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[oldfudger]

Hi all

looking for leg batting pads for my son (tall 14 yr old, LH)

what should he purchase and why,
he plays adult 1st team cricket

cheers todd

[raymond.2]

Congrats on your son.

Depends on budget really ... http://www.owzat-cricket.co.uk/acatalog/2010_GT335_Batting_Pad.html these are about as good as it gets... superb protection and look fairly sharp.

[Richard]

Newbery SPS.
Great protection, lightweight and look swish too! 

[golders]

I just bought a pair, v nice indeed, but Quite bulky though according to a clubmate of mine... if he can still fit into youths you can get last years sps from uzisports, pm aqureshi. talisman also has some good stuff inc newbery and kookaburra. gunn and moores are also good and can be bought from sports direct at about half price...


Golders

[procricket]

depems on your budget and weather there is peer pressure involved i suppose.

to be honest apart from looks you find every brand much likeness and in terms of quality it would be wrong to pick out any brand they all offer pritty much the same product.

Newbery are good but also very expensive and if you look around the market there are pads of the same protection qualitys for much less..

shops like sports direct are cheap but have limited equipment depends on the standard he is going to play as well..

[oldfudger]

Thanks to date, all ideas keep them coming

He played for Wales u13 last season, didnt get in this yr,
operation on hand in feb didnt help
(5ft 6), club plays 1st team, div 2 swansea area

he had a pair of M&H distinctions but changed to areo but hes no convinced with them

suppose he wants protection up to 65-70mph at moment 
but also lightweight and not to bulky

(there was a member on a bat forum recently who admitted to being very fussy with pads and gave various for current and past selection, but I cant find again)   

[Buzz]

(there was a member on a bat forum recently who admitted to bing very fussy with pads and gave various for current and past selection, but I cant find again)   

Oldfudger - welcome to the show.
Procricket is probably the most obsessive person over his "softs" on this forum - Given that you son is a 14 and "tall" I would potentially see if you can make do until the spring as he will probably grown some more over the winter and the pads that fit now may not be so comfortable at the start of the next season...

Failing that if you are looking to make use of the end of season sales (who wouldn't) I would work out what kit he likes the look of and go with that - this sounds rediculous, but most of the protection is the same in set as any others, especially in the top of the range stuff. So the decision becomes psycological (which maybe why your son doesn't want to wear the Aero's any more (it will certainly reduce the sledging he gets...) Ask him what he actaully wants, then come back and ask if anyone on the forum can get them for a really good price.

Any of the softs made by the "big four" brands will be excellent - you just need to see the best price you can get for them.

[oldfudger]

Thanks Buzz will do

Sorry
'Big Four' ?

[AlRidd]

Kookaburra, Gray Nicolls, Gunn and Moore and i'm not sure on the other :/

[Buzz]

Kookaburra, Slazenger, Gunn and Moore, Gray Nicolls

Alternatively the CA and SS stuff is also good speak to Asad at UZI sports for these, as are the more boutique brand - especially those on this site. The Redback Softs and the SAF softs (currently on discount) also look really good as to the Hell4Leather or Vantage softs.

[procricket]

pads are a funny thing to me there the key to how i feel some say pick up and balance of a bat i think that a given but i see all to many youngsters and small men and tall youths with pads either too big or small..

my tip is do not buy blind pads make sure your lad is there when he tries them on very important not just off a picture...

there many different types and fitting some like them tight some like them loose.

if i had the money i would make a pad like a newbery but with bigger cut arches so they sit further down like gm Nixon keeping pads....

As Buzz said it may be best waiting till around Christmas time as a growth spurt my accure..


There are so many brands the English based brands (in theory slaz--kook) are all good stuff but if your after a bargain beat the big brand nametag price and go with bas/ss as there the same product in some cases just do not carry the same price tag...

I can always tell the quality of a pad by the alignment of the Knee roll on traditional pads.

be aware though with SS there a lot of people selling matrix pads but there not matrix pads at all there just a imitation...

asad(uzi sports ) has some good bargains at the moment look at his clearance section but my advice with pads if you can try a pair on at a shop then look on line at the same pair and see if you can make a saving

next season will be interesting i have a pile of pads to try and use.....

[petehosk]

Welcome oldfudger.

I would say that your son probably hasn't stopped growing yet! And as such, it wouldn't be worth your while purchasing the absolute top quality pad costing a large wad of cash!! For example, Morrant Ultralite International pads are generally thought of as the best you can get....but they would be a purchase to buy once the growing stops, as they can last for years!!

So listen to the likes of procricket - for example SS produce similar pads to the Morrants which will be extra light and alot cheaper! But should still sell quite well once his grown out of them.......which will probably be in 2 months time if he follows the normal growth spurts! 
I always recommend the likes of Newbery, Salix, etc as they are excellent quality.