RACKET TIPSproduct search
Restring Service
2011 Event
sponsored by badminton4u
Shuttlecock Speed
In badminton, the term "speed" refers to how far a shuttlecock will travel when struck with a standard force, "further" being considered "faster". Due to differences of air resistance related to altitude, humidity and temperature, the same shuttlecock will have a different "speed" at different locations. A shuttlecock which is good in Hong Kong may not be good to use in London –due to differences in temperature; humidity; altitude and air pressure etc.
Because of weight differences and other factors, the shuttles come in varying speeds. The referees are responsible for testing the shuttles each day and determining what speed will be used that day. During a round of competition, we can be asked to change the shuttle speed because conditions - heat and humidity, for instance- have changed. That can be one of the more difficult disputes since a slower shuttle might benefit one player’s style while a faster shuttle would be advantageous for the other.
In an IBF tournament, most of the Chief Referee will test up to 3 different speed of shuttlecocks to ensure that particular speed is right for that particular place at that particular time.
Fast or slow do not represent the quality of the shuttlecock. But, of course, the consumer has the right to choose.
Table below is the 3 most common systems using right now:
international-metric wt.-grain - speed
1 ------------- 48 ---- 75 - slow, for use in highland
2 ------------- 49 ---- 76 - medium slow, for use in hotter area
3 ------------- 50 ---- 77 - medium, most sea level area
4 ------------- 51 ---- 78 - medium fast, cold area
5 ------------- 52 ---- 79 - fast, cold area, below sea level
From the list, you can see that the shuttles were traditionally divided into 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 according to the weight of the shuttles. 49 weights 4.9g, 50 means 5.0g, 51 means 5.1g and so on. We found the shuttles using these rating was inaccurate and therefore was difficult to classify. So we change the shuttles' speed standard. We use Speed 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 instead. There is a 30cm distance between each speed. Shuttle speeds are ideal for different parts of the world. For example, shuttles with speed 76 are used in China during the summer and 77 during the winter months. Shuttles with speed 75 are good in Thailand, Speed 76 ,77 in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Speed 77, 78 in the U.S.A., Speed 78,79 in Finland, Canada, Korea and Japan. Speed 79, 80 is used in Australia in winter. Speed 73-74 would only be played in high altitude area as Yunnan Province in China and Colorado Springs in U.S.A. or high temperature area as Johannesburg in South Africa.
Shuttlecocks also have rotational speed which is crucial for the stability. For shuttlecock stability at speeds higher than Mach 0.65, the upper body flaps were moved from the average position of 11.8 degrees to 20 degrees upward from the body surface.
If you ask what the maximum speed in kilometers per hour for the shuttlecock has ever got regardless circumstance, please check the Guinness Book of Records. The shuttlecock is poised to enter the Guinness Book of Records at 162 miles per hour (261 kph) -- the speed it travels on the smash -- compared to squash`s 151 mph (243 kph) and a mere 138 mph (222 kph) for tennis. Badminton`s promoters hope the speed record might boost the sport`s image and help move it out of other racket sports` shadows, particularly in regions where tennis and squash reign supreme. Beside Guinness, we saw some books claiming the speed for shuttlecock is about 300 km/h.
As the shuttlecock flies, two forces affect its motion: gravity pulling down and air resistance pushing it up. The acceleration due to gravity is constant. The acceleration due to air resistance increases as the shuttlecock picks up speed through the air. The shuttlecock's acceleration, a, along a vertical coordinate axis with positive down, is given by an equation of the following form:
a = g - f(v)
while f(v) depends on temperature, humidity; altitude and air pressure etc. Write it in a general form:
a = g - bv^r
here r is within 1 and 2 depends on temperature, humidity; altitude and air pressure etc.Controlling Feather Shuttlecock Speed
Q: What do you do if your shuttles are of the wrong speed--either too fast or too slow for your local conditions during a tournament and you have no time to change your stock?
A: The shuttles should then be "tipped" in such a way that their speed would be either increased or decreased. Please note I am writing this from the officials' point of view.
How do you tip?
Well, tip outwards to slow down the speed. Tip inwards to increase the speed.
What exactly do you mean by tip?
Bend the tip of the feathers either inwards or outwards.
What's the procedure?
There is no standard procedures... If the shuttles are found to be too fast, and then begin by tipping only one in four feathers (i.e., four in every 16 feathers) should be tipped outwards in an attempt to slow the shuttle down to an acceptable speed. If that is still too fast then one in every two feathers should be tipped if necessary. Please note that the game is for the players and therefore every effort under the circumstances must be made to modify the shuttles to meet their specifications and for the matches to be conducted.
What is the ‘tipping method’ if the shuttles were found to be too slow?
How can a shuttle be speeded up?
If tipping outwards slows down the shuttles, then the reverse, tipping inwards will speed up the shuttles.
Is there any method to ensure consistency in feather tipping?
You need to ensure the tipping is consistent in terms of
Length of the feather to be tipped ?
To what degree (angle) inwards or outwards to tip ?
How many feathers to tip ?
In the absence of specific IBF instructions, all the above is a matter of trial-and-error. However, there are certain procedures that can significantly reduce variations.
The length of the feather tip to be bent could be specified -- 5.0 mm from the tip is suggested. To ensure absolute consistency, a commercially available broad tweezers with a pincer grip should be used or the IBF can actually have a standard tweezers for every tournament Umpire to be used in case of an emergency. Please note that the present practice of using the fingers and thumbs can be a rather painful experience at the end of a long day.
It is virtually impossible to ensure that the angles of the bents are similar in each feather. However, a good rule of thumb is to bend the feather till the shaft snaps but not till it is broken. The feather so tipped will not return to its former “untipped” position. There is a discernible “crack” that can be felt. Experience shows that this method produces the most consistent angles, whether inwards or outwards.
It is suggested that initially one (1) in four (4) feathers should be tipped. If these do not produce the desired results, then one (1) in two (2) feathers should be tipped.
The bottom line is, always ensure you get the right shuttle speed for your local conditions so as to avoid these problem.Humidify your shuttlecock before using them
&you will save a lot of money!!
To extend the life of badminton shuttlecocks, it is very important to keep the feathers of these shuttlecocks from getting too dry or brittle.
The first important step is to make sure that the shuttlecocks are stored at or below room temperature. Keep shuttlecocks away from heat or direct sun light such as heater and the car dashboard. Best to keep them in the bathroom where moistures from showers or bath will help humidify the shuttlecock feathers.
The second step is to prepare the shuttlecocks 1 to 2 days before playing. This preparation is very important in extending the life and durability of your shuttlecocks.
There are few different ways of preparing shuttlecocks directly before using them. We believe however that steaming is the best of them.
6 Steps of Steaming / HumidifyingRemove both ends of the shuttlecock tube's caps.
Badminton4u would like to thank CSM from Australia who took the time to write this suggestion to share with other Badminton community around the world. Thank You very much!
.
comming soon!!!
Best Seller
