Feather Shuttlecock Guide
Shuttlecocks are primarily of two kinds - feather shuttles and nylon shuttles. However, there are many variations within these 2 categories. This guide will help you choose the best shuttle for your game style.
Characteristics of Shuttles to consider-
- Material Cork- Natural, Hybrid Feather- duck, goose
- Features Outlook, feel, flight, durability
- Speed Requirement based on geographical location
- Playing level Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Your Feather Companion
1. SHUTTLECOCK MATERIAL
The base can be made with natural cork, composite cork, or hybrid cork. The top is typically made with feathers - duck or goose feathers. We have 3 different types of shuttle series.
G series - The G600 shuttlecock is made with premium Goose feathers.
D series - The D3, D6, and D8 shuttlecocks are made with superior Duck feathers.
C series - The C60 and C80 shuttlecocks are made with premium Cigu Duck feathers.
Superior Feather Shuttles
Shuttlecock Components
Composite Cork Ball Head
The shuttle head is made of composite cork to ensure elasticity and give excellent hit and flight resistance. This gives every hit and smash a fast delivery speed and a crisp & strong sound impact. The shuttle is not easy to crack due to its material composition.
Premium Grade Feathers
Li-Ning uses only top-quality feathers to ensure professional-level shuttlecocks. These feathers pass a quality check and are machine-checked, sorted, treated, organised and lined up for the binding process. This step is crucial for a smooth and consistent flight path.
Expert Finesse
The feathers are attached to the base with a dual layer of high-quality thread to form a dense and sturdy coil. The rigidity of this stalk makes it highly durable. The frame is bound with highly viscous glue to fuse it. This results in easy control for optimal flight trajectory and precise movement.
2. SHUTTLECOCK FEATURES
Outlook & feel
Refers to the overall playing experience offered by the shuttle. This means the striking, serving, hitting, smash & flight of the shuttle.
Flight
Based on trajectory & rotation. Flight quality is marked by the flight consistency of shuttles in a brand new condition. It is crucial for good product quality.
Durability
Refers to how long the shuttle can last. This is a key factor that determines product quality.
| Flightpath ~ | Consistency | Durability |
|---|---|---|
| A good flight path is essential for any good shuttlecock. Flightpath is measured by trajectory and rotation. | Consistency means the shuttle lands near the same area every time it is hit the same way. | A Shuttlecock's durability is marked by how long it can withstand hits and still be playable. |
| 1. Trajectory - Well-made shuttles are more resistant to air at greater speeds, allowing a steeper flying angle at the end of the flight. | Shuttlecock consistency depends on factors like Wind resistance & The symmetry of the shuttle | A shuttlecock can become useless if the cork is damaged or worn out or if the feathers are broken or missing. |
| 2. Rotation - When hit, a shuttle rotates on its axis. This rotation gives it slightly more speed & way more stability. The spinning motion is due to the feather placement pattern on the shuttle. | Consistency & precision tests are done by hitting a group of shuttles the same way, then measuring flying patterns to check the proximity of the landing area of each test shuttle. | |
| Good shuttles have a different trajectory than low-grade ones due to the effect of the surrounding air on feathers. Rotation is an easy way to distinguish high-quality shuttles from others as they spin faster and offer far more stability. | Good quality shuttlecocks have a good trajectory. Shuttles with bad manufacturing quality will lose their precision faster. | The quality of the materials and methods used in the production process are the key factors that determine the final product quality. |
~ The shuttlecock's flightpath is very different from a ball in other sports. After being hit by the player, it flies in the direction hit in a direct line, but after some distance, the air drag makes it slow down, and it takes a steep path downwards. This is the 'skewed parabola' shuttle path
3. SHUTTLECOCK SPEED
Speed refers to how fast and far a shuttle will move if struck at the same power. The speed of a badminton shuttlecock is affected by 3 factors: Temperature, Altitude & Humidity This means that the shuttle speed is affected depending on where you are in the world. So how do you choose? Have a look at the table below for a basic guide:
| Shuttle Speed | Altitude | Temperature | Popularity for India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74 – Slow | High temp & low air pressure | Very high temp | Popular |
| 75 – Slow | Above Sea Level | Very Hot (30°+) | By Far the Most Popular |
| 76 – Moderate | Sea Level | Hot (25°-30°) | Most Popular |
| 77 - Average Speed | Sea Level | Average (15°-25°) | Popular |
| 78 – Quite Fast | Below Sea Level | Cold (0° – 15°) | Used Rarely |
| 79 - Fast | Below Sea Level | Very Cold (Below Freezing) | Never Used |
4. Playing level
Feather shuttles are used for intermediate to professional-level tournaments and thus preferred by intermediate to professional players. It gives better control, an optimal flight path, and good to excellent shuttle flight trajectory. It is not recommended for beginners as poor technique and timing can lead to breakage of feathers quickly. Thus Beginners and recreational club members generally use nylon shuttles.
In conclusion, you should choose feather shuttles if
- you want to play for the love of the sport
- for training, matches and tournaments
- a premium choice for professional players
Feather shuttles offer the best play for advanced players. We advise looking at the key graph features shown on the individual products to choose the best shuttle for your game.