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Definition of Shuttle in the IBF Laws of Badminton

1. The shuttle shall be made of natural and/or synthetic materials. From whatever material the shuttle is made, the flight characteristics generally shall be similar to those produced by a natural feathered shuttle with a cork base covered by a thin layer of leather.
2. The shuttle shall have 16 feathers fixed in the base.
3. The feathers shall have a uniform length between 62 mm to 70 mm when measured from the tip to the top of the base.
4. The tips of the feathers shall lie on a circle with a diameter from 58 mm to 68 mm.
5. The feathers shall be fastened firmly with thread or other suitable material.
6. The base shall be 25 mm to 28 mm in diameter and rounded on the bottom.
7. The shuttle shall weigh from 4.74 to 5.50 grams.
8. Non-Feathered Shuttle
   8.1The skirt, or simulation of feathers in synthetic materials, shall replace natural feathers.
   8.2The base shall be as described in Law 6.
   8.3Measurements and weight shall be as in Laws 3, 4 and 7. However, because of the difference
   　  in the specific gravity and other properties of synthetic materials in comparison with feathers, a
   　  variation of up to 10 per cent shall be acceptable.
9. Subject to there being no variation in the general design, speed and flight of the shuttle, modifications in the above specifications may be made with the approval of the Member Association concerned under the following conditions:
   9.1 A match is held in places where atmospheric conditions due to either altitude or climate make
   　  the standard shuttle unsuitable;
   9.2 Medications are favorable for the match.

Classification of Shuttle Feather
Classification of shuttle feather is complicate. Since no country has set a uniform classification number standard, each manufacturer’s shuttle standard number is self-determined. Products with the same standard number do not mean that they have the same quality. For medium to high-end shuttle, quill from a living goose is used. First, quills are classified as large, medium and small quills. Then they are graded (four grades) according to their quality. Subsequently, they are fallen into five standards according to their bending. Finally, similar quills are sorted out according to their main shaft thickness and feather thickness. The 16 feathers on a shuttle must be of the same class and similar as much as possible. For high-end products, very accordant feathers are adopted to guarantee their quality. For low-end entertainment-use shuttle, goose nest feather and camel wool are usually used.

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