Batting Pad SizingWhy the wrong size is worse than none — and the hand mistake almost everyone makes
Most cricketers have never measured for pads. They pick a size, it more or less covers the leg, and they get on with it — which is how a good pair of pads ends up doing a worse job than a cheap pair that fits.
Why the wrong size is worse than none
That sounds like an exaggeration. It is not, and here is the mechanism.
A pad that is too long catches as you push off for a run and stops the knee bending properly in the stride. Players adapt by shortening the front foot stride — and a shortened stride means you stop getting to the pitch of the ball. You start playing from the crease, which is exactly the position where you get hit.
A pad that is too short leaves the top of the shin exposed at precisely the point where a ball that keeps low arrives. You are wearing a pad and taking the blow on bare leg, which is worse than knowing you are unprotected and getting out of the way.
A pad that rotates because it is too wide or badly strapped ends up with its reinforced face pointing at mid-wicket while the thin side takes the ball.
In all three cases the player believes they are protected. That belief changes how they bat — they commit forward, they get in line, they play the shot. Protection that is not where they think it is turns confidence into injury. That is why the wrong size is worse than none.
How to measure, in five steps
Measure knee to instep
Stand with the leg slightly bent, as it would be in your stance. Measure from the centre of the kneecap down to the top of the instep — where the foot meets the ankle.
Why: Not your height. Not your shoe size. Two players the same height can have noticeably different lower leg lengths, and the pad is fitted to the leg, not the person.
Check where the knee roll lands
Hold the pad against the leg. The knee roll must sit directly over the kneecap — not above it, not below it.
Why: This is the test that actually decides the size. A pad can look the right length and still be wrong if the roll sits high or low, because the knee is the joint that has to bend.
Check the top and bottom
The top of the pad should reach mid-thigh. The bottom should cover the instep without resting on the foot itself.
Why: A pad sitting on the foot will shift every time you run and will catch as you turn.
Pick the hand
Order for the hand you bat with. The front leg pad carries heavier protection on its outside edge, and that has to face the bowler.
Why: A surprising number of cricketers bat the opposite way to how they throw or write. Check before you order, especially when ordering for someone else.
Strap it from the top down
Fasten the top strap first, then work down. Firm enough that the pad will not rotate when you run; loose enough to bend the knee fully.
Why: If you have to over-tighten to stop rotation, the pad is too large. That is a sizing problem, not a strapping one.
The knee roll decides it
If you only check one thing, check this.
The knee roll must sit directly over the kneecap. Everything else about a pad's fit follows from that, because the knee is the only joint the pad has to bend around.
| Knee roll sits | What happens |
|---|---|
| Over the kneecap | Correct. The pad bends where your leg bends. |
| Above the kneecap | Pad is too long. It fights the knee every stride and leaves the shin's upper edge poorly covered. |
| Below the kneecap | Pad is too short. The kneecap itself is exposed, and it is a bad place to take a ball. |
A pad can measure the right length and still fail this test, because the roll's position within the pad varies. Length is a guide; the roll is the answer.
Between two sizes?
Take the smaller. A slightly short pad still has its roll near the knee and lets you run properly. A slightly long one does neither.
Right hand or left hand
The most common ordering mistake in protective equipment, and the easiest to avoid.
Batting pads are handed, and it is not about which pad goes on which leg. It is about where the protection is concentrated.
Your front leg takes far more direct blows than your back leg — it is the leg you push toward the ball, and it is in line. So the front pad carries heavier protection on its outside edge, the side facing the bowler, along with a side flap covering the outer ankle and calf.
| You bat | Front leg | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Right handed | Left leg | Right hand pads |
| Left handed | Right leg | Left hand pads |
Order the wrong pair and the reinforced face and the side flap end up on the inside of the leg, where almost nothing hits you. You are wearing protection that is facing away from the ball.
And the detail that catches people out: choose the hand you bat with, not the hand you write with. A surprising number of cricketers bat the opposite way to how they throw — and if you are ordering for a child or a teammate, ask rather than assume.
What is inside a batting pad
Worth knowing, because it is what separates pads that work from pads that only look like they do.
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cane rods | Vertical rods that spread the impact along the pad rather than letting it concentrate at the point of contact. This is the part that actually stops a hard ball reaching your shin. Ours use twelve. |
| High density foam | Absorbs what gets through the rods. Density matters more than thickness — soft thick foam bottoms out under a real impact. |
| The facing | Levlon PU on ours. Takes the abrasion, keeps the weight down, and holds up better than cheaper coated fabrics. |
| The knee roll | Lets the pad bend where your leg bends, and protects the kneecap. Its position defines the fit. |
| Straps | Hold the pad flush so it cannot rotate. Three straps, fastened top down. |
Weight matters too. Ours are 730–760g a pair, and you carry that through every run. Heavy pads tire the legs across a long innings, which shows up exactly when you need to be running hard.
Our Killer Edition pads are ₹3,499 a pair against an MRP of ₹5,999 — Mens and Youth, right and left hand, four colours.
