The Badminton World Federation's (BWF) rubber stamp approval of the use of synthetic feather shuttlecocks at all their sanctioned tournaments from 2021 has gotten mixed reception from several professional shuttlers.
The world body conducted extensive testing of various prototypes with Yonex, including testing the synthetic shuttles at three BWF sanctioned international tournaments last year.
The feedback was these synthetic feathers proved more durable and cost saving compared to traditional feathered shuttles plucked from geese.
It is also said these synthetic shuttles provide similar flight and performance, and more importantly it could reduce shuttle usage up to 25 percent, which provides badminton with a significant environmental and economic edge.
BWF secretary-general Thomas Lund said the vision is “to ensure the long-term sustainability of badminton and become less dependent on using natural feathers for shuttlecocks.”
But shuttlers, past and present who already tested the shuttles, were not embracing the technology just yet.
National icon Lee Chong Wei had taken part in testings back in 2017, and he did not fancy it.
"I’m not sure if they are going to implement the shuttlecocks that we tested previously. If it is, then there’s a huge difference. Those shuttlecocks don’t fly like the conventional ones, they are way quicker," he told The Star.
Former national Under-18 champion Yeoh Seng Zoe, who tried the shuttle last year, believes it would make rallies shorter, saying: "The matches will end fast, making them less exciting to watch. It also feels like plastic."
But with the synthetic shuttles expected to be further tested before officially launching next year, others were looking forward to it.
"It is good that the BWF are doing more to make badminton more sustainable. We have not tried the shuttles yet, but I think it will take some time for players to get used to them,” Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew told the Straits Times.
Singapore women’s singles shuttler Yeo Jia Min also supported the move to shift from traditional feathers and reduce the environmental effects.