💪4.0 Is the New 3.5
- Tom Kiat
- Aug 26
- 2 min read
Let me guess: you’re a 4.0 player.
Or at least… that’s what your local rec group says.
And sure, maybe you were a 4.0...… five years ago, when a third shot drop was something people did accidentally.
The game has evolved… and you probably haven’t kept up.
The Great Pickleball Rating Inflation
We’re in an epidemic, not of illness, but of ego.
Everyone’s walking around like they’re hot stuff because they “play 4.0.” Meanwhile, the actual skill gap between the old 4.0 and the new 4.0 is big enough to drive a golf cart through.
Back in the day, a 4.0 could dink 5 times in a row, keep the ball in play, and occasionally attack without hitting the back fence.
Today? A legit 4.0 can control pace, defend like a brick wall, attack with precision, and transition flawlessly from baseline to kitchen under pressure.
And if that description made you a little nervous, good.
Brutal Truths About Your “4.0” Game
1. Consistency Isn’t Sexy, But It Wins
Your “highlight reel” shots are useless if you can’t keep the ball in play 10+ hits deep. A true 4.0+ player thrives in rallies that would make a beginner cry.
Some advice for you.......Drill for boring consistency, crosscourt dinks, deep serves, and reliable third shots. The more boring you can be under pressure, the more you’ll win.
2. Defense Is the New Offense
Old-school 4.0s thought offense was blasting every ball. Modern 4.0s know that being unshakable in defense is what turns the tide.
If you can reset, block, and neutralize speed-ups without panicking, you’re playing in the right last 2 years
In training, ave a partner fire drives and speed-ups at you for 10 minutes straight. Your goal? Not to win points, but to reset every single one.
3. Transition Play Is Where Pretenders Are Exposed
The “no man’s land” between baseline and kitchen is where fake 4.0s die. If you can’t transition under pressure, you’re just a baseline banger with better shoes.
Training tip for ya:
Start each rally from mid-court with a weak shot. Force yourself to get to the NVZ line without popping the ball up.
The New Reality
If you think you’re a 4.0 but you:
Avoid drilling like it’s a dentist appointment
Play the same way you did in 2019
Get defensive when someone challenges your rating
...........you’re not a 4.0. You’re a comfortable 3.5 with a decent serve.
The rating inflation isn’t just about bragging rights.
If you settle for an inflated label, you stop improving.
If you face the truth, that you’ve got work to do, you level up faster than you thought possible.
The real question is, Do you want to be called a 4.0, or do you want to play like one?
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