Yonex AS-50, AS-40, AS-30 and AS-05

Of the following Yonex shuttlecocks, I liked the AS-40 the best - it has a very nice feel to it and quite durable when you play a smashing game. Unfortunately the AS-40 is quite expensive.

You can see the difference in the cork structure of the various models below. All the models featured were created with dual-layered cork deploying a varying degree of the thicker, denser cork.

AS-50,  AS-40, AS-30 and AS-05 from left to right

AS-05, AS-30, AS-40 and AS-50 from left to right

Feedback received on the AS-05 seem to be batch dependent - the bad are BAD and vice-versa.

I find the AS-30 lighter and not as durable as the AS-40.

The AS-50 is acceptable though more expensive than the AS40.

RSL Tourney No1, Classic Tourney and Supreme (***Updated***)

RSL shuttlecocks are quite popular and a favourite of many players.

Managed to obtain some used RSL birdies (Tourney No1, Classic Tourney and Supreme) from the badminton hall I frequent.

The following are pix of the various RSL models after the white covering over the cork on the birdie has been removed.

No1, Classic and Supreme (LHS->RHS)

Supreme, Classic and No1 (LHS->RHS)

The RSL models show the cork deployed in these models are the same.

Thus the difference in pricing for the RSL shuttlecock(s) are due to the difference in feather grade(s)!

Feedback from my regulars are that the RSL shuttlecocks have good flight characteristics but are not durable in a smashing game. We have performed a comparison before and after steaming. The shuttles do last longer after steaming but are not durable enough for a smashing game. Only Supreme does not require steaming but tend to slow down after several hard smashes.

In the past we performed an experiment to determine if the durability was due to different batches. Hence we bought a tube of Classic Tourney from Malaysia, Singapore and HK. The results were consistently the same - as per previously mention.

Atleast the quality was consistant!

Update - 17May2013

Last night, the group next door were using the RSL Tourney Classic and passed a sample four us to (re-)try.

The following pix was after a set of average smashes. The shuttle had to be retired before end of the set. 

Feedback was nice shuttle but durability could be better eg rib cage structure lobsided.