Best badminton shuttlecock | as this player said(Interview)
Ball in badminton is called “Shuttlecock” or “Birdie” which, for the first look, may seem to be quite an insignificant badminton equipment, but it is not.
In fact, this accessory is important, especially if you engage in this sport seriously.
During an hour and half of the game, you can “destroy” up to three accessories, so if you are seriously carried away with the game, then you need to allocate a certain amount of money to purchase these accessories, as the birdie is not the thing to save.
Not badminton will tell you the whole information about shuttlecock: types, characteristics, price and how to choose the best badminton shuttle?
Why does a badminton ball is called a shuttlecock?
The word “shuttlecock” was originated in Victorian times as the history of badminton contains references to the game of the shuttlecock found in the writings of ancient Greece, China, Japan, India, and African countries.
The word “Shuttlecock” is a combination of two words:
- Shuttle: means constant movement backward and forward.
- Cock: as it resembles the feathers of the roaster.
Types of badminton shuttlecock
There are two types of badminton shuttlecock:
1- Synthetic Shuttlecock
The synthetic shuttlecock is made of plastic or nylon, which is more durable and relatively inexpensive compared to the feather shuttlecocks.
A high-quality synthetic shuttlecock has a cork head, which is covered with genuine leather, and a “skirt” has a certain pattern so that the shuttle can fly straight and fast.
Low-quality synthetic shuttlecocks have a silicone or plastic head.
Plastic shuttles are best used for training and for newbies, as the strength of the equipment is more important than the accuracy of strikes.
They are designed for tough games, so it will last longer. Their flight characteristics differ significantly from natural ones, so professional badminton players do not prefer to play with them.
2- Feather shuttlecock
Material & Manufacturing:
The feather shuttlecocks are made of 16 feathers about 70 mm long of the left wing of goose or duck.
These feathers are woven together by a taped thread. They also have a cork head, in which these feathers are glued with special glue.
Speed:
The speed of such shuttlecocks depends on the temperature and weight and is indicated on the cap of the tube. The greater the mass, the higher the speed.
Usually, they check the “professional suitability” of the accessory with a strong blow from the edge of the ground. If the shuttle has fallen on the opposite edge, then the speed is considered optimal.
A special feature of natural flounces is that it always falls head forward, which allows players to lift it from seemingly hopeless situations.
Weight:
The weight of a feather shuttlecock can vary from 4.75 to 5.5 grams. The largest diameter of the feather “skirt” is 5.4 cm.
Badminton shuttlecock speed
The shuttlecock speed depends on many factors as the shuttle weight, type, temperature, and humidity.
- Weight.
- Temperature.
- Attitude.
- Humidity.
Temperature affects the shuttle speed due to the thermal expansion coefficient, which makes the cork to expand and shrink.
SHuttlecock grading system:
Two systems for measuring the speed of shuttlecocks are adopted and used for designation:
1- The Japanese manufacturer YONEX applies values from 1 to 5, in which No1 is the slowest, and No5 is the fastest.
2- Other manufacturers label their products with numbers from 75 to 79, which means speed in km / h. The higher the number, the faster the shuttlecock.
Each digit corresponds to a certain weight of the accessory:
75 = 4.8 g
76 = 4.9 g
77 = 5.0 g
78 = 5.1 g
79 = 5.2 g
Heavier shuttlecocks are not labeled.
The weight of the shuttle depends more on the mass of the head.
synthetic shuttlecock speed grading
Plastic products are also marked, but in color:
– The slowest has a Green stripe along the base of the “skirt” and used in warm weather.
– The Blue one is faster and used in normal conditions.
– The fastest are marked in Red and better to be used in cold weather.
Best badminton shuttlecock review
Top shuttlecock manufacturers
The top manufacturer of shuttlecocks is the Japanese company YONEX. Their products are the best option in terms of price and quality for both feather and synthetic shuttles.
Also on the market, you can find products of such companies as AEROPLANE, Protech, Apcas, Tronex, LI-Nieng, Chaopai Canada, Kevenz, Carlton, Zhenan, Forza, Fleet, Babolat, RSL, and Wilson.
Best shuttlecocks (Interview)
To know the best natural and synthetic badminton shuttlecock for both amateur and professional players, let’s welcome John Ward, a professional badminton player:
Alice Taylor: Hi John, and thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today.
John Ward: Hey Alice, thank you for inviting me to this amazing blog. I’m a little nervous and excited at the same time 🙂 .
Alice Taylor: Tell me, John, as a professional badminton player, what is the best type of badminton shuttlecock in your opinion?
John Ward: First of all, let me tell you and your visitors a bit about my self. I’ve been playing badminton as a professional player for 14 years.
I’ve started playing badminton at the age of 14 and started my professional career at the age of 17 as a U19 Junior World Level International Player.
Alice Taylor: That is great, you should have a huge experience by now.
John Ward: That’s what I think 🙂 .
Alice Taylor: OK, Let’s go back to our question, what is the best type of badminton shuttlecock? and which type do you prefer?
Best synthetic shuttlecocks
John Ward: To answer this question correctly, we should consider the proficiency level of the player so:
– If you play badminton as a hobby for recreation, so synthetic plastic shuttles will be the best choice for you as it is more durable and cheaper than the feather shuttlecock.
I would mention the following types of shuttlecocks as The best synthetic shuttles in the market:
- Yonex Mavis 300
- Yonex Mavis 350
- Yonex Mavis 500
- Yonex Mavis 2000
Yonex Mavis 500 is more durable than the other two, and Mavis 350 is faster than Mavis 300.
Best synthetic shuttlecocks price 2019
Yonex Mavis 300 Nylon Shuttlecocks
Yonex Mavis 350 Plastic Shuttlecocks
Champion Sports Nylon Outdoor Shuttlecocks
KEVENZ Nylon Badminton Birdies
Alice Taylor: And what about professional players? which type is more suitable?
John Ward: Professional badminton players prefer natural feather shuttlecocks as it is faster and more accurate, as well as it is the type which used in professional competitions, so they prefer to examine it in training sessions.
Alice Taylor: But the feather shuttlecock is more expensive than the plastic one.
John Ward: Yes, that is right. But nowadays, many badminton brands make a sponsorship to many badminton clubs and players, so they can play with feather shuttlecock without paying.
Best Feather shuttlecocks
Alice Taylor: What do you recommend in this category, feather shuttlecock?
John Ward: Well, I tested too many types and brands and here are my experience:
- Yonex is the top brand in the field of shuttlecock manufacturing, with a serious of perfect feather shuttles.
- Top 5 best feather shuttlecocks:
- Yonex AS-50: It is the best ever, with unparalleled flight characteristics and durability. For that, this type used in all top international tournaments.
- Yonex AS-40: It is also used in many international tournaments due to its high quality.
- Yonex AS-20: Another type of feather shuttles from Yonex with a lower price than the previous two, but also with lower durability.
- Li-Ning A+300: This type also is used in international tournaments with good characteristics.
- Victor Master Ace: It is durable enough with good flight.
Best feather shuttlecocks price 2019
Yonex Aerosensa 50 Badminton Shuttlecocks
Yonex Aerosensa 40 Badminton Shuttlecocks
Yonex AS-20
Feather badminton Shuttlecocks
KEVENZ Goose Feather Badminton Shuttlecocks
Alice Taylor: So Yonex Aerosensa serious is the best, especially Aerosensa 50 and Aerosensa 40.
John Ward: Yes, and anyone can buy these shuttle types online.
Alice Taylor: That is great, thanks John for this valuable information and thank you for your time.
John Ward: It is my pleasure, have a nice day.