Did you know?
Most players know that the coin toss, a.k.a the spin of the racquet, is performed to decide who will serve first at the start of a match. But what some players don’t realize is that the winner actually has FOUR choices…
- Choose to receive first: Many players prefer this to force an opponent to serve “cold” right after the warm-up, gain extra time to settle into the match mentally, and put early pressure on the opponent’s service game;
- Choose to serve first: Select this if you want to get ahead on the scoreboard immediately, dictate the pace with your own powerful weapon, or if you feel confident starting strong;
- Choose the court ends: Pick this if there are harsh elements like a blinding sun, strong wind, or heavy glare on one side. Choosing the “bad side” first ensures you have the better side during more critical or later games when you are fully warmed up.
- Defer the choice: Hand the decision back to your opponent, letting them choose one from the above three choices while you retain the remaining options. (For example: they choose serve first, so naturally you would receive, but you can also select which side to start on.)
*BONUS RULE: You should spin the racquet before the warm-up and be in the correct position before the start of the match. (I rarely see players do this).
If you’re playing a morning match outdoors and you win the toss, choose the “bad side” first (sun in the eyes, wind, etc.) The first 3 games are nervous games; you’ll get the “good side for 2 of the games.
This rule clarification question came from one of our followers, Julie Lai. I hope it helps! And if you have any questions or need a rule clarification, please ask in the comments below. I would be happy to help.
