I've always played with shuttles straight out of the tube, but then I was told by a veteran player last week that I should "wet" then first. Can somebody shead some light on this? Do you have to prepare feather shuttles before play? If so how? Thanks
What the fellow meant was that you can prolong the durability of your shuttles by hydrating it beforehand (48 hrs before playing). Check out the info on http://www.shuttlecock.com/Resources/Shuttlecock/index.php for more information on how to hydrate shuttlecocks. I do with my own feathers but because the club where I play provides the shuttles, they use them right out of the tube.
Keep your shuttles in the refrigeratot. This will keep the feathers moist. Hydrating them will prolong the life of your shuttle.
I've had good results from steaming the birds. Open both ends of the tube and hold it over a steaming spout of a water pot. When steam rises through the top, cap both ends. This will keep the feathers moist and much less brittle.
