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Badminton to trial synthetic shuttlecocks because of feather shortage

Badminton will trial synthetic shuttlecocks at lower-grade tournaments with a view to potentially using them at elite level, the sport’s governing body said, because of a shortage of duck and goose feathers.

Skyrocketing raw material costs in China caused shuttlecock prices to more than double last year, with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) saying previously it was an issue but the shortage was not “at a crisis level yet”.

The BWF said it would use synthetic shuttlecocks at selected events including junior international tournaments.

“This initiative forms part of BWF’s long‑term approach to evaluating synthetic feather shuttlecocks for potential use at the elite level,” it said in a statement.

“The trial will include the collection of manufacturer performance data, alongside feedback from players, technical officials, and event organisers.

“This information will support BWF’s ongoing assessment and inform future decisions regarding the potential use of synthetic shuttlecocks at top‑tier tournaments.”

The shortage in shuttlecocks can, in part, be attributed to changing consumer habits in China.

The production of shuttlecocks relies heavily on the supply of duck and goose feathers.

One high-quality shuttlecock requires 16 carefully selected feathers, typically sourced from the wings of ducks or geese.

Duck and goose output in China, the global leader in shuttlecock production, has declined sharply in recent years.

There is also growing demand for shuttlecocks because of the popularity of badminton in China, manufacturers told AFP.

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