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There's more to a shuttle than feathers and cork ....

   Storing shuttles -  Testing Shuttles -  Shuttle Speed Guide
 
       STORING FEATHER SHUTTLES
     
The correct way of storing shuttlecocks can be understood more easily when remembering that the goose feathers, from which they are made, contain moisture and natural oil.

This keeps them strong and supple and when they are in prime condition they will ‘give’ to the ‘blows’ of the racquet without breaking. The greatest care is taken during the manufacture of shuttles to ensure that all the moisture and natural oil is retained in the shuttles so that the finished shuttles are in the best possible playing condition when they leave the factory.

Exposure to heat or low humidity will quickly reduce the moisture and natural oil content in the feathers, making them dry and brittle with a shorter playing life.

Shuttles should be kept in a slightly damp atmosphere and in a temperature not exceeding 55°F. They should NEVER be stored in a dry cupboard or in any location which is centrally heated.

They should NEVER be stored in a refrigerator nor warmed in front of a fire. Exposure to heat will not only dry the feathers out but will also dry out the cork base. If this happens the base may well go out of shape which distorts the ring of feathers and trouble with true flight follows.

The length of flight of a shuttlecock is affected by changes of temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. A shuttlecock will fly further in a hot court than in a cold court and it will also fly much further at a height of 5,000 feet than it will at sea level. It is necessary, therefore, to provide a wide choice of shuttlecocks of different lengths of flight so that shuttlecocks of the correct speed, as laid down in the Laws of Badminton, can be made available whatever the playing conditions may be.

       TESTING SHUTTLES
     
To test a shuttle, use a full underhand stroke, which makes contact with the shuttle over the back boundary line. A shuttle of correct speed will land not less than 530mm and not more than 990mm short at the other boundary line.

Shuttlecocks are ‘weighted’ from 76 to 84 grains (in tubes of 12). Other things being equal, 73 is the slowest and 85 the fastest (heaviest). There are 7,000 grains to one pound (0.45 kg). As a quick guide each grain adds approximately 4” to the length of flight.

Yonex shuttles are numbered 2 (76-77), 3 (77-79), 4 (79-80) and 5 (80-84).

       SHUTTLE SPEED GUIDE (YONEX)
     
Temperature range  (Celsius) Hall Guide Yonex shuttle speed Other brands
27 – 38 Very small, one court (usually warm) 2 76 – 77
22 – 28 Average, small hall, one court 3 77 – 79
12 – 23 Average assembly hall Two or three courts 3 / 4 79 – 80
7 – 13 Very large, lofty hall (usually cold) 4 80 - 84