Helena Frye
Badminton is a racquet sport that involves players hitting a shuttlecock back and forth across a net. The shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, is made of cork and goose feathers and is hit using racquets. The objective of the game is to strike the shuttlecock with a racquet and land it within the boundaries of the opposing team's half of the court. The shuttlecock is known for its distinctive flight pattern, which is caused by the feathers creating high drag and resulting in rapid deceleration. This equipment is central to the game of badminton and is what sets it apart from other racquet sports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names | Shuttlecock, birdie |
| Composition | Cork with 16 goose feathers |
| Weight | 5 grams (0.18 ounces) |
| Speed | 264.7 miles per hour (426 kilometres per hour) |
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What You'll Learn
The shuttlecock is also called a birdie
The object used in badminton that is hit back and forth with racquets is called a shuttlecock. It is also commonly referred to as a "birdie". The shuttlecock is made of a cork base with 16 goose feathers attached to it. The feathers create a high amount of drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate rapidly. This gives the sport its distinctive nature, and in some languages, the sport is named after this feature, such as the German "Federball", which means feather-ball.
The shuttlecock is a feathered or plastic projectile, with the choice of material depending on the formality of the match. Shuttlecocks are much lighter than balls used in other racquet sports, weighing only around 5 grams. Despite this, the shuttlecock has the highest top speed compared to other racquet sports, with the fastest badminton stroke recorded at 264.7 mph by Mads Pieler Kolding. This speed has led to claims that badminton is the fastest racquet sport in the world.
The shuttlecock is hit back and forth across a net that is 5 feet high and stretches across the width of the court. The rectangular court is 44 feet long and 17 feet wide for singles matches, and 20 feet wide for doubles matches. Points are scored by landing the shuttlecock within the other team's half of the court within the set boundaries. Each side may only hit the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. A point is lost if the shuttlecock strikes the floor or ground, or if a fault is called by the umpire.
If a player does not lift the shuttlecock, they can push it softly back towards the net. In the forecourt, this is called a net shot, while in the midcourt or rear court, it is called a push or block. Players can also hit drives, which are flat and rapid shots that travel over the net into the opponent's rear midcourt or rear court.
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It is made from cork and feathers
In the game of badminton, the projectile that is volleyed across a net is called a shuttlecock. It is also commonly referred to as a shuttle, a bird, a birdie, or a ball.
The shuttlecock is made from cork and feathers. It consists of around sixteen goose or duck feathers that overlap and are embedded into a spherical or rounded cork base. The cork is then covered with thin leather or synthetic material. The feathers are plucked from the wings of a live goose or duck, a method deemed cruel by animal rights activists. To ensure satisfactory flight properties, feathers from only the right or left wings are used in each shuttlecock.
The feathers impart substantial drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than balls in other racquet sports. The feathers also create a steeper trajectory and a constant drag coefficient. This means that feather shuttlecocks have a higher speed range than synthetic shuttlecocks. However, feathered shuttlecocks break easily and are more expensive than synthetic ones, which are preferred by recreational players.
To maintain the quality of the shuttlecock, the feathers must be properly humidified. This is because dry feathers are brittle and break easily, while saturated feathers become 'mushy' and cause the shuttlecock to fly too far and fast.
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It is much lighter than a tennis ball
The object used in badminton is called a shuttlecock. It is also sometimes referred to as a "'birdie" or simply a "shuttle". The shuttlecock is made from a rounded cork base with sixteen goose feathers glued to it.
The shuttlecock is much lighter than a tennis ball. Tennis balls are more than eleven times heavier than shuttlecocks, with the former weighing 57 grams (2.0 ounces) and the latter weighing just 5 grams (0.18 ounces). The shuttlecock's light weight is due to its construction from feathers, which also create much higher drag, causing it to decelerate more rapidly than a tennis ball. This high drag gives badminton its distinctive nature, and the sport is named accordingly in some languages, such as German "Federball", which literally translates to "feather-ball".
