Quick answer: The RSL Hybird 5 is RSL's new hybrid badminton shuttlecock. It keeps natural feathers for feel and flight, and adds a modified nylon structure and an impact-absorbing nylon ring to protect the feathers from hard hitting. It comes in a tube of 12, in speed 77 and speed 78, at £19.66 a tube from Central Sports, the UK's exclusive RSL stockist. It is built for club nights, training and coaching, where feather shuttles get broken fastest.
What is the RSL Hybird 5?
Yes, it really is spelled "Hybird". It is RSL's name for its new hybrid shuttle, and it is the shuttle RSL has introduced alongside the RSL feather shuttlecock range that UK clubs already use for league and club badminton.
A hybrid shuttlecock sits between a feather shuttle and a nylon shuttle. You get the crisp feel and the turn-over of real feathers, but with synthetic reinforcement so the shuttle survives more smashes and mis-hits before the feathers break. For a club that gets through tubes every week, that is where the money goes.
RSL Hybird 5 key features
- Hybrid construction: natural feathers combined with a modified nylon structure, balancing feel and durability.
- Natural feel: a more natural playing feel than a fully synthetic or nylon shuttle.
- Impact-absorbing nylon ring: helps absorb the force of powerful smashes.
- Feather-root protection: helps reduce damage at the feather roots, where feather shuttles usually fail first.
- Stable flight: designed for a consistent flight trajectory.
- Tube of 12: standard dozen tube, in speed 77 and speed 78.
RSL Hybird 5 specifications
| Brand | RSL |
| Model | Hybird 5 |
| Type | Hybrid shuttlecock (natural feather and modified nylon) |
| Pack size | 12 shuttlecocks per tube |
| Speeds | 77 and 78 |
| Colour | White |
| Price | £19.66 per tube (about £1.64 per shuttle) |
RSL Hybird 5 bulk prices
Buying for a club? The price per tube drops as you buy more, and Badminton England members get a member price on every tier when they log in with their BE-registered email. Free shipping from 14 tubes.
| Tubes in one order | Price per tube | BE member price | Per shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £19.66 | £19.55 | £1.64 |
| 2–4 | £19.07 | £18.96 | £1.59 |
| 5–13 | £18.88 | £18.77 | £1.57 |
| 14–24 (free shipping) | £18.48 | £18.37 | £1.54 |
| 25–49 | £18.33 | £18.22 | £1.53 |
| 50–99 | £18.09 | £17.98 | £1.51 |
| 100–199 | £17.31 | £17.20 | £1.44 |
| 200+ | £17.15 | £17.04 | £1.43 |
Who should use the RSL Hybird 5?
- Badminton clubs: club nights and social sessions where shuttles get hammered by mixed-ability players and the shuttle budget matters. See our hybrid vs feather cost-per-game guide for clubs.
- Coaches and academies: multi-feed drills and smash practice break feather shuttles quickly. A hybrid keeps feather-like flight for the drill without the replacement bill.
- Juniors moving up from nylon: a step between a nylon shuttle and full feather. Our junior and coaching shuttle guide covers the full progression.
- Hard hitters training at home club level: players who smash a lot and want a feather feel in practice.
Who it is not for: sanctioned tournaments and county matches where the rules call for a specified feather shuttle. For those, use the RSL feather grades such as the RSL Tourney No.1 or the RSL Classic Tourney (BWF International Grade). Our guide to which RSL shuttlecock to use matches each grade to the level of play.
Speed 77 or 78: which RSL Hybird 5 should you buy?
Buy speed 77 for warm halls and speed 78 for cool halls. Shuttles fly faster in warm air, so a slower shuttle keeps the length correct when the hall is warm. Many UK sports halls are cool from autumn to spring, so speed 78 is the common choice for winter club nights. Our shuttlecock speed guide explains how to test speed on court.
RSL Hybird 5 vs other shuttlecocks
| Shuttle | Type | Price per tube | Per shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSL Hybird 5 | Hybrid (feather + nylon) | £19.66 | £1.64 |
| RSL Classic Club (new) | Feather (club) | £21.55 | £1.80 |
| RSL DTL 85 | Feather (training) | £18.46 | £1.54 |
| Victor NCS Pro | Synthetic feather | £18.20 | £1.52 |
| Dmantis D45 3in1 Hybrid | Hybrid | £16.57 | £1.38 |
The Hybird 5 costs less per tube than RSL's other new club shuttle, the RSL Classic Club feather shuttle. If it also outlasts a feather shuttle on club night, which is what hybrid construction is designed to do, the saving grows every session. For a full head-to-head with the other hybrids, read best hybrid shuttlecocks UK: RSL Hybird 5 vs Victor NCS Pro vs Dmantis.
Buying RSL Hybird 5 for a club
- Exclusive UK stockist: Central Sports is the UK's exclusive supplier of RSL shuttlecocks.
- Badminton England members: log in with your Badminton England email to see your member shuttle price. See Central Sports, Official Shuttle Partner of Badminton England.
- Bulk tube pricing: buying several tubes unlocks bulk pricing, and it stacks with the Badminton England member price. Details in our club shuttle bulk pricing guide.
- Make them last: store tubes away from heaters and keep them slightly humid. Our guide on making feather shuttlecocks last longer applies to hybrids too, because the feathers are still natural.
Shop RSL Hybird 5 shuttlecocks or browse all RSL shuttles.
RSL Hybird 5 FAQs
Is RSL Hybird 5 a feather shuttle?
It is a hybrid. It uses natural feathers with a modified nylon structure and an impact-absorbing nylon ring, so it plays closer to a feather shuttle than a nylon one, with extra protection for the feathers.
Why is it spelled "Hybird"?
Hybird is RSL's product name for this hybrid shuttle. Search for "RSL Hybird 5" or "RSL hybrid shuttlecock" and you will find the same tube.
How many shuttles are in a tube of RSL Hybird 5?
12 shuttlecocks per tube.
Can I use RSL Hybird 5 in tournaments?
Check your competition's rules first. Most sanctioned events specify a feather shuttle. Hybird 5 is aimed at club play, training and coaching.
Which speed should my club buy?
Speed 78 for cool halls (most UK halls in winter) and speed 77 for warm halls.
How much is RSL Hybird 5 in bulk?
£19.66 for one tube, £18.48 a tube from 14 tubes (with free shipping) and £17.15 a tube from 200 tubes.
Where can I buy RSL Hybird 5 in the UK?
Central Sports is the UK's exclusive RSL stockist, online and from our Birmingham and Milton Keynes stores.
