NTRP Glossary: Every Term on Your Rating Explained
NTRP terms break into a few groups: the rating itself, the things that move it, and the codes that describe it. Your published level is the number on your account, the dynamic rating is the hidden two-decimal number behind it, and rating types are letters that record how the level was assigned. Bumps, appeals, and strikes are the events that change or constrain your standing. The glossary below defines each one in plain language.
The rating itself
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| NTRP level | Your published rating from 2.5 to 5.5 in 0.50 steps. Each level is a 0.50 band, and the number names the top edge. A 3.5 covers 3.01 to 3.50. |
| Dynamic rating | The hidden two-decimal rating recalculated after every match. It is never published; you only ever see the band it falls into at year-end. |
| Band threshold | The top edge of a level. At year-end your dynamic rating is compared to these thresholds to decide bumps. |
| Year-end rating | The level USTA publishes in early December that you carry into the next season. |
What moves your rating
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Expected result | The game outcome the system predicts from both players' ratings before the match. |
| Actual score | The real game score, which the system compares against the expected result. The gap moves your rating. |
| Bump up | Moving to the next higher level when your dynamic rating climbs past your band's top. |
| Bump down | Moving to the next lower level when your dynamic rating falls below your band's bottom. |
| Appeal | A request to move to an adjacent level, granted only when your dynamic rating falls within a defined range. |
Rating types and constraints
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| C computer | A rating generated from your match results. The strongest type and what year-end bumps act on. |
| S self-rated | A level you selected when you had no computer rating yet. Provisional until match results refine it. |
| A appealed | A level reached by a successful appeal to an adjacent band. |
| Strikes | Flags a self-rated player accumulates when they win by large margins at a level that appears too low, which can force a move up. |
| Lapse | When a computer rating goes dormant after a few years without USTA play and you must self-rate again. |
To see where your hidden dynamic rating sits between year-end releases, an unofficial estimator can turn your scores and opponent levels into a transparent estimate and show your distance to the next threshold.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between my level and my dynamic rating?
Your level is the published band number, like 3.5. Your dynamic rating is the hidden two-decimal number inside or beyond that band, recalculated after every match and never published.
What are strikes in NTRP?
Strikes are flags a self-rated player picks up for winning by large margins at a level that looks too low. Enough strikes can trigger a forced move up to a more accurate level.
What does the letter next to my rating mean?
It is the rating type. C means computer, S means self-rated, and A means appealed, among others. It records how the level was assigned and how settled it is.
Unofficial. NTRP and USTA are trademarks of the United States Tennis Association; this site is independent and not affiliated with the USTA. Your official rating lives in TennisLink.