Badminton Shuttlecock – aka Birdie

Badminton Shuttlecock – A Brief History

Badminton is a very fast paced racket sport. In fact it is the fastest racket sport around and the badminton shuttlecock can reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour! Characteristics of the game include quick bursts of intense movement, smashes, and strategy one could identify with the game of chess! The net is a crucial part of the game yet in medieval times it was played without one. Back then it was a child’s game and even had a different name – Battledore and Shuttlecock! The badminton net was only introduced in the 1800s solely to make the game even more competitive. The shuttlecocks, also called shuttles and birdies, is used in place of a ball and is volleyed across the net during the game.

Badminton Today

Badminton is not only played professionally but also for recreational purposes and as a way of getting exercise. For those who play it purely for one of these two reasons the badminton shuttlecock that is used is invariably constructed out of plastic. On the other hand the shuttlecocks that feature in the competitions and on the professional circuit are made from sixteen real feathers, usually goose feathers taken from the right wing of the bird.

A Badminton shuttlecock is open and conical in shape and along with the feathers has a cork base that is covered with thin leather. Because of the shape of the shuttle it is very aerodynamic and will always fly cork first.

How the Shuttlecock got its name

Nobody knows for absolutely sure how the shuttlecock got its name but it’s believed that the first part “shuttle” is from the back and forth motion it displays during game play that is similar to the motion of a shuttle on a weaver’s loom. As for the second part of the word or “cock”, it is likely that this originated due to the resemblance it has to the feathers that are found on a cockerel.

Which is better – the feathered or synthetic badminton shuttlecock?

Because of the brittleness of the feathers shuttlecocks tend to break fairly easily and often need replacing during the average badminton game. It is for this reason that the synthetic shuttles have been produced. When it comes to cost the price of a good quality feathered shuttle and a good quality synthetic shuttle does not differ much. Many clubs choose to play with the plastic variety simply because they are more durable.

Although the prices are not very different the playing characteristics are. Plastic shuttles do not fly as quickly on impact as their feathered counterparts do. On the other hand the feathered shuttles tend to slow down more when they reach the end of their flight. Feathered shuttlecocks have been known to reach speeds higher than 200mph but will slow down quicker as they drop. It is for this reason that they make the game look faster but in effect allow more time for the players to play their strokes.

The majority of experienced and professional players prefer using the feather badminton shuttlecock which is why you will always find them used in professional tournaments. Pros feel that the feathered shuttles are easier to play with and control when compared to the plastic shuttles.

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