Good morning everyone, so I'm going to explain to you the 2 types of shuttlecock.

There are 2 types of shuttlecock which is a feathered and synthetic shuttlecock. So which
shuttlecock is better? Shuttlecocks typically fall under two distinct buckets based on what material
the skirt is made of: natural feather or synthetic material. Feathered shuttlecocks are commonly
made from the feathers of a goose or duck. On the other hand, synthetic shuttlecocks are made of
plastic or nylon material and are frequently referred to as plastic or nylon shuttlecocks.

It is not so simple to state that a certain level of player should use a particular type of shuttlecock.
Both types of shuttlecock can be found in the stash of players of any level – beginner, intermediate
or advanced. Both types of shuttlecock can also be found used in private clubs, school teams,
recreational play, or tournament settings.

Each type of shuttlecock has distinctive features that appeal to different badminton players –
whether that be its flight, durability or feel, Let’s dive into these characteristics and discover which
type is the right one for you

What are the Key Differences Between Feathered and Plastic

Shuttlecocks?

The primary differences between the two types of shuttlecock are observed in the following traits:
flight, durability, feel, and control.

So what is flight? The flight of a shuttlecock refers to how the shuttlecock moves through the air after
it is hit.

Script: The most prominent property of flight that differs between feathered and plastic shuttlecocks
is in the trajectory.

Trajectory refers to the natural path the shuttlecock takes when in flight – or rather the shape of the
shuttlecock’s flight.

Script: The flights of feathered and plastic may appear quite similar to amateur eyes due to the
shuttlecock’s conical (cone-like) shape, however intermediate to advanced players are able to know
the differences, which make a big difference in gameplay.

Feathered shuttlecock: The trajectory of a feathered shuttlecock will resemble that of a parachute.
The trajectory of a feathered shuttlecock is influenced by its construction of 16 individual overlaid
feathers

Script : Immediately after a hit, a feathered shuttlecock will experience faster acceleration as
the feathers do not deform as much as plastic shuttlecocks do. Deformation refers to how
much the shuttlecock’s composition is forcibly changed from its natural state. However, as
more drag is imparted on a feathered shuttlecock throughout its flight, a feathered
shuttlecock will experience a faster deceleration than a plastic shuttlecock, resulting in a
sharper drop.
With a feathered shuttlecock, players are able to achieve higher clears to the back of an opponent’s
court with a lower risk of it crossing the back line, given the steeper drop at the end of its flight

Script: Additionally, players who hit drop shots from their backcourt can deliver drops closer to the
net, given the faster deceleration of the shuttlecock.

PLATIC SHUTTLECOCK

the trajectory of a plastic shuttlecock will take on more of a normal parabola, which are symmetric in
nature.

Script: The reason behind a plastic shuttlecock’s trajectory is also embedded in its construction. A
plastic shuttlecock typically has a skirt that is made of one continuous piece of material. The impact
of this design causes less acceleration upon hit, due to higher deformation of the skirt, but also
experiences a steadier deceleration throughout its flight due to a relatively smaller drag effect.
As a result, a plastic shuttlecock’s flight will travel further but flatter than a feathered shuttlecock’s
flight, when hit by the same stroke and power.

So that's it. The next topic will be parts of shuttlecock. So Miss Bethany take it away.