A badminton shuttle is a small feathered projectile used in place of a ball for the racquet sport of badminton. A typical shuttle looks like half of a small ball with natural or synthetic feathers extending behind it. The best badminton shuttle for you depends on your budget, level and style of play.
Shuttle Basics
The design of a badminton shuttle is essential to how it performs. Unlike tennis and squash, which are played with balls on larger courts, badminton requires a different kind of projectile to make the game playable on a small court. A shuttle's unique design allows it to attain great speeds upon being hit, while quickly decelerating within the confines of the court. The round end of the shuttle is often made of cork or dense foam wrapped in rubber or leather. The feathers can be made of plastic, duck or goose feathers.
Beginners
For beginning players, authorities like Arizona Badminton often recommend synthetic shuttles. Synthetic shuttles, such as those made by Yonex Mavis, are less expensive than natural feather shuttles, cutting down on the initial investment a new or novice player must make. Synthetic shuttles cost around $1 each as of 2011. Their plastic construction allows synthetic shuttles to last longer, especially with beginners who may not yet know how to hit them properly. Their lower cost and higher durability also makes synthetic shuttles ideal for physical education classes. Shuttles are rated for their speed. USA Badminton recommends beginning players use medium speed shuttles to best develop their skills.
Intermediate
At the intermediate level, players may benefit from a natural shuttle, which will play more predictably. Duck feather shuttles allow players to get a feel for a natural shuttle while still keeping costs relatively low. A tube of duck feather shuttles retails for $12 to $20 as of 2011.
Advanced
According to Arizona Badminton and other badminton experts, The best choice for the serious player is the goose feather shuttle. While more expensive, at up to $40 per tube as of 2011, goose feathers offer more durability and more predictable flight patterns than duck feathers. High-quality shuttles should also have a cork head wrapped in leather.
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