Batting pads size guide: pick the right pad by height

Batting pads size guide: start with height

Height gets you to the right size band. A fit check then confirms it. This batting pads size guide uses both, because two batters of the same height can have different leg lengths.

Pads are sold in size bands, not in centimetres. The band names change from maker to maker. One label says Youth, another says Large Boys for the same pad. So read the height range on the label or the product page, not just the name.

Here are the bands most pads follow, with the weight you can expect for a pair.

Buy the band that fits the batter's height on the day you order. Measure in socks, back against a wall, with a book flat on the head.

The one measurement that settles it

Height is a guide. Leg length is the answer. This takes two minutes with a cloth tape.

Ask the batter to stand in their batting stance, knees slightly bent. Find the crease at the front of the ankle, where the foot meets the leg. Measure from that crease up to the centre of the kneecap. Write the number down in centimetres.

Now look at the pad. Measure from the bottom edge of the shin section up to the centre of the middle knee roll. Most product pages list this as the knee roll height or the shin length. If they do not, ask us before you order and we will measure the pair.

The two numbers should be within 2 cm of each other. A child of 140 cm usually measures 34 to 37 cm. An adult of 175 cm usually measures 44 to 48 cm. If your number falls in the gap between two bands, the next sections tell you which way to go.

Where the knee roll should sit

A pad has three knee rolls, stacked one above the other. The middle one is the one that matters. It should sit on the centre of the kneecap when the batter is in stance.

If the middle roll sits below the kneecap, the pad is too short. The top of the pad ends low on the thigh and leaves a gap. A ball that hits there hurts, and the pad slips down when the batter runs.

If the middle roll sits above the kneecap, the pad is too long. The bottom of the pad presses into the shoe laces. The batter will feel it catch on every step, and running between the wickets slows down.

Test it like this. Strap both pads on with batting shoes. Take stance. Walk ten steps, jog twenty, then drop the front knee as if playing forward. The knee should bend inside the roll, not against its edge. The pad should not twist round the shin.

Left and right handed batters

Most pads sold today are ambidextrous. Both pads are the same shape, and either one fits either leg. You only need to fasten the straps on the outside of each leg.

Some adult pads are made for one side. The front pad has a wider wing on its inner edge, to cover the gap between the legs. The front leg is the left for a right handed batter and the right for a left handed batter. These pads are labelled left hand or right hand.

For juniors, buy ambidextrous pads. Children change grip and stance as they learn, and a club set can be shared across left and right handers. For an adult who has settled on a side, a handed pair gives a little more cover on the front leg.

Whichever you buy, the buckle or strip of each strap faces outward. If the straps sit on the inside, they rub against each other and catch when the batter runs.

When the batter sits between two sizes

Pick the smaller band if the middle knee roll still covers the kneecap. A pad that is slightly short is easier to run in. A pad that is long rubs, slows the batter, and pulls the straps loose.

Parents often want to buy a size up for growth. Go up one band only when the child is within 3 cm of the top of their current band. Never go up two. A pad that sits a full band too long will spoil the batting stance and the child will not want to wear it.

A growing junior usually moves up a band every one or two seasons. Plan for that rather than buying ahead.

Materials and what they cost at MRP

The face of the pad is usually PVC or leather. Behind it sit cane rods or high density foam, and a cotton or mesh backing.

For most buyers, a PVC face with cane and foam is the right pick. It is light, takes rain and dust well, and wipes clean with a damp cloth. Junior pairs of this kind run from about ₹1,200 to ₹2,000 MRP. Adult pairs run from about ₹2,000 to ₹4,500 MRP.

All foam pads with no cane are lighter still and suit young children and tape ball play. Leather faced pads cost more, often ₹6,000 MRP and above, and need regular care. They suit a senior batter who plays long matches on hard pitches.

Check the straps too. Three straps is normal for adults. Juniors are fine with two. Wide straps of 4 to 5 cm hold better than thin ones.

Ordering online and checking the fit at home

Order by the height range, then do the fit check the day the pads arrive. You can pay by COD or prepaid. Keep the tags on and the pads clean until you are sure of the fit, since a return needs the pair unused.

Try them on indoors, in batting shoes, on a clean floor. Do the stance, walk and jog test. If the knee roll is off by more than 2 cm, ask for the next band.

For a club or academy order, measure every player first. A squad of fifteen juniors usually splits across two or three bands. Order by band, not by age, and label each pair with the player's name before the first net session. You can browse pads by size on SaleOnSports and send us the list of heights for a bulk order.

Care that keeps the fit right

Straps stretch and foam settles, so a pad that fit in April can feel loose by September. Check the straps at the start of each month.

After play, open the straps and stand the pads up to air dry in the shade. Direct sun cracks PVC and dries out leather. Wipe the face with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap.

If a strap tears, replace the strap, not the pad. A tailor or a local cobbler can stitch on a new one for a small charge. A torn face or a broken cane, though, means the pad no longer protects, and it is time for a new pair.