Why “the level” creates so many unbalanced matches in padel
On amateur courts, the question comes up even before booking: “Are you more of a P25? Intermediate? Advanced? The problem is that, outside of competition, everyone has their own way of determining where they stand. Some rely on a tournament memory, others on a feeling (“I’m holding the glass well”), still others on the quality of their current partners. The result: discrepancies that quickly become apparent at the net, on the management of lobs, or when the defense has to string together two shots without panicking.
This lack of reference points also affects mixed groups and players who move between countries. A “good leisure level” in Belgium or Switzerland does not always correspond to the same reality as in France. And when it comes to setting up a session, tournament or training course, these approximations often end up weighing on the intensity… and the pleasure of the game.
Next Point launches a free online test to find out where you stand in just a few minutes
To provide a clearer frame, Next Point now offers an online level test accessible at niveau.nextpoint-padel.com. The tool is free and fast, with a simple promise: to provide a coherent benchmark in 2 to 5 minutes, without the need for a medical check-up, federal supervision or tournament entries.
The questionnaire is based on around 15 questions and results in a ranking among 8 levels. Above all, it offers a number of routes, to avoid mixing profiles that do not have the same level “proof”:
- Competitor: a course designed to be aligned with a competition frame of reference.
- Player of the match in France: an assessment based on practice, experience and match situations.
- International player: a career path that takes into account local habits and references (Belgium, Switzerland, etc.).
At the end, Next Point adds a reliability index. The idea is clear: a player with a history of tournaments offers more guarantees than even an honest self-assessment. The test doesn’t seek to “rank” people, but to situate them on a common scale, to facilitate subsequent decisions (partners, game format, intensity, goals).
A tool also designed for training courses: homogeneous groups and clearer progression
Beyond curiosity (“what level am I, really?”), the interest is very concrete: better calibrate a session, avoid overestimating a player who controls the bandeja but gets locked in as soon as the tempo rises, or underestimating someone who defends very cleanly and knows how to temporize at the right moment. In short: fewer one-way traffic matches, more structured exchanges, more useful tactical situations.
Next Point also explains that it uses this test in the organization of its training courses, with a central goal: to create homogeneous groups from the outset, then make adjustments after observation on the court. The brand promotes courses run by certified coaches in various destinations (including Malaga, Valencia, Porto, Marrakech and Saint-Tropez) via its official website nextpoint-padel.com.
To remember:
- Taking the test before a tournament or training course helps you choose the right format and partners.
- The result provides a benchmark, but the most reliable validation remains the eye of a coach in a real-life situation.
- Taking the test again after a few months’ training (lobs, transitions, glass defense, net play) enables us to measure progress more objectively.
For both leisure players and those returning to competition, the idea is simple: taking two minutes to find out where you stand can avoid a frustrating evening… and turn a session into a real padel match, balanced and instructive.
