The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has approved the ​use of synthetic feather ‌shuttlecocks at selected grade three ​and junior international ⁠tournaments, as part of its long-term strategy to assess their ‌potential use at the elite level.

The decision ‌comes amid reports of ‌the ⁠rising cost of shuttlecocks ⁠made from duck or goose feathers, driven by shortages of raw ​materials and ‌the sport’s growing global popularity.

BWF secretary-general Thomas Lund downplayed the severity of the ‌situation last year, but ​acknowledged that manufacturers needed to address supply-chain challenges ⁠and speed up the development of synthetic alternatives.

The BWF ‌said it would evaluate the quality and performance of synthetic shuttlecocks in higher-level competitive environments, with particular emphasis on ensuring ‌that flight and playing characteristics meet ​existing competition standards.

“The trial will include the ⁠collection of manufacturer performance data, ⁠alongside feedback from players, technical officials, and event ‌organisers,” it said on Wednesday.

Published on Apr 08, 2026