Ayrton Oneill
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock—the little thing in question—across a net. The shuttlecock is made of a cork with sixteen goose feathers glued to its rounded base. It is also sometimes made of plastic, especially for beginners and children. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material. The shuttlecock is hit back and forth until one side misses or hits the net, at which point the other player or team gets a point. The first side to 21 points wins the game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Shuttlecock, birdie |
| Composition | A cork body covered with thin leather or synthetic material, with 16 goose feathers glued to its rounded base |
| Types | Feathered, plastic |
| Speed | 4.4.1: Hit a full underhand stroke that makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line. The shuttlecock shall be hit at an upward angle and in a direction parallel to the sidelines. 4.4.2: A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land not less than 530 mm and not more than 990 mm short of the other back boundary line |
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What You'll Learn
Shuttlecocks are made from cork and feathers or plastic
The little thing you play with in badminton is called a shuttlecock. It is also sometimes called a birdie.
Feathered shuttlecocks are used in competitive tournaments. The feathers create much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly. Shuttlecocks also have a high top speed compared to the balls in other racquet sports, making badminton the fastest racquet sport in the world.
The name "shuttlecock" comes from the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock, which was played by British expatriates in India in the mid-19th century.
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Shuttlecocks are tested for speed
The little thing you play with in badminton is called a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie. It is made of a cork with sixteen goose feathers glued to its rounded base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material.
The speed of a shuttlecock is an important factor to consider when playing badminton. It can affect the distance and speed at which the shuttlecock travels. The speed is determined by the weight of the shuttlecock, with faster shuttlecocks typically weighing less. The speed is also influenced by the location and climate, with slower shuttlecocks being used in high-altitude or hot regions, and faster shuttlecocks being used in cold regions or below sea level.
Different brands of shuttlecocks may use their own systems to indicate speed. For example, Yonex uses a system where speed 1 is the slowest and speed 5 is the fastest. It is important to choose the appropriate speed of shuttlecock to ensure it flies the correct distance across the court.
Shuttlecocks come in different materials, such as nylon or plastic, which are more durable and cost-effective, while feather shuttlecocks offer better control, feel, and sound. The durability of a shuttlecock is also important to consider, as the feathers can dry out and become brittle if stored in dry conditions.
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Feathered shuttlecocks are used in tournaments
The "little thing" in badminton is called a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie or shuttle. It is a high-drag projectile that players hit with their racquets and is integral to the game.
Shuttlecocks are made from either synthetic materials or feathers. Synthetic shuttlecocks are often used by recreational players to reduce costs, as feathered shuttles break more easily. They are also more durable and can last for many practice sessions. However, they have poor in-flight stability and do not fly as straight as feathered shuttlecocks.
Feathered shuttlecocks are made from 16 or so overlapping feathers, usually goose or duck, embedded into a rounded cork base. Feathers are plucked from the wings of a live goose or duck, a method deemed cruel by animal rights activists. The feathers must be properly humidified for at least four hours before play to ensure they fly at the correct distance, speed, and duration.
The feathers on a shuttlecock create much higher drag, causing it to decelerate more rapidly. This gives the sport its distinctive nature, and in some languages, the sport is named after this feature, such as German Federball, or "feather-ball".
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Plastic shuttlecocks are for beginners
The little thing you play with in badminton is called a shuttlecock, also known as a "birdie". The shuttlecock is hit back and forth with racquets by the players, and points are scored when it lands inside the court boundaries of the opponent's half.
Shuttlecocks can be made with either natural feathers or synthetic materials, such as plastic or nylon. While feathered shuttlecocks are used in professional badminton matches, beginners should opt for plastic shuttlecocks for several reasons. Firstly, plastic shuttlecocks are more durable and less expensive than feathered ones. Feathered shuttlecocks are delicate and can get damaged or bent out of shape easily, requiring frequent replacements, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Secondly, plastic shuttlecocks have a different trajectory and speed compared to feathered ones. They are made from heavier material, allowing them to travel greater distances with less force. This flatter trajectory means they take more time to travel a farther distance. For beginners who are still learning the game and refining their skills, plastic shuttlecocks are a more practical and economical choice.
Additionally, plastic shuttlecocks are ideal for casual and recreational play, which is often how beginners start their badminton journey. They are perfect for playing badminton at picnics or in a casual setting with friends and family.
As a beginner, using plastic shuttlecocks can help you develop your skills and get accustomed to the game without breaking the bank. Once you become more experienced and progress towards competitive play, you can consider upgrading to feathered shuttlecocks, which are the standard for professional badminton tournaments.
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The shuttlecock is also called a birdie
The shuttlecock is a projectile with a cork base covered in thin leather or synthetic material. It is also sometimes made with sixteen goose feathers glued to its rounded base. The shuttlecock is also called a birdie. The name "birdie" is likely derived from the fact that the object resembles a bird, with its feathers splayed out. Recreational players often use synthetic shuttlecocks to reduce costs, as feathered shuttlecocks break easily.
The shuttlecock is hit back and forth over a net by players using racquets. A point is scored when the shuttlecock hits the ground in the opponent's half of the court. The shuttlecock is integral to the game of badminton, which is a racquet sport that is played either in singles or doubles. In singles, there are two players competing against each other, and in doubles, two pairs of players form teams and compete against each other, resulting in a game of four players. Badminton is played with a rectangular court and net, and the shuttlecock is hit back and forth until one side misses or hits the net.
The shuttlecock's feathers create much higher drag, causing it to decelerate more rapidly than balls used in other racquet sports. This gives badminton its distinctive nature, and in some languages, the sport is named after this feature, such as the German "Federball," which translates to feather-ball. The modern game of badminton developed in the mid-19th century among British officers in India as a variant of the earlier game "battledore and shuttlecock." "Battledore" was an older term for "racquet." The game was also played with a woollen ball in the 1850s, known as "ball badminton."
There are two types of shuttlecocks: plastic and feathered. Plastic shuttlecocks are recommended for beginners as they are more durable and can help build strength before transitioning to feathered shuttlecocks, which are used in competitive tournaments. The speed of a shuttlecock can be tested by hitting a full underhand stroke that makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line. A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land not less than 530mm and not more than 990mm short of the other back boundary line.
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Frequently asked questions
It's called a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie.
A shuttlecock is made of a cork base covered in thin leather, synthetic material, or rubber and has feathers or plastic attached to the rounded end.
There are feathered shuttlecocks and plastic shuttlecocks. Feathered shuttlecocks are used in competitive tournaments but can be expensive and fray easily. Plastic shuttlecocks are more durable and are often used by beginners and children.
