If you're getting serious about padel, you can't avoid it: the number after your name. 2.8. 3.5. 4.2. What do those digits actually mean, and more importantly, how do you push them up?

This article breaks down the two main systems (Playtomic and FIP), what each level looks like in practice, and the specific moves that actually raise your rating.

Why have a rating at all?

A rating does two things at once: it matches you with players of similar level, and it gives you a measurable line of progress. Without one, you either play the same handful of people forever, or get blown off the court by someone two levels above you. With a working rating, you consistently land in matches where you're both challenged and capable of winning.

This is a priority in the wider sport too: in their Padel in Cijfers 2025 report, the KNLTB (the Dutch tennis and padel federation) named transparent ratings as one of their core focus areas, to better match players of the same level for balanced and competitive matches.

The two systems: Playtomic and FIP

Playtomic level (0.0 to 7.0) What most recreational and sub-tournament players use across Europe. Your level is calculated from match results inside the app: who you beat, by what margin, and at what level your opponents were rated. The system is a variant of the ELO model used in chess.

FIP ranking The Federación Internacional de Pádel runs a points system tied to official tournament results. It mainly matters if you compete at national or international level. The FIP World Padel Report 2025 notes that over 11,000 athletes are now featured in the FIP rankings.

For 95 percent of players, Playtomic is the rating that actually matters.

What do the Playtomic levels mean in practice?

How is your rating calculated?

Three things drive it:

  1. The level gap with your opponents. Beat someone above you and you climb faster. Lose to someone below you and you drop faster.

  2. The match result. 6-0 doesn't count the same as 7-5.

  3. Recency. Recent matches weigh more than ones from six months ago.

What doesn't count: training sessions, friendly games without a score, and how confident you felt out there.

Why your rating sometimes feels weird

  • One off day hits hard. Lose to someone 1.0 below you and you can drop 0.2 in a single match.

  • New players have unstable ratings. The first 10 matches the system is still calibrating.

  • Mismatched partners. Play with a much stronger partner and a loss penalises you more.

The fix: play regularly, vary your opponent levels, and never read into a single match.

How to actually raise your rating

Four things that statistically make the biggest difference:

1. Play opponents 0.3 to 0.5 above you. Too far above and you lose patterns you'll never see in your own matches. Too close and you don't grow. The sweet spot is just above your current level.

2. Focus on one technical skill per month. Not "everything". One thing. Bandeja this month. Backhand lob next month. Track whether you're hitting it cleanly in matches.

3. Play regularly with the same partner. Padel is 50 percent partner chemistry. A fixed partner accelerates your growth more than a new coach.

4. Use challenges with measurable goals. "Get better" is not a plan. "Play 3 matches against 3.8+ opponents this month" is. The PUP app gives you exactly these kinds of challenges from clubs and coaches, with points and rewards when you complete them, and your rating progress is visibly linked to your profile.

Frequently asked questions

My rating has been stuck for six months. What am I doing wrong? Usually one of two things: you always play the same people at your level, or you train without a specific goal. Change your opponent pool and pick one measurable skill per month.

Does my Playtomic level count for official tournaments? Not directly. Tournaments often use FIP points or their own seeding. But your Playtomic level is widely used as an indicator when seeding draws.

Can I link my rating to PUP? Yes. The PUP app syncs with your Playtomic account and other connected platforms, so your skills, achievements, and progress live in one place.

Bottom line

A rating is a tool, not a scoreboard. The players who climb fastest aren't the ones obsessing over the number. They're the ones picking one concrete thing to improve each week and finding matches to test it in.

Want your rating, achievements and growth in one clear profile? Build your PUP Card and make your padel progress visible.

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