The Best Badminton Shuttlecock of 2021

Best Badminton Shuttlecock Buying Guide & Reviews of 2020

The shuttlecock is a victim of plentiful powerful smashes in badminton. Thus, its durability and quality should be of robust quality. But if the quality is poor, you will hardly have the pleasing experience this game can offer you.

A badminton shuttlecock is generally made of goose feathers and plastic shuttlecocks. However, feather shuttlecocks have made their mark across the globe due to their attributes like being more controllable and offer optimum speed. Despite being aware of various brands and types, it is actually confusing to pick the right one. Let's dive into the following badminton shuttlecock buying guide to get a clearer viewpoint.

What Is Your Play Level?

To find the most comfortable shuttlecock, the level of badminton you play is vital. Based on what kind of player you are and how frequent you play, you need to switch among different shuttlecocks. For instance, if you’re a beginner and an occasional player, a lightweight shuttlecock is perfect for you, no matter if it is plastic or feather. Also, if you regularly practice, a stronger one will last long.

Types

As we have discussed, two types of Shuttlecocks are available, and both have their own set of features:

1. Plastic Shuttlecock
2. Feather Shuttlecock

Nylon (Plastic) Shuttlecock

Nylon shuttlecocks are good in terms of longevity, but they are sluggish when it comes to performance compared with the ones made of feathers. You also need to check how sensitive they are in varied weather conditions. Select the one which can withstand even the adverse climate change.

When compared to feather shuttlecock, it is a bit cheaper and perfect for beginners. The dynamic design they come with helps players to have significant control over it and get optimum performance out of it.

Feather Shuttlecock

As far as the feather shuttlecock is concerned, it’s not only handy but also cost-effective. You have to be a little harder on a feather shuttlecock in comparison to the plastic shuttlecock because of its weight. Moreover, they are less durable than plastic ones. It’s recommended that new players must go with plastic shuttlecocks for the practice session for longer durability.

Out of a heap, Yonex feather shuttlecock has been designed with the utmost care to measure the correct speed, distance, and performance in various environments.

Speed

Slow, medium, or fast? Every shuttlecock comes with its own speed in yielding the desired outputs. To be precise, a feather shuttlecock is speedy as compare to a Nylon shuttle and observes more drag force because of its rough shape. As the drag force pushes a feather shuttle higher, it covers slightly less ground distance. While the Nylon shuttle flies less high but lands farther. Moreover, the speed of a shuttlecock also depends on various factors like temperature, weather, altitude, etc.

Material

The materials it is made from is something you must look out before buying. Check the sturdiness of the shuttlecock you want to go with. Even if it is solid, there is a chance for water contact through the spots where feather and cork head meet. So, it should be completely and safely filled with a moist sponge. The best feathers used in shuttlecocks are either of a duck or goose.

Temperature

Climate conditions also affect the performance of a shuttlecock. If the climate is a little hot then the shuttle will fly faster. At the same time, if it is cold, your shuttlecock will go sluggish. Eventually, you will also have to change the way you play.

Size

All feather shuttlecocks are the same in length, and they can be in the range of 62mm - 70mm.  Its weight about 4.74 - 5.50 grams. According to the atmosphere condition, you need to change the weight. The flight of the shuttlecock is highly depended on the humidity and height above sea level.

Shuttlecock Used In Olympics

AS-50 Yonex, the premium feather shuttlecock, is made of high-quality goose feathers and is used in major tournaments around the globe including Grand Prix.

Price

Even though plastic shuttlecock is cheaper than the one made from feathers, yet you will find no major difference in the price. Its pack contains 5-12 items and may cost $8 to $20. If you’re new to a brand, it is better to choose a small pack and try it. Later, you can choose even a set of packs to save more bucks.

Conclusion

Which shuttlecock is best for you depends completely on various factors like price, durability, comfort, and flexibility. If you are a beginner, it's better to go for basic shuttlecock and have more time practice sessions with the plastic shuttlecock as it lasts long. If you think that price is not a constraint, then go for a feather shuttlecock, which is highly efficient. If the confusion still persists, check out our above-given list of top ten badminton shuttlecocks.