Badminton is a game similar to tennis, with players on opposite sides of a net hitting an object back and forth over it. Tennis uses a ball, but badminton uses a curious little object adorned with feathers, called a shuttlecock. It might be surprising, but badminton is a recognized Olympic sport that made its debut in the 1992 summer games. Disciplines are men's and women's singles and doubles, and mixed.
Components and Size
A shuttlecock is between 62 and 70 mm long, or roughly 1.8 to 2.1 inches. It is constructed of exactly 16 feathers attached to a cork base, which is covered in leather.
Speed
The most important aspect of a shuttlecock is its speed, which determines how far it can go when hit with average force. Fast speeds are good for beginners because the shuttlecock will go farther, but temperature and altitude can affect the shuttlecocks. Cold will slow it down and heat will speed it up. You can affect the speed of a shuttlecock manually by tipping the feathers outward to slow it down and inward to speed it up. In tournament play, speed is graded from 75 to 79, with each successive rating going about 30 cm farther when hit with average force. 75s are slow and used at high altitudes, while 79s are fast and used in cold climates or below sea level.
Weight
Another way to grade a shuttlecock is by weight. The lighter it is, the slower. In some tournaments, shuttlecocks are graded by the metric system. A grade 49 shuttlecock weighs 4.9 g, while a grade 52 shuttlecock weights 5.2 g. The grade of the shuttlecock is determined by referees before each tournament depending on the conditions of play, and the referee can change the shuttlecock grade in mid-play if circumstances change.
Variations
Not every badminton player is headed for the Olympics. For backyard fun, shuttlecocks are also made with plastic feathers and a rubber base, rather than cork and leather. Professional shuttlecocks can be costly.
Interesting Facts
Badminton enthusiasts insist that the best shuttlecock feathers come from the left wing of a goose. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the fastest shuttlecock speed ever recorded, in terms of real speed and not distance, is 162 mph. This tops squash balls, which logged in at a top speed of 151 mph, and tennis balls, which recorded a mere 138 mph.
Member Comments