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How does a shuttlecock flip?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 25, 2026

The shuttlecock can reach speeds of over 130 m s1 and it will always hit the racket cork-first, meaning that it will always flip after impact. This is the result of an aerodynamic torque caused by the interplay between gravity and drag, which in turn occurs because of the shifted centres of mass and pressure.

How does a shuttlecock fly?

A shuttlecock flies with a pure drag trajectory. The cone of shuttlecock is formed by around sixteen overlapped feathers laced together by thin threads. One end of these feathers are attached firmly together to round base cork, giving the shuttlecock its beautiful flowery shape and aerodynamics properties.

Why is goose shuttlecock left wing?

“The contours and curvature of the left feathers allow the shuttle to spin and fly more consistently,” he said. “Lower-grade shuttles are made with other feathers from a goose or even duck feathers, and then formed to match a left-winged feather.”

What causes the ball side of the shuttlecock to always point down?

The different centers of mass and pressure cause the shuttlecock to exhibit its unique stabilizing aerodynamic torque and its characteristic flip.

How is physics used in badminton?

There is also momentum and impulse in the the shuttle (Birdie) hitting the racket sending an impulse through the racket as well as momentum coming through the shuttle sending it back over the net. This is how there is physics in the sport of badminton.

40 related questions found

Why does shuttlecock have feathers stitched?

The threads stitch each feather to the next. This process strengthens the shuttlecocks helping them maintain their strength even when they are getting slammed back and forth over a net.

What is smash in badminton?

The smash shot is hit with power and speed downward into the opponent's court. The angle and the steepness of the shuttlecock's trajectory make it hard for the opponent to retrieve and return.

Why does a shuttlecock turn?

The different centers of mass and pressure cause the shuttlecock to exhibit its unique stabilizing aerodynamic torque and its characteristic flip.

What is the final velocity of the shuttlecock?

This model was fitted to the experimental data enabling us to predict the terminal velocity of the shuttlecock (6.80 m/sec). The results indicate that, starting from rest, the vertically falling shuttlecock achieves 99% of its terminal velocity in 1.84 sec, after falling 9.2 m.

What happens if a birdie hits a player?

- If a player hits the bird that is going out of boundaries, it is considered a fault - The player cannot hit under the net - If the bird hits a player, it is fault against the player it hit - After the serve, if the bird hits the top of the net and still lands within the proper court, the play is considered in bounds.

How tall is the world's largest shuttlecock?

DID YOU KNOW? The world's largest shuttlecock is 18 feet tall and weighs 2,500kg. It is located on the Kansas City Museum's lawn and is 48 times larger than a real shuttlecock.

What is the term used for volleying a shuttlecock across the net until it hits the ground?

Rally is the badminton term for volleying a shuttlecock across the net until it hits the ground.

How does a shuttlecock increase drag?

For the ordinary shuttlecock, the air flows through the gap in the shuttlecock skirt, and this flow is related to high aerodynamic drag. That is, the high aerodynamic drag of a badminton shuttlecock is causes by the gap in the shuttlecock skirt.

Why does a shuttlecock go so fast?

The higher the altitude, the faster will be the shuttlecock. It is because the air density is lower compared to an area near sea level. If you are playing on a lower ground (for example, below sea level), the speed of the feather birdie will be slower. So, you must choose according to the altitude of the area.

What was the effect of increasing mass?

Increasing force tends to increase acceleration while increasing mass tends to decrease acceleration. Thus, the greater force on more massive objects is offset by the inverse influence of greater mass. Subsequently, all objects free fall at the same rate of acceleration, regardless of their mass.

How will an object's size and mass affect its terminal velocity?

An object with a large projected area relative to its mass, such as a parachute, has a lower terminal velocity than one with a small projected area relative to its mass, such as a dart. In general, for the same shape and material, the terminal velocity of an object increases with size.

What is ace in badminton?

Ace – A good serve that the receiver is unable to touch with the racket. Backhand – Any stroke made on the side of the body opposite the racket side. Birdie – The shuttle or shuttlecock, the object being hit. Carry – An illegal stroke occurring when the birdie is carried by the racket.

What is let in badminton?

The rules of badminton consider the following as 'lets': - If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after passing over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on service. - If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time, it shall be a 'let'.

What is lob in badminton?

The lob or lift shot is a defensive shot in badminton. It is played when the shuttlecock is near the floor. The aim is to lift or lob the shuttlecock over the net and make the shuttlecock fall as near to the baseline as possible without hitting it out.

What were old shuttlecocks made of?

Historically, the shuttlecock was a small cork hemisphere with 16 goose feathers attached and weighing about 0.17 ounce (5 grams). In the 1800's, although feathers were used, the flight was erratic and inconsistent as shown with the velvet shuttle with a cork base.

What do you call this situation when the shuttlecock is hit by both players back and forth in play?

Badminton came from a child's game called battledore and shuttlecock, in which two players hit a feathered shuttlecock back and forth with tiny rackets. The game was called "POONA" in India during the 18th Century, and British Army Officers stationed there took the Indian version back to England in the 1860's.

Who invented shuttlecock?

In Germany shuttlecock was discovered by Peter von Rüden, a German engineer while he was travelling in China. He saw some people play it in a park. Some of them were 60 or 70 years old. He was fascinated by this sport.

What is the mechanism of Battledore and shuttlecock?

The game is played by two or more people using small rackets (battledores), made of parchment or rows of gut stretched across wooden frames, and shuttlecocks, made of a base of some light material, such as cork, with trimmed feathers fixed around the top.

What is the ball in badminton called?

Historically, the shuttlecock (also known as a “bird” or “birdie”) was a small cork hemisphere with 16 goose feathers attached and weighing about 0.17 ounce (5 grams). These types of shuttles may still be used in modern play, but shuttles made from synthetic materials…