Badminton Feather Shuttle Care

It seems that the majority of beginning badminton players don’t really understand that when making the switch to feather shuttles, there are certain maintenance tasks that really need to be followed that ensure you get the best life and performance out of the shuttles. Here are a few guidelines for badminton feather shuttle care:

• Do not store the shuttles outdoors or in overly hot/dry areas (for the truly dedicated, storing shuttles in the refrigerator is ideal). Heat will dry out the feathers making the shuttle brittle; reducing the life of the shuttle. If possible, store them indoors and do not leave them in your car for extended periods.
• Steam/humidify the shuttles you plan on using 1-2 days prior to playing. This conditions the feathers and increases the durability of the shuttles. To steam shuttles, leave them in the tube but remove both end caps. If you have a hand-held steamer (used for cleaning or de-wrinkling) shoot steam into the bottom of the tube (where the shuttles are removed from) avoiding the cork. If you do not have a steamer, hold the open tube over a small pot of boiling water. Continue either method until steam emerges from the far end of the tube (a few seconds). Seal the tube with the end caps. An alternative method is to place about 2-3 inches of hot water into a shallow bowl. Remove all the shuttles and, holding the cork, dip the feather end of the shuttles into the hot water for about 1-2 seconds. Because fathers repel water, it will not soak through. However, the small amounts of hot water that do collect will be enough humidify and moisten the feathers over the course of the next 1-2 days. Immediately place the shuttles into the tube and seal it.
• During breaks in play, if you notice that the feathers of the shuttle are in disarray, gently run your fingers between the feathers such that they become aligned and straight. This will help prolong the life of the shuttle during play.
• When a shuttle begins to fly awkwardly or looses its feathers, it’s time for a new shuttle. However, chances are that the used shuttle can still be used for drills like hitting against the wall, shuttle pickups, net drops, and other drills where consistent shuttle flight is not absolutely necessary. I almost always keep a tube of used shuttles in my bag for this specific reason.