ELO Ratings
Find out who's really the best
Not all wins are equal. Our ELO-based rating system ranks players fairly — based on who you beat and how you beat them, not just how often you win.
What is ELO?
ELO is a rating system originally developed for chess that's now used across competitive games and sports worldwide. It's a single number that represents your skill level — and it changes based on your match results.
- Everyone starts at 1200 — your baseline rating
- Beat higher-rated players — big rating boost
- Beat lower-rated players — small boost
- Lose to higher-rated — small drop
- Lose to lower-rated — big drop
This means your rating reflects your true skill level over time — not just how often you win, but who you beat.
Rating Tiers
Where do you stand? Climb from Club to Master.
Types of Ratings
Per-Sport Ratings
Separate rating for each sport. Being great at tennis doesn't make you great at badminton. Each sport starts at 1200.
Category Ratings
Sports grouped into categories (Racquet, Ball, etc.). Category rating is a weighted average based on matches played.
All-Rounder Rating
Overall skill across all sports. Weighted average with more weight to sports you play frequently.
Group Ratings
Teams and groups have their own ELO. Group vs Group matches update group ratings — individual ratings stay separate.
Why ELO Matters
Your Ratings in Volley
Starting rating
1200
Everyone starts here
Rating range
1000–2000+
Higher = better
Updates
Every match
Ratings update after every game
History
Full timeline
Watch your rating climb over time
Sport-Specific Examples
Tennis
Separate ratings for singles and doubles.
Padel
Track your padel-specific skill.
Basketball
Rate your pickup game skills.
Darts
Even pub sports get proper rankings.
Leaderboards
See where you rank:
Rated vs Unrated Matches
You decide when it counts.
Toggle when creating
Choose "Rated" or "Unrated" when you start a match. It's up to you.
Unrated = no pressure
Unrated matches don't affect your rating. Good for casual play, practice, or trying a new sport.
Rated = climb the ladder
Rated matches update your rating and count towards leaderboards. When it matters, make it count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did I only gain a few points?
If you beat someone rated lower than you, you gain fewer points. The system expected you to win. The bigger the gap, the smaller the gain. Upset wins (beating higher-rated players) earn you more.
Can my rating go below 1000?
Yes, but it's rare. You'd need to lose consistently to lower-rated players. Most active players stay above 1000. If you do drop below, don't worry — every match is a chance to climb back.
How many matches until my rating stabilizes?
Around 10-15 rated matches. Early on, your rating moves more quickly to find your true level. After that, changes are smaller and more gradual.
What happens if I don't play for a while?
Nothing — your rating stays where it was. There's no rating decay in Volley. Pick up where you left off whenever you're ready to play again.
Free for Everyone
ELO ratings and leaderboards are included in the free tier. No paywall on knowing where you stand.
More Features
Ready to find out where you rank?
Download Volley and start climbing the leaderboard.