RCL Black Gold

One of the groups I regularly join bought this high-end RCL shuttle to try out.

Pix from the web

Good news is the shuttle is tough and it is very rare for any feathers to break, even during a smashing game.

Bad news is that it is fast initially before slowing down towards the end of the flight path - after being smashed 5-6 times. Although the shuttle may still look like it is in good condition, it has to be replace. Therefore atleast 2 shuttles would still be required for a heavy smashing game - reminds me of the RSL Supreme and Protech WorldClass.

Victor Service

Including the following shuttlecock for documentation purposes, as have not played with it before.

Starting new sub-blog - Badminton Stringers

Hi everyone,

Have just started a new sub-blog, badmintonstringer  for players who maybe interested in stringing their own racquets.

Will add information from my own experiences to the blog on monthly basis.

You are welcome to contribute to the blog as well.

Thanks for visiting!

Steaming shuttlecocks

Steaming is the process to introduce a tiny amount of moisture to the feathers.

I do so to either soften brittle feathers, or, help slow down extra fast shuttles.

The process is more useful for players in countries which have lower humidity levels eg North America, New Zealand, Australia etc.

Steaming seem to affect different brands, models and batches in various ways.

Best advise is to tryout a new tube and then examine the shuttle fatalities after the session, before deciding on steaming.

The opposite of steaming is to dry the shuttles. Had to do so on a batch which seem to have a softer cork head eg more shuttles with lob-sided rib-cage structure at the end of a session, with the same regulars.

One internet source which delves into moisturising shuttlecocks is http://www.shuttlecock.com/Resources/Shuttlecock/hydrate.php

I am in the process of purchasing a purpose built humidifier for shuttlecocks. Will post once I obtain and had a chance to use the device!

RCL Gold No1

RCL Gold No1 cames in a tube Gold in colour - reminds me of RSL's tube colouring.

Pix from internet

The organiser bought a few tubes for try-out and my impression was like that of a soft drink motto regarding caffeine ... never had it, never will. In my case (and the players present that day) ... never again!

Why? 

Though initial inspection of the build quality were above average, a feather would be broken on each shuttle (fresh from the tube) upon an average smash??? This reoccur-ed many times over the hour ... so much so the organiser is now deploying the remaining new tubes of RCL Gold No1 as warm-up shuttles only!!!

Carlton AG PWR

Found the single used sample in a badminton hall and had a short play with it.

Surprisingly durable and solid for a used shuttlecock! 

When I checked the shops ... certainly not low cost!!! Guess the price per tube reflects the reason for the good initial impressions

Wilson Topline 20 (Yellow)

In the past I have played with this shuttle with a different group and found the SPEED77 model to be surprisingly good value for money (if you can get the correct SPEED eg 77 for Singapore and Malaysia).

Shuttle weight and quality of feathers were pretty decent for a training/practise quality item.

When I mention if you get the correct speed , I meant exactly that. Previously I was hood-winked by the sales person as they said they only import Speed76 and that this was their equivalent of the correct speed. WRONG!!! 

When we tested the Speed76 shuttle it was performing as if it was in slow motion eg serve the shuttle high and you could reach the landing area with quite a bit of time to spare before it reaches you!!!

Speed77 for these shuttles are available once in a while in Malaysia but not Singapore (wonder why???).

I was impressed by the quality for the price paid and how usable the shuttle was. Having said that I do not mean you are getting the quality and build of a Mercedes for the price of a Hyundai. You would still require atleast 3 shuttles for a smashing game, but at that price - you can't really complain.

Flymax 40

Have not played with the following and found the sample in one of the badminton halls I frequent.

Enclosure for documentation purposes.