The Speeder

The Speeder is the ball of Crossminton — and the reason the sport exists at all. In the beginning stood the search for a ball that flies even in wind, where a shuttlecock has long since drifted off. The answer is built shorter, heavier and narrower than a shuttlecock: the shortened feather skirt takes on less air resistance, the higher weight brings more inertia. Together that gives a flat, fast, long trajectory that stays stable. A Speeder weighs between 8 and 10 grams, about three times as much as a shuttlecock, and is waterproof and tear-resistant.

It comes in several types, and for your game what matters most is grabbing the right one. The red Fun Speeder is the lightest and slowest: ideal for getting started, for children and for training — in the U12 age group it's even mandatory. The yellow Match Speeder is the official competition ball; it's used in all other categories. The Cross Speeder is the heaviest and flies farthest, meant for long distances and wind. The Night Speeder carries a transparent cap for a glow stick and makes play in the dark possible. The Heli is especially wind-stable and built for short distances.

The manufacturers' distance and speed figures vary greatly by source — take them as an order of magnitude, not a measurement. What's fixed is the order: Fun slowest, Match in the middle, Cross fastest and farthest.

In wind you have three levels. The Speeder itself is built to be playable up to about wind force 4 — that's its actual purpose. If that's not enough, you slip a wind ring under the cap: it increases the weight, and more mass with the same surface makes the trajectory more sluggish against the crosswind, and thus more stable. A common misconception is that the ring lowers air resistance. That's not true: it leaves the shape unchanged and increases only the weight. Only when even that isn't enough do you reach for a heavier type like the Cross — in competition, however, only after consulting the organizer and with the agreement of the head referee.

Two rules you should know. The shape of the Speeder must not change — putting it in your trouser pocket in between is expressly forbidden. And you must not deliberately keep playing a visibly damaged Speeder; if it deforms during a rally, the point is replayed. So check your Speeders after every match and sort out the battered ones.

Look at your Speeders: which type is in your bag — red (Fun) or yellow (Match)? Does it suit what you mostly play? Turn each one in your hand and check it for cracks and dents; battered Speeders fly unpredictably and should be sorted out. And if you play outdoors: do you have an answer for wind with you — a wind ring or a heavier Speeder?