PingMaster was created to take the guesswork out of cricket bats.
Cricket is a game of tradition, where numbers and statistics are used to define almost every aspect of the game. For example,
For cricket bats, the only measurements are its weight and size. A cricket bat has never been able to be easily measured for its performance, unlike a batter, bowler or pitch.
PingMaster uses a scientific approach to measure the performance of cricket bats. Each cricket bat is unique, from the tree it was grown from, to the craftsperson who shaped it. Cricket bats have an identifiable fingerprint, defined by its ping.
Our goal is to have every cricket bat tested with the PingMaster system so that each bat can be recognized for its own uniqueness. For too long, the game of cricket has judged cricket bats based on their appearance, but we all know that appearances can be deceiving. PingMaster reveals the ping of each bat for players, retailers and bat manufacturers. Know your bat. KNOW YOUR PING.
PingMaster believes in science, not opinions.
PingMaster believes in quality data, repeatable measurements and accurate observations, not subjective assessments.
PingMaster believes in honesty at all times, not just when it suits.
PingMaster believes in value for money, not buyer’s remorse.
PingMaster’s inventor has played cricket continuously for ~40 years in Western Australia and had purchased many cricket bats over that time. He was due to buy another bat upon returning from his holiday in England. The idea for PingMaster came about during a flight from Perth to London when the in-flight entertainment system failed. He had a pen and notepad in front of him and about 13 hours with nothing to do and nowhere to go. His mind wandered. A sketch evolved.
The experience of buying and using many cricket bats had left him anxious about the process of selecting his next new bat. Like most cricketers, he had experienced the joy of using a bat that seemed to hit cricket balls with ease. But he had also experienced ‘buyer’s remorse’ when an expensive cricket bat did not live up to the expectations and price tag from the store.
There had to be a better way.
The sketch turned into a working prototype with the help of a retired engineering mentor who knew a thing or two about physics. Like all prototypes, some refinements were made before the first five bats were tested. Hundreds of measurements were made and the use of statistics proved that the PingMaster process could measure differences between cricket bats. Champagne bottles were popped. PingMaster was born.
It didn’t take long to discover that PingMaster could present a threat (or rather an opportunity) to the existing norms within the cricket bat industry. Bat manufacturers and retailers have been selling cricket bats for generations based on the aesthetic qualities of the wood. Cricket bats with perfectly straight grains, consistent colouring and no blemishes or knots along the blade are priced higher, regardless of the bats’ performance.
The free and easy empirical methods to assess cricket bat performance, such as ball bouncing and mallet tapping, are highly subjective and prone to error. They have served their purpose for over a hundred years, but as times change, so does technology.
The arrival of PingMaster bat performance technology challenges traditional pricing models of cricket bats. PingMaster understands this and empathises with current bat manufacturers and retailers that change can be difficult and disruptive. However, PingMaster can help find win-win opportunities throughout the value chain… if given the opportunity to do so. A friendly chat is the first step.
PingMaster is trying to help cricketers choose the right bat that gives them value for money. Simple.
PingMaster has just started its innings… by getting off the mark with a single…
PingMaster wishes to engage with bat manufacturers, bat retailers, cricket organisations and cricketers at all skill levels to add value and improve customer satisfaction from a natural product that inherently has variations in performance.
You will notice that PingMaster is currently not selling anything directly on the website. PingMaster and this website will evolve over time. Initially, PingMaster is looking to get its message and its product out to the world and engage with the responses that it gets back. PingMaster wants to engage with the cricket community to find out what they want and how they want it.
Please let us know how you think PingMaster could add value to you via the “Contact Us” section. Your feedback is welcomed and appreciated, even if you may be sceptical. Please just be respectful with any criticism that you want to share.
Thank you for spending some of your time with PingMaster. We hope to grow and play a bigger role in the cricket community over time. Check-in regularly for updates on bat testing results, PingMaster testing locations, player feedback and other news that gets published over time. We look forward to communicating with you too.
PingMaster would like to acknowledge the following people and companies that have assisted its development to date. Please support those businesses that have assisted PingMaster in its journey so far.
Southern Cricket via Stuart Hume and Luke Wimbridge provided the first opportunity for PingMaster to engage with retail customers and obtain feedback that proved that customers value the information provided by PingMaster and will support those retailers that provide PingMaster-tested bats. Southern Cricket is the first authorized agent of PingMaster where you can buy a PingMaster bat, or have your current bat tested for ping.
Rooster Cricket via Josh Montgomerie who provided many bats and valuable feedback during the initial stages of PingMaster prototype testing. Please support Josh’s other business, Advanced Apparel for any business or sportswear clothing needs.
