Badminton / Law 06
The toss
BWF · 2025 · v5.0 (2)In short
Choosing the opening service or the starting end.
The winning side chooses
Before play, conduct a toss. The winner chooses either whether to serve or receive first, or which end of the court to start from. These are alternative choices: winning the toss does not automatically give the winner both the opening service decision and the preferred starting end.
The other side has the remaining choice
The side losing the toss makes the remaining choice. If the winner chooses an end, the other side decides whether to serve or receive first; if the winner chooses service or reception, the other side chooses the starting end. Apply this procedure before the opening rally.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Based on the supplied BWF Laws of Badminton, version 5.0 (2), effective 26/04/2025. Condensed independent explanations, with Para badminton exceptions identified separately. Referenced alternative rules and later changes are not automatically included. Page references use the supplied PDF.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