The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has approved the use of synthetic feather shuttlecocks in selected grade three and junior international tournaments as part of its strategy to assess their potential at the elite level. This decision comes amid reports of increasing costs of shuttlecock made from duck or goose feathers, driven by shortages and the sport's growing popularity. The BWF will evaluate the quality and performance of these shuttle cocks in higher-level environments, with particular emphasis on ensuring they meet existing competition standards.