BWF Approved Shuttles

[Oldhand]

Since many members are asking about tournament-grade shuttles, here's some detailed information

The BWF (Badminton World Federation) maintains an official list of BWF Approved Equipment.
This list has four equipment categories - Shuttlecocks, Flooring, Nets, Net Posts.

In the case of shuttles, the manufacturers apply for approval which is granted (or not granted) after a series of tests.
These tests cover trajectory, flight deviation, tumbling stability, hooking capability and base surface roughness.
The intention, says the BWF, is to "maintain a satisfactory standard for feather shuttles used in international badminton events".
The shuttles are also tested by international players.

If a manufacturer's shuttles meet the BWF's standards, the Approval Period runs for two years (from either January 1 or July 1).
The manufacturer may include the wording 'Approved by the BWF for International Play' and may also use the BWF logo in its packaging and advertising (but only for those grades that have been approved).

This is the current list of approved grades:

MMOA Super Select MS-950
Manufacturer: Ai Sheng, Taiwan
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2009

Aero-flight 700
Manufacturer: APACS Sport, Malaysia
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2009

Snowpeak Superior C1101
Manufacturer: China ShaoXing Snow Peak Group, China
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2009

DHS 101
Manufacturer: Shanghai Double Happiness Co, China
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2010

Carlton GT1
Manufacturer: Dunlop Slazenger, UK
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2010

Victor Champion
Manufacturer: Far East Victor Sports, Malaysia
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2009

Gosen GFIO, Gold
Manufacturer: Gosen, Japan
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2010

Jinque AAA
Manufacturer: Guangzhou Double Fish Sports Goods Group, China
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2010

Air Power 70 AA
Manufacturer: Head Sport, Austria
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2009

Xumax X1
Manufacturer: Koha Products, New Zealand
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2009

Kason KS99 TSF Glory
Manufacturer: Kason Sports International, China
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2010

Youhe S100
Manufacturer: Ningbo Youhe, China
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2009

Ashaway Intl Grade Super A
Manufacturer: Pacific Sports, Singapore
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2009

Indo-cock Green
Manufacturer: PT Indocock, Indonesia
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2009

Yang Yang Tactic 300B
Manufacturer: Ruby Glamour, Malaysia
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2009

RSL Tourney 1
Manufacturer: DH Shuttlecocks, China
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2009

Aeroplane G1130
Manufacturer: Shanghai Badminton Factory, China
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2010

S Arrow No. 1
Manufacturer: Shantou Hongsheng Sports Goods, China
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2010

Tronex Green
Manufacturer: Tronex Sporting Goods, China
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2009

Trump T101
Manufacturer: Trump Sports, Taiwan
Approved Until: 30 Jun 2010

Wilson Top Line 100
Wilson Top Line 90
Manufacturer:
Wilson Sporting Goods, USA
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2009

Aerosensa 40 AS-40
Aerosensa 50 AS-50
Tournament F-90
Manufacturer: Yonex, Japan
Approved Until: 31 Dec 2010

[Danstevens]

Thanks for that, Oldhand. Perhaps this should be stickied and updated when necessary as this information is going to be really useful to a lot of people.

[cooler]

what happen to those proved shuttles after their expired approved dates, would they turn into pumpkins?

[Oldhand]

what happen to those proved shuttles after their expired approved dates, would they turn into pumpkins?

Pay fee, apply again, approve again, new expiry date

[cooler]

Pay fee, apply again, approve again, new expiry date

Ahhhhhhhhhhh protection monies (ie. extortion) lol

[vw1668]

so Aeroplane Black is not approved? but i heard that black is better than green?

[george@chongwei]

thanks for that useful information

[Dreamzz]

now, if someone would be kind enough to post pictures of the tubes of these shuttles, that would be grand.

[winstonchan]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh protection monies (ie. extortion) lol

"protection monies" - i like this, and very true too!!

there are plenty of brands that produce shuttles of better quality than those on the list... then again, judgment on shuttle quality is subjective.

[jymbalaya]

so Aeroplane Black is not approved? but i heard that black is better than green?