Pads are only half the job
Pads cover the shin and the knee. They do not cover the thigh — and the thigh is where a ball that keeps low off a length actually hits you.
This matters beyond the bruise. A player who has been hit hard on the front thigh once plays back and across for a month afterwards. Not deliberately — the body simply stops committing forward. You lose the front foot drive, you start playing from the crease, and your scoring shrinks.
A thigh guard set at ₹1,699 covers that, and set means outer and inner. The inner thigh takes the inside edge, which is the ball you never see coming and the one that hurts most.
It is the most skipped item in club cricket and the cheapest way to keep batting the way you meant to.
Care, and when to replace them
| Do this | Why |
|---|---|
| Air them after every session | Sealing sweat-damp pads into a kit bag breaks down the foam and causes the smell. |
| Wipe the facing, never machine wash | A damp cloth only. Machine washing destroys the foam and the stitching. |
| Store flat, not folded | A pad stored folded develops a permanent bend at the fold, and compressed foam does not spring back. |
| Dry at room temperature | Never on a radiator or in direct sun — heat hardens the facing and cracks it. |
Replace them when
- You can feel impact through the foam. It has compressed and is no longer absorbing.
- A cane rod has broken or shifted — you can usually feel it as a ridge. That section of the pad is now spreading nothing.
- The straps no longer hold it steady. A rotating pad is an unprotected leg.
Scuffing on the facing is normal wear and not a reason to replace anything.
Questions players ask
How do I know what size batting pads I need? +
Measure from the centre of the kneecap to the top of the instep, with the leg slightly bent as it would be in a stance. That measurement, not your height or shoe size, decides the size. Ours come in Mens and Youth - most adult club cricketers take Mens, and if you are between the two the smaller one is usually better because the knee roll position matters more than reach.
Do batting pads come in left hand and right hand? +
Yes, and it is the most common ordering mistake in protective equipment. Your front leg takes far more direct blows than your back leg, so the front pad carries heavier protection on the outside edge where the ball arrives. For a right-handed batter the front leg is the left; for a left-handed batter it is the right.
What happens if I wear batting pads the wrong way round? +
The reinforced side sits on the leg that needs it least, and the side flap ends up on the inside where nothing hits it. You are wearing protection that is facing the wrong way. It also feels wrong - the pad will not sit flush against the shin and the straps will pull oddly.
How should batting pads fit? +
The knee roll should sit directly over the kneecap, not above or below it. The top of the pad should reach mid-thigh and the bottom should cover the instep without sitting on the foot. If the knee roll is out of position, the size is wrong regardless of how the length looks.
Should batting pads be tight or loose? +
Firm enough that the pad does not rotate around the leg when you run, loose enough that you can bend the knee fully without the pad digging in. Tighten from the top strap down. If you have to over-tighten to stop rotation, the pad is too large.
What are batting pads made of? +
Ours use a Levlon PU facing over high density foam, with twelve cane rods running vertically to spread impact across the pad rather than concentrating it at the point of contact. The pair weighs 730 to 760g. Cane rods are what stop a hard ball transmitting its force straight through to the shin.
How much should batting pads cost? +
Ours are ₹3,499 a pair against an MRP of ₹5,999. Batting pads in India commonly run from around ₹800 for very basic practice pads up to ₹8,000 and beyond from branded retailers. A great deal of the difference at the top end is supply chain rather than materials.
Do juniors need different batting pads? +
Yes, and sizing by height or age is not enough - measure knee to instep the same way. A pad that is too long stops a young player running properly and gets in the way of the front foot, which teaches them to stay in the crease. A pad slightly too small is better than one slightly too long.
Do I need a thigh guard as well as pads? +
Yes. Pads protect the shin and knee; the thigh is completely exposed and it is where a ball that keeps low off a length actually hits you. A set means outer and inner - the inner takes the inside edge, which is the one you never see coming. Ours is ₹1,699 for the set.
How do I look after batting pads? +
Air them after every session rather than sealing them into a kit bag, wipe the facing with a damp cloth and never machine wash them, and store them flat rather than folded or crushed. Compressed foam does not spring back, and a pad stored folded develops a permanent bend at the fold.
When should I replace batting pads? +
When you can feel impact through the foam, when a cane rod has broken or shifted, or when the straps no longer hold the pad steady. Scuffing on the facing is normal wear. Foam that has gone hard or a rod you can feel out of place is not.
Do you supply pads to clubs and academies? +
Yes. Minimum wholesale order is 30 units and you can mix sizes and hands within one order, which is what most academies need. Message us on WhatsApp with the numbers and we will quote.
Kitting out completely? Batting gloves from ₹1,999 — also handed, for the same reason — or a complete kit from ₹8,999 with everything sized together.
Made in Meerut · Sized to the player
Send us a measurement. We’ll send the right pads.
Killer Edition batting pads ₹3,499 a pair · Levlon PU, high density foam, twelve cane rods, 730–760g · Mens and Youth, right and left hand, four colours · Thigh guard set ₹1,699 · Free shipping across India with Cash on Delivery