shuttlecock

thumb|right|Feather shuttlecocks thumb|right|Plastic shuttlecock

A shuttlecock (also called a birdie or shuttle, or ball) is a high-drag projectile used in multiple sports, most notably badminton. It has an open conical shape formed by feathers or a synthetic material, such as plastic, embedded into a rounded cork (or rubber) base. The shuttlecock's shape makes it extremely aerodynamically stable. Regardless of initial orientation, it will turn to fly cork first, and remain in the cork-first orientation.