Ever wondered what's the difference between nylon and feather shuttlecocks?

Feather Shuttlecocks

Shuttlecocks with feathers, as you might expect, use feathers to create the skirt section. 16 feathers are inserted into the base of the shuttlecock which consists of a cork hemisphere.

Shuttlecocks using feathers are the standard for all professional and international badminton. Feather shuttlecocks fly very differently to their nylon counterparts. They decelerate rapidly after being hit, especially when smashed. This results in shuttlecocks falling sharply after a smash. Due to this flight pattern and their construction, feather shuttlecocks allow greater control when playing shots such as slices and spins.

Nylon (Plastic) Shuttlecocks

Nylon (or plastic) shuttlecocks have become very popular since 1950s. Instead of using actual feathers, nylon shuttlecocks use a plastic skirt section. Due to this increased lifespan, nylon shuttlecocks are much cheaper in the long run.

Generally nylon shuttlecocks will fly slightly further and don't decelerate as rapidly at the end of the flight. Shots such as spins and slices can be more difficult to master as the shuttlecock doesn't respond in quite the same way. Many people find it difficult to adjust when moving from nylon to feather shuttlecocks, with clears not going as far and struggling with their net game.

Which Should You Use?

Feather shuttlecocks are more responsive and allow greater control so are recommended for people who are keen to improve their game and play competitively. Practising with feather shuttlecocks is also highly recommended as they will most likely be using feather shuttlecocks in competition.

Nylon shuttlecocks are also great for drilling as their increased durability means they can withstand frequent hitting. As cheaper alternatives, they are of best use for beginners are hobbyists who play irregularly.

It's common for players to use nylon shuttlecocks for drilling and warm-ups and save their feather shuttlecocks for actual matches.

Other Things to Consider

Due to the nature of their construction, feather shuttlecocks are susceptible to damage, especially from new players who haven't yet developed good contact with the shuttlecock. It's not uncommon to blow through several shuttlecocks in a game!

Feather shuttlecocks also perform differently depending on weather conditions (especially temperature and humidity). Many badminton clubs use different speed ratings in different seasons. Speed ratings are indicated by coloured caps on the shuttlecock tubes.

Many nylon shuttlecock manufacturers also use coloured caps to indicate the speed rating of the shuttlecocks. Yonex uses color caps suggesting, green = slow, blue = medium, red = fast.

Written by

Dee