What is a shuttlecock made of, and how fast should it be?
Officials' detail · The court, the net, the shuttle and the racket · 3 of 4A feathered shuttlecock has 16 feathers fixed in a rounded cork base and weighs 4.74 to 5.50 grams. Synthetic shuttles are allowed if they fly like a feathered one. A shuttle's speed is tested by hitting it from one back line: it should land 530 to 990 mm short of the other back line.
How it works
- Made of natural or synthetic materials, or both.
- Feathered: 16 feathers, each 62 to 70 mm long, tips forming a circle 58 to 68 mm across.
- Base: 25 to 28 mm across, rounded at the bottom.
- Weight: 4.74 to 5.50 grams.
- Synthetic: a skirt replaces the feathers, same measurements, with up to 10 per cent variation allowed.
- Speed test: a full underhand stroke from over the back boundary line, upwards and parallel to the side lines. A correct shuttle lands 530 to 990 mm short of the far back line.
- National associations may approve changes where altitude or climate makes the standard shuttle unsuitable.
- If a shuttle breaks up in a rally and the base comes away completely, it is a let.
- Players must not deliberately alter a shuttle to change its speed or flight.
Tricky cases
Why do players keep asking to change the shuttle?
Feathers break in play and a damaged shuttle flies differently. The umpire decides whether it is changed.
Are plastic shuttles legal in matches?
Yes, under the Laws, if they have the flight of a feathered shuttle. Individual tournaments choose which shuttle is used.
Why the rule exists
Shuttles fly faster in thin or warm air. The speed test makes sure the shuttle used suits the hall, so the court plays the same length everywhere.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All badminton under the BWF Laws | As above | L2, 3 |
| Places with unusual altitude or climate | Approved modifications | L2.4 |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, Laws 2, 3, 14.2.4 and 16.6.2, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).