Shuttles

The game of badminton is played with a badminton ball. This is well known, as is the fact that the terms "badminton" and "shuttlecock" refer to two different sports. However, fewer people realise that there are different badminton balls. Below you will therefore learn about the differences between plastic balls, natural feather balls and hybrid feather balls. This will tell you which badminton balls you should buy for the Sport.

Synthetic balls

There are two different types of plastic balls. While some plastic balls are based on foam, others are based on natural cork. Plastic balls with a foam base are characterised by their robustness. This is thanks to the integrated foam, which is able to withstand shocks and friction on the racket strings. As a result, the badminton ball usually reaches its target even with poorly hit shots. A plastic ball with a natural cork base is more sensitive than one with a foam base. However, it is more comfortable to play with and has a parabolic trajectory. The latter is an advantage if the players do not want to play a game, but simply want to play back and forth. For amateur players in particular, synthetic balls are more recommendable than natural feather balls due to the aspects mentioned above.

Natural feather balls

As a natural feather ball has 16 goose feathers and a goose feather can be damaged quickly, the low durability of natural feather balls is a major drawback. On the other hand, a natural feather shuttlecock scores highly in terms of flight characteristics. The natural feather ball enables a dynamic game, which is why professionals use this type of badminton ball. Other shuttlecocks are more suitable for children and inexperienced players, as natural shuttlecocks are harder to hit than their counterparts. And, as we all know, it's no fun if the racket always swings "into the void" :)

Hybrid balls

A hybrid ball combines the components "cork", "modified leather" and "natural feather". The cork is covered with artificial leather. A polyamide base is inserted into the artificial leather, which ensures continuous production of the hybrid balls. The goose feathers ensure excellent flight quality and a great playing experience. Compared to natural feather balls, hybrid balls have a longer service life. This is due to their improved durability.

Conclusion

Whether a classic shuttlecock, a variant of the plastic shuttlecock or a hybrid shuttlecock is the best choice depends on the player and the reason for playing. If you only want to play for fun, you should avoid natural shuttlecocks, which are difficult to handle. Instead, synthetic or hybrid balls are ideal for beginners and amateur players due to their high durability. However, if you are at an advanced level and want to train like the pros, you should opt for natural feather balls. The speed that comes with the light feathers of natural feather balls gives badminton a professional feel.