Shuttlecocks

Official specification (feathered shuttle)

• 16 feathers fixed in a cork base covered with thin leather
• Feather length 62–70 mm; feather tips form a circle 58–68 mm across
• Base diameter 25–28 mm, rounded on the bottom
• Weight 4.74–5.50 g
• Synthetic (nylon/plastic skirt) shuttles must fly similarly; up to 10% variation in measurements is allowed for them.

Feather vs nylon

	Feather (goose/duck)	Nylon / synthetic
Flight	Crisp, true flight; sharp deceleration; tight net shots possible	Slightly different flight (floats more on some shots, can be faster at the end)
Durability	Fragile; feathers break with heavy play	Much more durable
Cost	Higher	Lower
Best for	Club, competition, advanced technique	Beginners, practice, children, outdoor play

Speed ratings and testing

Air density changes how far a shuttle flies: in hot or high-altitude places it flies further, in cold places shorter. Manufacturers therefore sell shuttles in different speeds (often numbered, e.g. 76–79, or 1–3; check the maker's chart). Choose a slower shuttle when it is warm or high up, and a faster one when it is cold.

The official test: stand at one back boundary line and hit the shuttle with a full underhand stroke, upwards and parallel to the side lines. A correct-speed shuttle lands 530–990 mm short of the opposite back boundary line.

Care: store feather shuttles in their tube, slightly humid and cool (dry feathers break). Do not crush the tube.