Five things to consider when installing a cricket simulator

Installing a cricket simulator can sometimes be a complex task depending on your knowledge and expertise. Some simulators are very delicate to handle, while others are too painstaking to set up and too heavy to transport.

Our cricket simulators on the other hand are very easy to handle, simple to set up and absolutely portable. If you’re thinking of installing a BatFast cricket simulator or are installing one soon, we are here to help you with a few common considerations that must be made before installing a simulator.

Purpose of the simulator – Entertainment or Training?

First and foremost, the purpose of the cricket simulator must be determined. Our simulators can be used for various purposes, but mainly fall into two categories i.e., entertainment and training. At BatFast, we have two simulators, namely, the B1 simulator and the B2 simulator.

The B1 simulator is a portable one which is perfect to transport from one place to another and is primarily used for entertainment purposes. It can also be used for very amateur level of training since it’s speeds can reach a maximum of 90 mph.

The B2 simulator on the other hand is perfect for training purposes. It is not a transportable one, however it can be set up in a particular location, especially in academies. With the ability to reach a speed of 100 mph, it is perfect to help with the training of cricketers. Additionally, it’s uses aren’t just for training purposes as it can also be used for entertainment.

Length

The length of the pitch is a very important aspect to look into for many reasons. A traditional cricket pitch is 22 yards long which is about 20 meters long. However, it’s not always easy to find a length of 22 yards, especially indoors. Hence, we at BatFast recommend a length of about 15 meters onwards at least.

This would give you enough length to set the simulator to different speeds, line and swing settings to suit your purpose.  This is also important in adjusting the machine for the type of pitch, spin, pace and swing of the ball.

The length is important for both Entertainment and Training purposes as it’s length decides the quality of the experience.

Projection Quality:

Historically, bowling machines have been used by national teams, counties and academies for the training of cricketers while the machines have also been used in entertainment centres. However, with simulators, there is the added experience of a bowling running down to bowl at you. This means that the quality of the projection directly affects the quality of the experience.

Important aspects affect the quality of the projection include the screen and its material, the placement of the projector (ground instalment of top instalment) and even the blackout of the screens. BatFast recommends fixing your projects onto the top for the best quality of projection.

Playing Surface

The type of surface that the cricket will be played on is very important to consider. For training purposes, it is ideal to have surfaces closer to the real life pitches or mats while there are various types of surface used for entertainment purposes ranging from grass to mats.

Often, when setting up the simulator outdoors, the surface used is grass. It is important to keep in mind that the surface determines the spin and bounce of the ball. Hence, it is recommended that if the surface being used is grass, it must be trimmed as much as possible. Astro turf is not recommended.

Is it indoors or outdoors?

The great thing about BatFast’s cricket simulator is that it can be set up both indoors and outdoor. Setting up a simulator outdoors would have different requirements in comparison to setting them up inside a premises.

The type of instalment also differs based on the simulator being used as the B1 simulator has a different set up in comparison to the B2 simulator. In terms of indoor installation, only a standard cricket netting would be required for the simulator.

However, when it is installed outdoors, there must be sufficient additions to the structure to make it windproof. A roof must also be installed onto an outdoor simulator.