Badminton adopts synthetic shuttlecocks

Badminton’s world governing body has approved synthetic shuttlecocks for selected lower-tier international tournaments as feather shortages squeeze the sport. (bbc.co.uk) The Badminton World Federation said the trial will cover some Grade 3 events and junior international tournaments, with data gathered from manufacturers, players, technical officials and organizers. Reuters reported the decision on April 8, 2026. (thestar.com.my) The approved synthetic models come from Yonex and Victor, two of the sport’s biggest equipment brands, and the federation said the testing is meant to assess whether they could eventually be used at elite events. (indianexpress.com) A top feather shuttlecock uses 16 duck or goose feathers, usually taken from the birds’ wings, so badminton depends on the poultry supply chain as much as on racket makers. One shuttle can use feathers from two birds, and premium versions can require parts from up to four. (france24.com) That supply has tightened in China, the main production hub for shuttlecocks. China Daily, citing the China Animal Agriculture Association, said commercial duck supply fell from more than 4.87 billion in 2019 to about 4.22 billion in 2024, while geese fell from 634 million to 569 million. (chinadaily.com.cn) BBC Sport reported that bird-flu outbreaks, stronger badminton demand and shifts in Chinese meat consumption all fed the shortage. The result has been a sharp jump in feather costs and pressure on clubs, tournaments and manufacturers. (sports.yahoo.com) The federation has been discussing shuttlecock inflation for more than a year. Indian Express reported that prices for premium feather shuttlecocks had more than doubled over the past year as raw-material costs climbed. (indianexpress.com) Synthetic shuttlecocks have long existed for casual play, but elite badminton has stuck with feathers because players judge speed, drift and touch shot by shot. The new trial is an attempt to test whether newer synthetic designs can mimic that flight closely enough in sanctioned competition. (insidersport.com) The first verdict will come from smaller events, not the Olympics or the All England. For now, badminton is trying to keep tournaments supplied while it measures whether a plastic-and-composite stand-in can behave like a bird feather under match pressure. (timesofmalta.com)