Open Shuttlecock

Several new feather shuttlecocks standing in bright light
  • 16 feathers on every shuttle
  • 3 photos for each reading
  • Grades 1 to 5, and 1 is best
  • No account needed
  • Data under CC BY 4.0
A white feather shuttlecock lying on its side against a black background

Three photos of a shuttlecock. An honest read of its feathers.

Free to use
Open source
Says when it is unsure
Photo reading opens after testing
See a sample reading

How a reading works

Your photos

  • Whole shuttleWhole shuttle
  • WaitingFeathers parted
  • WaitingAgainst the light

1 of 3

First, the whole shuttle from a step back.

Your photos

  • Whole shuttleWhole shuttle
  • Feathers partedFeathers parted
  • WaitingAgainst the light

2 of 3

Then part the feathers and move in close.

Your photos

  • Whole shuttleWhole shuttle
  • Feathers partedFeathers parted
  • Against the lightAgainst the light

3 of 3

Then hold it up against a light.

Your photos

  • Whole shuttleWhole shuttle
  • Feathers partedFeathers parted
  • Against the lightAgainst the light

Closer to grade 2Confidence: medium

Last, read what the photos show.

A sample reading

This sample shows the format. It is not a real result.

An AI reading can be wrong. Treat it as a second opinion.

Feather shape Full round Confidence: High

The tips are cut to an even round arc on all sixteen feathers.

Shaft Straight, medium thickness Confidence: High

The shafts run straight from cork to tip, with no visible bend.

Consistency Even across sixteen Confidence: Medium

Height and spacing match. Two feathers sit slightly wider than the rest.

Whiteness White, two with grey marks Confidence: Medium

Most feathers are clean white. Two show faint grey flecks near the tip.

Visible defects One creased vane Confidence: Medium

One feather has a crease across the vane. No broken shafts in view.

Grade tendency Closer to grade 2 Confidence: Medium

Shape and shaft point to the upper grades. The grey marks and the crease hold it below grade 1.

Workmanship Glue even, threads level Confidence: High

Listed on its own. It does not change the feather grade.

What a photo cannot tell you

Read the photo guide

Cannot see

  • The cork insideSolid, layered or composite cork looks the same from outside.
  • WeightA few tenths of a gram matter, and a photo has no scale.
  • SpeedSpeed is tested by hitting the shuttle, never by looking.
  • Flight stabilityWobble shows in the air, after the first clear.
  • DurabilityHow many rallies it lasts depends on storage and play.

Will not say

  • Whether it is genuineNo reading here judges a brand's authenticity.
  • Which factory made itFeathers do not carry a signature a photo can prove.
  • What it is worthNo prices and no value estimates.
  • Which brand to buyReadings and articles recommend no brand, ours included.
  • How it will playNo promises about performance of any kind.

Always says

  • That it may be wrongThe warning is fixed at the top of every reading.
  • How sure it isHigh, medium or low for each line. No fake percentages.
  • What it looked atEach line names the feature it was read from.
  • When a photo is too poorDark or blurred photos get a request to shoot again.
  • That damage may come from playA used shuttle is not marked down for being used.

Open by default

A new feather shuttlecock standing on a dark surface
Knowledge baseWritten notes, CC BY 4.0
Two feather shuttlecocks and a racket lying on grass
Reference photosReviewed photos, CC BY 4.0
A feather shuttlecock on a dark surface with its reflection
CodeThe whole site, MIT licence
A used feather shuttlecock lying on a wooden table
Weekly reviewA person checks every entry
A used feather shuttlecock resting on the strings of a racket

Factories, show your feathers

Contribute photos or process notes and get a public, credited listing. No fees, no commission, no exclusivity.

How contributing works