning positioning, basic clears and serves. Rallies are shorter and focus is on keeping the shuttle in play. - 1250–1450 – Lower Intermediates
Starting to use smashes and drop shots more confidently. Better court movement and understanding of doubles positioning, though consistency can vary. - 1450–1600 – Intermediates
Stronger smashes, good clears to the back line, more controlled drop shots. Longer rallies and better tactical awareness. Players can construct points rather than just react. - 1600+ – Upper Intermediates & Advanced
High-quality rallies where shot selection and precision win the point, not just fitness. Consistent power, tight net play, and strong tactical understanding.
This starting rating is just a baseline – it will adjust quickly as you play more games.
2. How ratings change after matches
After each session we log results of ranked games and update our ratings sheet. In simple terms:
- Beat someone with a similar rating → small rating increase
- Beat someone with a higher rating → bigger increase
- Lose to someone with a higher rating → small drop (or sometimes none)
- Lose to someone with a lower rating → bigger drop
The exact numbers follow an Elo‑style system that we run in our Excel sheet after each session.
What counts as a ranked game?
We try to run almost every session as a ranked session to keep courts fluid and match people to similar levels.
- Most games you play in a session will count towards your rating.
- If you’re feeling unwell, carrying a knock, or simply not in the mood for ranked that day,
- tell the person running ranked on your court and we’ll mark you down so your rating isn’t affected for that session.
If you’re not sure whether a game is being counted, just ask the organiser on the day.
Finding your rating
After each weekend we update our master ratings sheet. You can:
- See the top 50 players at the club
- Search for your name to see your own rating
To check your rating, visit the leaderboard page.
Good to know
- Ratings are updated after each session where possible, and we’ll post in the WhatsApp group chat once the leaderboard has been refreshed.
- One bad session won’t ruin your rating.
- The aim is to keep games enjoyable and balanced, not to create pressure.
If you think your rating doesn’t reflect your level, chat to one of the organisers and we’ll review it with you.
Ready to play? Head to the home page to see regular sessions, check your ranking on the leaderboard, or find courts on the venues page. You can also read our FAQ for more detail.