Flight and durability are the two most important factors when testing the capabilities of shuttlecocks. Here we look at the difference between YONEX shuttlecocks and products from other brands.
- Test shuttlecocks
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- Company A
temperature indication 4 - Company B
temperature indication 4 - YONEX
temperature indication 4
- Company A
- The location of the experiment
- YONEX,Tokyo Factory,Gym
- The experiment
- 24 shuttlecocks are hit by a racquet simulator at the same speed and rate, in controlled conditions – temperature, atmosphere, pressure etc.
- The comparison method
- Compare the difference in the points of fall of the 24 shuttlecocks between the three brands.
The experiment took place under strict conditions. We hit the shuttlecock cleanly with the racquet simulator, which provides a constant hit in terms of contact and power, the racquet and string are set up exactly the same throughout the experiment. We catch the shuttlecock, shot by the simulator on the brink of landing in the court, to ensure pinpoint accuracy avoiding any shuttle movement on the floor. We then mark this precise point of fall. After hitting all of 24 shuttlecocks, we take photographs for the analysis and compare the difference in the points of fall of the 24 shuttlecocks between the three brands.
The landing range of YONEX’s shuttlecocks were tighter than the others. As the result, the flight distance of YONEX’s shuttlecocks is the more consistent and more accurate. Compared to YONEX, Brand A was 2/3rds as good; Brand B was half as good.
- Test shuttlecocks
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- YONEX
temperature indication 4 - YONEX
temperature indication 3 - YONEX
temperature indication 2
- YONEX
- The comparison method
- Compare the difference in the flight distance of the shuttlecocks depending on the numbers of the temperature indication.
- The location of the experiment
- YONEX, Tokyo Factory, Gym
- The experiment description
- We hit each of the numbered shuttlecocks six times in a constant and controlled temperature(17℃).
The experiment is similar to previous experiment. We hit shuttlecocks according to temperature indication. Then, we catch the shuttlecock shot by the simulated racquet machine right on the brink of landing in the court, and mark the point of fall. We test the difference in the flight distance of shuttlecocks depending on their temperature indication and compare the results across each of the numbered shuttlecocks.
It’s common knowledge that shuttlecocks are easily affected by temperature. Results showed that with YONEX shuttles there is difference of about 25 to 30 centimetres depending on temperature indication. So, it’s important that you understand whether the shuttlecocks you use are suitable for the environment you practice in.
- Test shuttlecocks
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- Company B
- YONEX
- The comparison method
- We compared the degree of alteration in shuttlecock shape and body.
- The location of the experiment
- YONEX, Tokyo Factory, shuttlecock durability laboratory
- The experiment description
- The racquet simulator smashed the shuttlecock 40 times under a room temperature of 5 degrees Celsius.
We compared the durability of two aspects of the product: feathers and corks.
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- ■The shuttlecock of company B
- Most of the shafts broke, and feathers became misshaped.
- ■YONEX shuttlecock
- Shafts broke, but the feathers held their shape.
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- ■The shuttlecock of company B
- The cork of the shuttlecock is made by sandwiching polyurethane between corks. Therefore, the cork became misshapen because the polyurethane disintegrated.
- ■YONEX shuttlecock
- Very little change in shape of the cork, this is because the shuttlecock is made purely of natural cork.