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11:07 pm
December 10, 2011
Are there any companies developing a shuttle to replace the feather one? I thought years ago that a good synthetic would have been created by now but I guess there are various outfits happily making a profit from goose feathers. On the face of it isn't it rather bizarre that the sport still uses degradable shuttles? Some folk say that manufacturers can't make a synthetic shuttle that has the flight characteristics of a feather one but I reckon there just isn't the will or incentive to do so. Modern technology could surely rise to that challenge.
8:19 am
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
People do keep trying. I believe there was a fairly recent crack at it using plastic “feathers”… but all synthetic shuttles are useless.
I personally think that top of the range shuttles (that last 2 or 3 games) are worth the price. It will take a lot for someone to replicate the feel and the flight patterns with a synthetic material. Maybe if there was more money to be made from the sport, more people would try!
3:13 pm
March 10, 2013
I think that it's fare to say that in the synthetics v feathers debate the overwhelming opinion is that feathers win hands down.
That's not to say that synthetics don't have a place in the game, in my opinion they most certainly do.
Matt says that “all plastics are useless” and, at his level of play, he's right. Anyone playing higher league and certainly county and above can expect to play club nights and matches with feathers. Fair enough.
But what of lower leagues, social players, beginners and school kids etc. Are these groups going to be looked down on because of the type of shuttles they use. I hope not.
I coach kids and adult beginners and I have to keep the sessions cost effective to attract new learners. Given the number of shuttles coaching requires, I'd rather use a decent synthetic than knackered feathers that I've seen some coaches use.
Shot consistency is a big aim when your learning and for good feeds you need consistency in your shuttles.
Remember, we all started somewhere and very many of us with synthetic shuttles.
If you enjoy the game using synthetics don't be bullied into change for change sake. That said to take your game to a higher level may very often require you to consider using feathers.
Dee's point on the manufacture of better synthetics is a good one.
Some time ago a shuttle, marketed through Ashaway and called Bird2, was heralded as a major breakthrough in giving a synthetic very similar characteristics to a feather. Apparently it took 5 years to develop and was going to be the end of shuttles as we know them.
What happened was that it was too expensive. And being a bit closer to a feathers flight than other brands was not enough to justify the price.
I've had a scout round intraweb and all the named suppliers have no stocks.
Another innovation that seems to have bitten the dust is the Li Ning Phoenix. Apparently you could replace the damaged feathers thereby producing a new shuttle.
If any of the forum have any info on or have played with the Bird2 or Phoenix please share your experiences.
9:45 am
February 15, 2011
Roger I agree with you that plastic or nylon shuttles as some call them are necessary in badminton from a cost perspective.
It's disappointing that the manufacturers have not as yet made a plastic shuttle that acts like a feather. Maybe it's something to do with the organic material of a feather and how it bends and yet is stiff compared to the more flexible plastic.
The big issue for me with plastic shuttles is speed. I would rather place a small amount of blue tac or something else like a self adhesive lead weight to get the right speed and then we won't see as many shoulder and arm injuries.
Shuttles speeds, whether using plastics or feathers is so important. Getting the speed kills the game, moreso with a slow shuttle rather than fast.
Plastic shuttles keep players on court and in clubs which may ordinarily have folded if they were forced to use feather shuttles. So, there's a very important place for them which should never be under-estimated.
Paul
9:46 am
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
Following Rogers post, I have just reread my post – I did not say what I meant! Plastic shuttles are far from useless.
The point I wanted to make was that there are no plastic shuttles that have managed to come close to the feel and flight characteristics of feather shuttles. My personal favourite plastic shuttle is the Yonex Mavis 300 or the Yonex Mavis 2000.
Until just recently I have always played with plastics as well as feathers (this season is the first where I haven't hit a single plastic shuttle). I have found that some league clubs (a slightly lower standard) use plastic shuttles, and these clubs really thrive because they can keep their costs low and hence keep membership numbers high! This creates a really friendly social atmosphere. I only moved away from one of these clubs because it was no longer close enough for me to continue to play clubnights.
Plastic shuttles are quite fun to play with in many ways. The unique thing about a plastic shuttle is that, on being hit, it “collapses”, folding in half, and travels like a rocket! It then rights itself and lands in the court. This means that you can hit some monster smashes! Great fun!
However, the intricacies of the game are lost with these shuttles: deft net play, tumbling the shuttle, slicing the shuttle etc are all features that are largely lost without using feathers.
10:48 am
August 16, 2013
Hi Matt,
I agree with your last point, those features are largely missing when using plastic shuttles. However IMO it does not concern casual players as much, since most of them (me included) do not posses adequate skill level to perfom such shots with much success. I admit though even for clears and smashes the feeling is definitely different and I prefer feather over plastic in this regard.
Do you guys have access to cheap feather shuttles that do not perform very badly? A tube of popular casual shuttles here (Indonesia) costs about US$5-6 and a two-game play normally requires 2-3 shuttles. This has an effect that I hardly see plastic shuttles being used here.
Alas I miss Yonex AS-9 and AS-05 I played with in China. The hitting feel is very solid and stimulating. Well worth the approx. US$16 price tag.
8:27 pm
February 15, 2011
Luke
We have access to a variety of shuttles but generally you get what you pay for here. At £12 per tube shuttles will be relatively poor and not last long. £15-17 will get you a very decent shuttle with excellent playing characteristics and endurance. The top shuttles are £17-21.
As I've said before, the key with plastic shuttles is to have something to make them fly faster and then they will at least be playable. The sad truth is that most plastic shuttles are simply too slow for the venue.
Paul
5:29 pm
December 10, 2013
I play in a local plastics league and our club (there are twelve of us) only ever use plastic shuttles (Yonex Mavis 300), from all of the above statements re feather over plastic I have to ask is it worth buying a decent racquet to play with or does using plastic shuttles negate any benefits of the racquet.
Woody
9:30 pm
February 15, 2011
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