IPSC ELO rating

The Elo class system

What are Elo classes, why do they exist, and how are they calculated?

In our ratings we have got the Elo rating points, but having a system that divides them into blocks of skill levels that one can recognize more easily, talk about better and also aspire to as a shooter, makes a lot of sense. But what would be the next best thing to shooting standardized qualifier stages (which aren't available in IPSC) for direct shooter comparison? What would a good approach be, given the amount and type of data we have?

After careful consideration, we developed a somehow familiar but also quite different approach to a class-based system:

• Percentile-Based: We base the Elo class system on the percentile score of the calculated Elo rating of the shooter.
• Familiar Terminology: We use familiar and recognizable class names like GM (Grand Master), M (Master), etc.
• Peak Performance Focus: The difference is, that our Elo class system is based on the highest Elo rating a shooter has ever achieved in our rating.
• Easy Participation: It is easy to take part. You just need to create a profile on our site to enable the class system for you.

Our Elo classes are therefore much more long-term in scope. This is in our view the most accurate representation of a shooters accumulated skill, and at the same time taking into consideration the experience of shooters who have previously held top ratings.

Alternative approaches, such as using match percentages from recent competitions, can be less reliable and less accurate, and heavily influenced by the skill level of participants in specific matches. Such systems could allow shooters to artificially inflate their class through participation in smaller events. Furthermore, experienced shooters currently classified as M or GM might quickly lose their status under this approach — a result we believe doesn't accurately reflect their mastery of the sport.

We acknowledge that this is yet another class system, but please be aware that other class systems are not available worldwide, held in a different shooting sport (e.g. USPSA), hard to get into, or have a very different way of defining the shooter's performance. This is why we called our system "Elo class" to make it clear this is something unique.

Main features of the Elo class system

The Elo class system provides an additional layer of recognition beyond individual Elo ratings, showcasing shooters’ accumulated skill and achievements. Here's a breakdown of its key features:

• Peak Performance Based: Your Elo class is determined by your highest ever achieved Elo rating score within our system. This reflects your peak performance throughout your IPSC career.
• Elo class levels: We use the following class names to differentiate skill levels:
  
  • GM - Grand Master class
  • M - Master class
  • E - Expert class
  • A class
  • B class
  • C class
  • D class
  • N - Novice class
• Easy Participation: To automatically track your Elo class, simply create a profile on our site (accessible via the button in your rating details). Your class will then be calculated and displayed within your profile page. Your profile will also feature enhanced information, including class levels visualized in your rating graph.
  
  
• Publicly Available Data: If you prefer not to create a profile, you can still determine your Elo class by comparing your best Elo rating score against the publicly available class level thresholds (see tables below).
• Earn and Maintain: The Elo class system is designed as an "earn-to-keep-it" model. Once achieved, a class generally remains yours until you reach a higher tier or become inactive within our ratings. Your Elo rating points and ranking will continue to reflect your current skill level, providing a dynamic view of your progress.
• Recognizing Experience: Even if your Elo rating declines, your assigned Elo class acknowledges your past achievements and experience — a Production GM with a current 1900 Elo rating, for example, retains their GM status despite a lower recent Elo rating score.
• Dynamic percentile calculation: While class percentiles are dynamically calculated and can change over time, they remain generally stable due to the normal distribution of shooter skill levels. Changes are infrequent and won't drastically alter established classes.
  However, the newly added Optics division will take a while until the ratings will settle, and Elo class levels will change quite a bit until enough match result data is available.

Elo class vs. Elo rating

In short:

• If you want to know how good a shooter currently is, look at the Elo rating.
• If you want to know what a shooter has achieved in his or her IPSC career, look at the Elo class.

Elo class levels

Same as with the Elo ratings themselves, shooters can have multiple Elo classes, one per division. A Handgun Production GM is obviously not automatically a Shotgun Modified GM or a Handgun Revolver GM. Also, same as with the Elo rating, Elo class levels are always calculated "overall".

You might wonder why we use percentile-based and dynamically calculated class levels instead of fixed numbers like "GM = Elo 2200+". This is, because the skill distribution and Elo ratings are different between the IPSC divisions. If we would put GM to a fixed Elo 2200+, there would be no GM's in the revolver division or in some rifle divisions.

Below are the class percentiles, the calculated minimum needed Elo ratings for all IPSC divisions, and the total number of shooters within that Elo class in parentheses.

Elo classes Questions and Answers