Abstract: The present invention provides an improved shuttlecock for use in a racquet sport games. The shuttlecock has a core housing with an upper portion and a lower half round shaped portion secured in a flexible nose cone. Tail fins having strengthened base areas are secured to the core housing. The flexible nose cone has an interior impact cushion zone against which the half round shaped portion rests for absorbing and redistributing forces applied to the nose cone by a racket, or the like.