What a 4.5 does
- Plays the middle ball on purpose, to make both of you hesitate
- Uses the víbora as well as the bandeja
- Serves to set up the first volley rather than to win the point
What a 4.5 does not do yet
- Hold the same level at 30 all in the third set
- Switch to a second plan when the first stops working
- Finish from the back of the court
What to work on next
The serve and the first volley as one pattern: the serve that wins you the net is what everything else at this level stands on. The padel serve: how to hit one that wins you the net.
On the other scales
The converter files 4.5 under Advanced: strong club regular: few unforced errors, weapons on both sides. That reads as MATCHi 7 and LTA 5.0; Padel Mates uses the same 0 to 7 numbers as Playtomic. None of it is official, and the bands hold to about half a point. Convert any number.
How the number moves
Beat a pair rated above you and you jump; lose to a pair rated below you and you fall. Matches entered as friendly do not count. Under five unforced errors in a set is at least a 4. The long version is in padel levels explained.