Feather shuttles

**Tonto** · 09-18-2003, 09:15 AM

Hi guys. This is my first post, although I have been an interested reader of the forum for a while now. I have my first league match of the season tomorrow night, and we are now playing in Division one after promotion. The team we are playing use feather shuttles when we are used to playing with plastic (Yonex 370's). Whenever I have played with feathers before it has taken a while to get used to them, and it has seemed that the opposition have a real advantage in terms of tactics. I would be grateful if anyone could give me any tips regarding tactical play with feather shuttles.

***Cheung*** · 09-18-2003, 10:23 AM

No special tricks. Just have to get used to playing with them on a regular basis and getting the 'feel' of the flight path & impact on strings.

**cooler** · 09-18-2003, 10:37 AM

i use mavis 300/350/370 myself too and subject to a slight handicap when playing with feathers. Tactic dont change, just the feel is differenct and many learned and instinctive shots no longer work. By thinking more on each stroke, it takes attention away from game tactic. Try to make use of your warmup period, or play some feather games days before the feather tournaments.

**wood_22_chuck** · 09-18-2003, 12:35 PM

One tip I heard from another player who swears by it. If you have two rackets, use the one with a higher tension to play with feathers, and the lower tension to play with plastic (maybe a couple pounds lower).

The transition is more "seamless" it seems.

-dave

**cooler** · 09-18-2003, 12:50 PM

yes, for the same player, i do tell them to add 2 lbs extra if they r playing feather with their same racket. Also, thin strings give better result on feather than on plastic/nylon shuttles. That is why racket string is hybrid

**cooler** · 09-18-2003, 02:39 PM

That is why my rackets string are hybrid

**Winex West Can** · 09-18-2003, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by wood_22_chuck
One tip I heard from another player who swears by it. If you have two rackets, use the one with a higher tension to play with feathers, and the lower tension to play with plastic (maybe a couple pounds lower).

The transition is more "seamless" it seems.

-dave

I would agreed with this assessment.

**wood_22_chuck** · 09-18-2003, 03:50 PM

come to think about it, wasn't it you (WWC) that gave me this tip?

-dave

**Winex West Can** · 09-18-2003, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by wood_22_chuck
come to think about it, wasn't it you (WWC) that gave me this tip?

-dave

Hehehe...did I? No wonder it sounded so familiar!

**Dill** · 09-20-2003, 06:01 PM

I think you should watch out for the difference in flight patters (trajectories) of the two.

**Pointfore.Ca** · 09-22-2003, 11:31 AM

Changing racquets won't help much though with the trajectory of the different shuttles. It'll only make a difference when you make contact with the shuttles. Getting to the shuttles first is different.

Just practice with feather shuttles for about a week and you should be able to get used to it. They are definitely more enjoyable to play with since you'll often get more satisfaction with the sound it makes when you make contact with it.