The shuttlecock's light weight also contributes to the high speeds achieved in badminton. The shuttlecock has a high top speed compared to the balls in other racquet sports, and the fastest badminton stroke during gameplay was recorded at 264.7 miles per hour (426 kilometres per hour) by Mads Pieler Kolding. This speed is significantly faster than the fastest recorded tennis stroke, which was a 163.4 miles per hour (263 kilometres per hour) serve by Samuel Groth.
The shuttlecock's weight also affects the way it is hit. For example, when the shuttlecock is near net height, players can hit drives, which travel flat and rapidly over the net into the opponents' rear midcourt and rear court. Players can also use a soft shot executed by "pushing" the shuttle with a small wrist movement, causing it to fall close to the net on the opponent's side.
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The shuttlecock's feathers create high drag
In badminton, the ball is referred to as a shuttlecock, which is often shortened to shuttle, or birdie.
The feathers of a shuttlecock create high drag due to their open conical shape, which allows the projectile to maintain aerodynamic stability during flight. The feathers generate lift as air passes through them, similar to the effect of an airplane wing. This lift force opposes the weight of the shuttlecock, reducing the effect of gravity and creating high drag.
The feathers used in shuttlecocks are typically sourced from the left wings of geese or ducks. The feathers are chosen for their length, curvature, weight, and spin capabilities. The manufacturing process involves embedding 14 to 16 feathers into a rounded cork base, ensuring they overlap to form a stable cone shape. The feathers are also categorized and selected to ensure consistent shape and performance, allowing the shuttlecock to fall, float, and fly in a predictable pattern.
The feathers' natural flexibility is essential to their performance. Proper humidification of the feathers before play is crucial to achieving optimal flexibility, enhancing the shuttlecock's speed and durability. Dry feathers are more brittle and prone to breaking, causing the shuttlecock to wobble during flight.
The use of feathers in shuttlecocks is preferred by experienced players, especially in serious tournaments and leagues. Feathers provide greater aerodynamic stability and a higher standard speed range compared to synthetic alternatives. The feathers' tendency to drop straight down on a clear shot is another factor that makes them preferable to plastic shuttlecocks, which fall on a diagonal.
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The sport was first called 'poona'
The shuttlecock is the projectile used in the sport of badminton. Now, let's talk about how the sport was first called "Poona," which is an interesting aspect of its history.
Badminton, now a widely popular racquet sport, has its origins in a game called 'Poona,' which was first played in British India. The name 'Poona' is derived from the city of the same name, now known as Pune, located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. The sport, as we know it today, evolved from a game called 'Battledore and Shuttlecock,' which was played by British military officers in India during the 1800s.
The game of 'Poona' was very similar to the modern game of badminton. It involved two players using racquets to hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a net. The net was typically made from cord and was tied between two poles or trees. The shuttlecock, or the projectile used in the game, was made from cork with a base of feathers, not unlike the shuttlecocks we see today.
Over time, the game of 'Poona' gained popularity among the British officers and eventually made its way back to England, where it continued to evolve. It was introduced at a party held by the Duke of Beaufort at his country home, Badminton House, in Gloucestershire, in 1873. The guests loved the game, and it soon became popular among the upper classes in England, who referred to the game as 'Badminton,' after the name of the house where it was introduced.
As the sport grew in popularity, rules began to be standardized, and equipment became more specialized. The dimensions of the court, the height of the net, and the size and weight of the shuttlecock were all defined. The racquets also evolved, becoming lighter and more maneuverable, made from materials such as wood and gut strings.
So, the sport we know today as badminton has its roots in the game of 'Poona' that originated in India and was further developed in England. This evolution has led to the global popularity of badminton, which is now an Olympic sport enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.
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Frequently asked questions
The ball in badminton is called a shuttlecock.
A shuttlecock is made of cork with sixteen goose feathers glued to its rounded base.
A shuttlecock weighs around 5 grams (0.18 ounces).
Some other names for a shuttlecock include "birdie" and "feather-ball" (in German, it is called "Federball").
