The Band System, co-created by Steve Williams and Nadia Haven, is an inclusive, self-rating framework designed to help players of all levels find their ideal place in the pickleball community. It’s not a ranking system or competitive ladder—it’s a shared language that connects players to the right clinics, open plays, and leagues, ensuring every session is purposeful and enjoyable.
You're just starting out—learning how to hold the paddle, understand court layout, basic rules, and scoring. This level is about exploring, learning, and enjoying the fundamentals.
You know how to score, start rallies, and understand basic court positioning. Now you're building consistency with serves, returns, forehand drives, and volleys to strengthen your foundational skills.
Confident in scoring and positioning, you're now focusing on strategy—using dinks and third-shot drops to control the pace and balance power with finesse.
You consistently use the soft game, executing controlled dinks and third-shot drops. Your focus is on the transition zone, reducing pop-ups, and refining your touch for steady control across the court.
You're excelling in the transition zone with consistent fifth-shot drops and roll volleys at the kitchen line, focusing on precise target placement over power.
Highly comfortable in all areas, you're proficient in every shot. The challenge now is executing each shot under pressure with consistency and accuracy.
You've reached the pinnacle of pickleball mastery, performing all shots with elite consistency, precision, and control—even under intense pressure. Your strategic adaptability and shot selection allow you to dominate in any scenario.
Whether you're just beginning or refining high-level skills, the Band System ensures you're always in the right place, with the right people, at the right time. It's how we build a stronger, more connected pickleball community—one step at a time.
