Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock is the light, cone-shaped projectile that players hit back and forth in badminton instead of a ball.
Definition
A shuttlecock, often just called a shuttle or birdie, has a rounded base of cork or rubber with a skirt of feathers or moulded plastic flaring out behind it. This open cone shape creates a lot of air resistance, so the shuttle slows down quickly in flight and always turns to travel base-first, whichever way it is struck.
Because it decelerates so fast, a shuttlecock behaves very differently from a ball: powerful shots can be extremely quick off the racquet yet drop steeply, and gentle touches float and hang near the net. Feather shuttles are prized for their flight but wear out quickly, while plastic shuttles are more durable and popular for casual and beginner play.
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- 2026-09-01
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