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The shuttlecock is a game that is typically played outdoors with two or more people. It is a game of dexterity and accuracy, as players try to hit the shuttlecock back and forth with their racquets. The weight of the shuttlecock can make all the difference in the game, as it can affect how far it travels when hit. Heavier shuttlecocks are typically better for experienced players, as they can be hit harder.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) governs badminton internationally, with headquarters in London. BWF was formed in 1934 and it is now considered the world’s largest sport. It has members from around the world and works to promote and develop the sport. One of the pieces of equipment they give due attention to is the shuttlecock. For many, this attention seems excessive. Without the shuttlecock’s specifications, everything from the flight to the trajectory of the ball would be thrown off.
Shuttlecocks are used in a popular sport known as badminton. There are different weights and sizes of shuttlecocks, but what is the weight of a plastic shuttlecock?
A shuttlecock with a plastic surface must weigh between 4.74 and 5.50 grams. This equates to a median weight of approximately 5.12 grams. The shuttlecock weighing 16 times more than 4.74 grams will feel and play differently. BWF provides a particular tolerance when reporting the different common weights of shuttlecocks. They have been made of different materials including aluminum, wood, and cork, which can affect them.
Shuttlecock dimensions and weight are influenced by the shuttlecock’s materials and dimensions. BWF requirements mandate certain shuttlecock dimensions.
Let’s take a closer look at the dimensions and weight of the shuttlecock!
Contents
What Is the Length of a Plastic Shuttlecock?
Let’s talk about the shuttlecock’s length. The BWF has regulations pertaining to the length of a shuttlecock.
The shuttlecock’s length is 66 mm; shuttlecock is allowed to be between 62 and 70 mm long by BWF. The length of the shuttlecock standard is measured by its base, cork nose, or skirt, in the case of plastic shuttlecocks.
The specific shape of the feather’s flight path differs depending on the particular species of the feather. Feathered shuttlecocks of a different species show dissimilar behavior in flight.
What Is the Length of a Plastic Shuttlecock’s Feather?
The badminton shuttlecock’s length is mostly made up of the feather lengthwise. The size of the feather will affect its flight performance, and the best size is between 62 to 70mm in length. The base gets some of its length. If the plastic shuttlecock does not have its base, the feather’s segment will be 37 to 45 mm long.
The shuttlecock’s feather contains most of its total length because of this.
The shuttlecock has a conical shape but is cylindrical. The diameter of the base will differ from the feather’s tip because of this. Since the overall length is longer, this means the tip of the base will have a larger diameter than the height of the feather.
The BWF mandates a minimum diameter for the shuttlecock’s base of 25 mm to 28 mm, with a rounded tip. In addition, the shuttlecock’s BWF materials stipulate that the feather/skirt’s diameter at the tip should be 58 mm to 68 mm. The BWF’s guidelines decree that it must be “dipped in a circle.”
The diameter of both types of shuttlecocks is supposed to be the same according to the rules of the Badminton World Federation. When using plastic or feather shuttlescocks, there might be variations in size.
What Is the Diameter of a Shuttlecock’s Cork Base?
The base of the shuttlecock is the part of the shuttlecock that receives the impact of the racket. Although this part is the heaviest, it’s the smallest part of the entire object.
The shuttlecock has to have a cork base that is at least 25mm in diameter. The diameter of the base can not be larger than 28mm. Whether the weight of the base is on the lower or higher end, the flight should be within acceptable BWF ranges.
Just like in feather shuttlecocks, the diameters of plastic shuttlecocks are roughly similar.
How Many Feathers Does a Plastic Shuttlecock Have?
When you think of a shuttlecock, you may picture a cork base with feathers extending from it. The feather shuttlecock is another kind of shuttlecock that the BWF regulates. According to equipment rules set by the BWF, a feather shuttlecock is one that has a 16-fluffed design feathers.
The guidelines of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on shuttles state that plastic or leather shuttles cannot be designed with feathers, which have to be incorporated separately throughout the entire area of synthetic material blanketing the bottom half of the shuttlecock.
Synthetic materials are made to be put to use in many of today’s rubber shuttlecocks. A shuttlecock has to hold itself up against the motion of its feathered counterpart.
What Is the Weight of a Plastic Shuttlecock?
The BWF’s rules are concerned with the sizes, numbers, and weights of the shuttlecock to determine how it will behave during flight. That’s because badminton players don’t want to play the sport with a shuttlecock that is too light or too heavy. Just everything from the weight distribution of the shuttlecock’s base to its featherweight and diameter goes into it.
The BWF requires shuttlecocks of both kinds — those that are non-feathered versus those that are — to weigh 4.74 to 5.50 grams. A plastic shuttlecock can vary in weight by 10%. Of course, this means that material is variable, and it may therefore vary in chemical composition.
What is the difference in weight between a plastic and feathered shuttlecock?
The shuttlecock’s flight path in a badminton match is significant for proper operation. It is crucial that the flight path of the shuttlecock be appropriate, whether the net is up or down. If the shuttlecock is feathered, conditions must also accommodate this.
Because of this, you won’t notice any difference in the weight of a feather or plastic shuttlecocks. The descriptions of the weight ranges of BWF’s are uniform for both types of shuttlecocks.
Regardless of what type of shuttlecock is used, its weight is tested by striking the shuttlecock with a bat and measuring where it stops. The BWF conducts badminton speed tests by issuing the shuttlecock a whack and measuring the foot it lands on. The shuttlecock’s proper weight stops at the badminton court’s boundary line before the boundary. It measures precisely 990 millimeters east of the boundary line.
Because the shuttlecock weight affects the outcome of a match, it should be within a certain range. If the weight of the shuttlecock were incorrect, the effectiveness of a game would certainly be too rapid or too slow.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the weight of a shuttlecock makes all the difference in terms of how it flies. A heavier shuttlecock travels at a slower speed and stays in the air for a longer time. While a lighter shuttlecock moves faster and is more difficult to control.
If you want to improve your game, it’s important to know your best weight for your preferred shuttlecocks.
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Hi there, my name is John Duong, and I'm a 10-year experienced badminton player. Badminton is my passion, and I've been playing the sport competitively since I was a teenager. Over the years, I've honed my skills, developed my technique, and gained valuable insights into the game.
