A study of flight distances between feather and synthetic badminton shuttlecocks

• Main Author: Chok, Joy Yi
• Other Authors: -
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Science::General
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/153143
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Background: Badminton has become a popular sport in the present, raising issues on sustainability of feather shuttles. Comparing the shuttles of different make to find and alternative could be a solution. Shuttlecock testing is subjected to human error and an alternative could be used in this experiment to ensure variables remain constant. Purpose: To investigate if the badminton launcher machine is consistent and compare the flight distances and deviation between feather and synthetic shuttles. Methods: Two brands of feather shuttles and three brands of synthetic shuttles were used. 10 shuttles from each brand were launched and the distance travelled and deviation was measured. 2 trials of 10 shuttles of Brand A (Yonex Aerosensa-10) shuttles was tested prior and compared via t-test to ensure consistency of the launcher machine. The following results from the 50 shuttles were analysed via Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tukey test was conducted after. Results: There is no significant difference between the two test trials groups. There is a significant difference between the distance travelled by feather shuttles and synthetic shuttles. Conclusion: The launcher is consistent, but cannot be used in official shuttlecock testing as the shuttles did not project to the minimum distance of 12.41m. The feather shuttles fly a shorter distance than synthetic shuttles. Beginners can use the synthetic shuttles as it is more durable and less focus needs to be put on the strength put into hitting the synthetic shuttle to a similar distance as a feather shuttle. Key words: badminton, shuttlecocks, feather, synthetic, launcher machine