I believe it is refering to the series. its the G1130 EG1130.

[2NDround]

So Yonex shuttles (not even one) is not on the approved list? Maybe Yonex refused to pay application fee .

[Oldhand]

So Yonex shuttles (not even one) is not on the approved list? Maybe Yonex refused to pay application fee .

Obviously, you didn't go through the list
Yonex is the king of the approved list.

[2NDround]

Obviously, you didn't go through the list
Yonex is the king of the approved list.

Yeap, go through the list again and saw it right at the bottom. Pity, otherwise we will have a great time figuring out why they are not there .

[Shuttles'OEM]

hi,"oldhand", what you said is true in a sense also.
i am in badminton business and production and have some comments on these so called "BWF" certified shuttles.

what i observed that RSL Tourney no.1 is made of grade A or B chiguya(ya means duck in mandarin) with taiwanese 14mm fiber. Normally 3 to 4 pcs for a set 21point double by professional players. I have seen 2 state players (malaysia) used one whole tube for a 21pt hard single games.

conclusion: shuttles is good but is not good enough for international games

And the apacs flight 700, initially it was good when launched in march 2008 which used the top grade goose feathers to show it was value for money to attract more customers,but now feb 2009, what i found is that all are grade B or C goose feather and mix with grade B chiguya duck feathers shuttles and the speed of flight is not consistent with the range from 76 to 81 which have bad QC on the shuttles. some are fast and some are damn slow.

With a pc of top grade goose feather shuttle sure you can finish 1 hard double 21pt game (without chopping on feathers seriously).
But the apacs-flight700's grade has been downgraded to Grade C , 2 to 3 pcs are needed but with mixing of duck feather shuttles 3 to 5 pcs are needed for sure.

Then please tell me, are these branded shuttles good?
The samples they sent to BWF associations for observation sure are those best grade shuttles and what end users buy's is totally different.

[LeeCW]

hi,"oldhand", what you said is true in a sense also.
i am in badminton business and production and have some comments on these so called "BWF" certified shuttles.

what i observed that RSL Tourney no.1 is made of grade A or B chiguya(ya means duck in mandarin) with taiwanese 14mm fiber. Normally 3 to 4 pcs for a set 21point double by professional players. I have seen 2 state players (malaysia) used one whole tube for a 21pt hard single games.

conclusion: shuttles is good but is not good enough for international games

And the apacs flight 700, initially it was good when launched in march 2008 which used the top grade goose feathers to show it was value for money to attract more customers,but now feb 2009, what i found is that all are grade B or C goose feather and mix with grade B chiguya duck feathers shuttles and the speed of flight is not consistent with the range from 76 to 81 which have bad QC on the shuttles. some are fast and some are damn slow.

With a pc of top grade goose feather shuttle sure you can finish 1 hard double 21pt game (without chopping on feathers seriously).
But the apacs-flight700's grade has been downgraded to Grade C , 2 to 3 pcs are needed but with mixing of duck feather shuttles 3 to 5 pcs are needed for sure.

Then please tell me, are these branded shuttles good?
The samples they sent to BWF associations for observation sure are those best grade shuttles and what end users buy's is totally different.

I have tested the Apacs -flight 700 lately and i felt it is lousy
bro,any good recommandation of good shuttlecock available in Msia?thks!

[silentheart]

Hi Shuttleoem,

Your insight is a total proof of the difficult time we are in regarding use of feather shuttles. Either you pay more for better quality shuttles (Yonex, Aeroplane, MMOA and Victor is questionable now) or cheaper brand (some time not cheaper in total cost) and kill more shuttles. I feel the shuttle manufacture should specify what kind of feather on the tube so user can make a better selection base on their budget and level.

Everyone has their accaptable standard of price vs performance ratio. I have to say, in your example, Apac shuttles are not good shuttle IMHO.

Thank you.

[cooler]

These stories also vindicated me on the many debates i had regarding nylon versus feather shuttles. I always had said that nylon shuttle is more consistent in (speed, flight and durability quality) than feathers.