Badminton is a racquet sport played by two opposing players or doubles teams on a rectangular court divided by a net. Unlike other racquet sports, badminton uses a projectile called a shuttlecock rather than a ball. The shuttlecock consists of a cork or plastic base surrounded by feathers which allows it to travel more slowly through the air. This aerodynamic design provides resistance to the trajectory of the projectile, giving rhythm to movements and avoiding deviations in windy conditions. Competitions also typically take place indoors.