The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has given the green light for the use of synthetic shuttlecocks from two leading companies in BWF Grade 3 tournaments and Junior International tournaments. This move is part of BWF’s strategy to explore the viability of synthetic feather shuttlecocks for elite-level competitions. BWF is collaborating with these companies to evaluate the quality and performance of synthetic shuttlecocks in high-level competitive environments, focusing on ensuring they meet current competition standards.
The approved synthetic shuttlecocks for the trial phase are the VICTOR New Carbon Sonic Max Synthetic Shuttlecock (SC-NCS-MAX-12) and the YONEX CROSSWIND 70 Synthetic Shuttlecock. During the trial period, data on the manufacturers’ performance will be gathered, along with feedback from players, technical officials, and event organizers. This data will assist BWF in continuously assessing the synthetic shuttlecocks and making informed decisions on their potential use in top-tier tournaments.
Animal protection groups have criticized BWF in the past for using goose or duck feathers in shuttlecocks. Currently, shuttlecocks are crafted from around 16 overlapping feathers, typically sourced from geese or ducks, inserted into a cork base. The plucking of feathers from live birds, considered inhumane by animal rights activists, has led to calls for the adoption of synthetic shuttlecocks to prevent animal suffering. There have been suggestions to use feathers from either the right or left wings exclusively in each shuttlecock, avoiding a mix of feathers from different wings due to their varying shapes.
