Choose the serving side in singles
Use the server's points to choose right or left, with three separate examples on paper.
Fix the point of view
Work with a partner on paper, away from games in progress. Leave rackets and shuttles aside. This activity is about ordinary full-court singles.
Write “server facing the net” on the sheet, with a right box and a left box as seen by that server. Keep this point of view for every example. The server's right is not the right of a person facing them from the other end.
Read the server's points
Identify who is serving, then read that player's points in the current game. Use the server's points even when the receiver has more.
With no points, or an even number, the server uses the right service court. With an odd number, the server uses the left service court. This chooses a service court; it does not tell you who has the right to serve.
Explain three separate cards
One person reads a card. The other names the server's points, says whether the number is even or odd, and points to the correct box. Treat the cards as independent situations, not consecutive rallies.
- First service of a game: server 0, receiver 0. Choose the server's right box. Zero belongs with the even scores.
- Server 3, receiver 8. Choose the server's left box: the server has an odd score. The receiver's higher score does not choose the side.
- Server 8, receiver 3. Choose the server's right box: the server has an even score. The receiver's odd score does not change that choice.
Swap reading and explaining roles, keeping the same scores and named server on each card. Explain all three cards again; swapping activity roles does not swap the match scores.
Check the reason
If your answers differ, check the named server, their points and the point of view before choosing again. Finish with a sentence linking the server's score to the chosen side.
Pointing to the correct box does not prove a whole service is legal. This page does not check the receiving court, the feet, the shuttle or the racket movement. Keep the activity on paper.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.