What speed shuttlecock should be used for north west england during the winter months? I play at different sports halls so I am looking for an average. Basically are different speeds used for different seasons. Having Paul Stewarts advanced badminton coach website (who is from my area) he reckons people are using wrong speeds but he doesn't mention what speeds
What is the temperature in the hall and what is its altitude? These two determine the correct shuttle speed, especially the altitude.
approximately altitude - 100 metres temp - between 10 and 17 celsius (very rough, take a thermometer next time, will get some weird looks!) outside temp at moment is just above freezing
I would say 78 speed. Am from the north and we're currently using that speed. Sometimes needed to tip a few but they work fine and overall seem to work well for the temperature, humidity, altitude etc Heres an article which might help: http://www.shuttlecock.com/Resources/Shuttlecock/speed_info.php
At an altitude between 0 to 300 meters and a hall temperature of between 8 degrees C to 17 degrees C, the correct speed is 78. At the same altitude and at 8 degrees C or slightly below, then go for speed 79.
We play in the west of Ireland in similar conditions to what you mention and use speed 3 or 77's all year round. However I reckon that this speed is more suited to our summer temperatures than winter. Ideally we should be playing 78's in winter and 77's in summer but this is not always practical as very few players or shops for that matter in our area carry 78's
If you hit the shuttle from your baseline with an underarm action as fast as you can and it falls within 20cm of the inside tramline at the other side of the court then that shuttle is the correct speed. I know it's not useful for when you are buying shuttles, but if you do buy 78s test them like this and see if they are suitable. Temperature, altitude and humidity are all factors in shuttle choice. But just bang it across the court and see.
I play in St Helens, and on the (lamentably rare) occasions we get to use feathers, 78s seem to be the ones we arrive at every time. Ideally you'd be able to a brand new one in each speed (78, 79 and 80) and test them, because there seems to have been a trend of late with some brands that shuttles are playing slower than their reported weight. As Andy says, smack them underarm as hard and as straight as you can from directly above the baseline - if they land between the opposite singles and doubles service lines then they're of the correct speed.
