Badminton is a racket sport and the second most popular sport in the world. It is usually played on a rectangular court with the help of a racket, a shuttlecock, and a net.
The racket used in this sport is much lighter than a tennis racket, and a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, is used here in place of a tennis ball. The players use this projectile to hit back and forth with the help of a racket over the net.
It holds a conical shape with feathers embedded into a cork base as the cork base provides weight to the shuttle so that it be played back and forth for longer rallies.
However, the shuttlecock is either made up of synthetic materials or feathers. On the other hand, synthetic materials include nylon and plastic.
But do you know the difference between a feather shuttlecock and a nylon shuttlecock?
If yes, then fine, but if no, then let me explain to you that which shuttlecock is best and which one you should use according to your game level:
Let’s dive in and begin with:
Feathered shuttlecocks are made of a left wing of a goose or duck’s feather; on the other hand, nylon shuttlecocks are made of synthetic fibres.
There are a total of 16 feathers attached to a solid cork base. These feathers are usually taken from the duck and goose’s left wing because of aerodynamics, as the left-wing spins clockwise, whereas the right-wing spins counter-clockwise.
Also, remember that goose feather shuttlecocks are much more durable than duck feather shuttlecocks and are best regarding flexibility, strength, and structure.
On the other hand, the upper part of the nylon shuttlecock does not hold a different combination of pieces. It is just a single piece and is designed in such a way that they look similar to the feather shuttlecocks.
BWF (Badminton World Federation) has set some rules and regulations for the diameter and length of a shuttlecock to ensure the right flight and trajectory. And according to these rules, the weight of the feathered shuttlecock and the nylon shuttlecock must be between 4.74 grams to 5.50 grams.
But remember that the heavy cock base of the nylon shuttlecock isn’t good when you try to perform some quality shots. But sometimes it can be good outdoors as the weight distribution helps to play the game even if we have a slight breeze.
Therefore, professional players always opt for a feathered shuttlecock when playing badminton indoors.
After these many years of gaming experience, I can clearly say that a feathered shuttlecock has more accuracy than a nylon shuttlecock.
If you are playing a friendly match, then the thing accuracy doesn’t matter much. Still, suppose you are playing a professional match. In that case, I suggest you always go for a feathered shuttlecock because the nylon shuttlecock tends to wobble more than the feather shuttlecocks, especially for net shots. But feather shuttlecocks are ideal for playing net shots.
So overall, I would say that nylon shuttlecocks generally decelerate slower than feathers, usually resulting in a faster-paced game with less control or touch.
Feather shuttlecocks are usually slower as compared to nylon shuttlecocks. It is due to the rigid structure of the feather shuttlecocks, as they have a higher declaration than the nylon shuttlecocks.
When we hit a feather shuttlecock, it tends to move upwards; on the other hand, if we hit a nylon shuttlecock, it moves at aflat angle and travels more distance.
Suppose you are playing with a nylon shuttlecock. In that case, you need to remember that these shuttles are not easy to control, and one requires a lot of power while performing a shot, whereas you can easily handle and adjust the speed of a feather shuttlecock.
When it comes to durability, then I must say that nylon shuttlecocks are more durable and offer more speed in comparison to the feather shuttlecock.
Feather shuttlecocks easily get damaged within 2-3 games, whereas nylon shuttlecocks can average last up to 6-7 games. It depends on how powerful the shots we play are. But nylon shuttlecocks can generally last many more shots than feather shuttles.
Therefore, nylon shuttlecocks are preferred over feather shuttlecocks when we play badminton for fun. So, for practice games and enjoyment, go for nylon shuttlecocks. If you’re considering playing badminton seriously, maybe professionally, then play using feather shuttlecocks.
Feather shuttlecocks are more expensive in comparison to nylon shuttlecocks.
So, if you’re a beginner-level player or playing badminton just for fun, I suggest you go for nylon shuttlecocks, as they are less expensive and more durable.
Feather shuttlecocks are expensive and less durable. Usually, professional players use feather shuttlecocks, and also you must take proper care of the shuttles while playing if you want them to survive for as many games as possible.
Now, you might have known that there are a lot of differences between nylon and feather shuttlecocks. As badminton shuttlecocks are very lightweight and can affect your game if you do not opt for the right one.
Also, there are different types of shuttlecocks available in the market. You must choose an ideal shuttlecock for yourself according to your game level, as beginners should go for the nylon shuttlecock. In contrast, professionals should opt for the feather one.
In contrast, a feather shuttlecock is for playing in any competitive tournament, as the weight of all shuttles remains the same.
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