What Size Cricket Bat for My 14-Year-Old Daughter?

Choosing the right cricket bat for a young player, especially a 14-year-old, is essential to her comfort, performance, and enjoyment of the game.

At this age, finding the right size, weight, and feel can make all the difference in building confidence at the crease and especially in net practice. 

Here, we’ll break down everything you need to know about selecting the best cricket bat size and specifications for your daughter, including height considerations, bat weight, bat grade, and importantly how the bat feels in her pick up.

So without further distractions, let's dive in.

Understanding Cricket Bat Size Based on Height

The first and most critical factor to consider is your daughter’s height. Cricket bats come in various sizes, each suited to a different height range.

Let’s take a look at the typical bat sizes and what heights they cater to, with an emphasis on why this matters for a 14-year-old.

Please do note that all bat manufactures differ slightly in their size guides, this is our guide at Trogon Cricket.

- Size 4: Suited for players between 4.72ft and 4.92ft in height, typically ages 8-9. This size may be too small for a 14-year-old unless she is on the shorter side for her age.

- Size 5: Designed for players 4.92ft to 5.15ft tall, generally fitting ages 9-10. If your daughter is still growing or closer to the lower end of the height range, this might be a consideration but likely still small for her at age 14.

- Size 6: Ideal for those between 5.15ft and 5.43ft, usually aged 10-11. This bat size can work if she’s on the shorter side for her age, though some players at 14 may find this size limiting.

- Harrow: Suited for players between 5.43ft and 5.51ft in height, typically aged 11-13. This is a common choice for younger teenagers, offering a good balance of control and reach for a growing player. If your daughter is on the shorter end, Harrow can be a great transitional size.

- Full Size (Short Handle): Ideal for players 5.8ft and taller, commonly used by players aged 14 and above. This bat provides the most reach and hitting power, though it’s crucial to ensure it’s not too heavy for your daughter to wield comfortably.

- Ladies bats - here at Trogon we also have a designated ladies cricket bat range.  These are designed for ladies, teenagers who require a full size (short handle) bat but the weight needs to be closer to a harrow bat.

You can see details of our full bat range and weights below.

Consideration of Her Previous Bat Size

If she has been using a smaller size like Size 5 or 6, moving up to a Harrow or Short Handle bat could provide the reach she needs to improve her performance.

Additionally, if she’s already using a bat that she finds heavy, going straight to a Full Size may not be ideal. Understanding the progression of bat sizes and weight can help make the transition smoother which is why we have made our ladies range.

This ladies range was developed in collaboration with the female players at our local club in West Sussex, during multiple conversations and debates we tried to understand what the most frustrating parts of being a female cricket was, and bats being too heavy was high on the list.

Cricket Bat Weight: Why It Matters

The weight of a cricket bat affects everything from bat speed to balance, both of which are critical for young players.

Though many parents look at the actual weight on a scale, it’s more important to focus on the bat’s pick-up, feel, and balance when held in their stance, how does the bat feel when the pick up in their back lift?  This is much more important than the weight on the scales.

We have written a really good blog post about pick-ups and scales weight, which are certainly worth a read before making a decision on the next bat weight for your daughter.

Pick-Up and Balance Over Weight

Pick-up refers to how heavy or light the bat feels when your daughter holds it and practices her stance.

She should be able to lift the bat comfortably, hold it at her natural batting stance, and complete practice shots without excessive strain - try a forward drive, a backfoot defense, how does the bat feel in these shots?

A bat that feels balanced, regardless of its scale weight, will allow her to move quickly and react better to fast-paced balls without compromising her technique.

Top Tip

A good way to see if a bat is too heavy, is to hold the bat by the handle out in front of you flat. If you can keep the bat flat for a long(ish) period of time then the bat is the right weight, if you arm starts to hurt and the bat drops, then it’s to heavy.

Once you have selected the best weight, it's now time to understand the different grades of English willow, each grade comes with a different price tag.

Understanding English Willow Grades

English willow is the preferred choice for most serious cricketers, and it comes in various grades that indicate quality and performance:

1. Grade 1+ (Players Grade): The highest quality, with straight grains, minimal to zero blemishes, and top performance characteristics. These bats are preferred by professionals for their power and lightweight feel.

2. Grade 1: Almost as high quality as the Players Grade, these bats are slightly less expensive but still provide excellent power, durability, and aesthetics with straight, clean grains.

3. Grade 2: A good balance of performance and price, typically featuring a few blemishes or grains but without sacrificing playability or durability.

4. Grade 3: A budget-friendly option with more blemishes and irregular grains, suited for beginners or casual players.

For a young player like your daughter, a Grade 2 or Grade 3 bat might provide excellent value, especially if she’s still growing.

Grade 1 or Players Grade options are ideal for players who need peak performance or are playing at a higher competitive level and come with a higher price tag.

Now, if your daughter isn't expecting to grow to much and is in the Ladies or Short handle bat size range, then a grade 1 (depending on the standard she is playing) will definitely be the best option, however, if you are looking at this next bat to last only 6 months as she is going to grow out of it, then grade 2 or 3 would be perfect.

Some context to this, I'm a father of a cricket mad daughter and even though I have access to all the different grades, I will not make her a Grade 1 until she stops growing.

Middle Position of the Bat

The middle position on the bat refers to where the “sweet spot” or main hitting area is located.

There are different types of middle positions, each suited to various styles of play:

Low Middle: Provides power on front-foot shots, ideal for players on slower pitches or those who rely on power.

Mid Middle: This is a versatile option, suited to both front- and back-foot play, and it’s generally the preferred choice for young players as it offers balanced performance.

High Middle: Best for back-foot players, helping with shots on fast pitches or for players who like to cut and pull. High-middle bats can sometimes feel lighter in pick-up.

There are additionals like mid-high, or mid-low but these a three are the core middle positions.

A general rule, the higher the middle the lighted the cricket bat pick up - something to think about.

If your daughter is an all-round the crease player, a bat with a mid-middle might be ideal. It gives her control across different shot of the front and back foot, without limiting her options.

Avoiding a Bat That’s Too Big

This is really important and something that is overlooked, choosing a bat that’s too big for your daughter can hinder her development, confidence, and safety on the field.

An oversized bat can lead to:

• Difficulty with Bat Control: A larger bat is harder to control, especially for quick reactionary shots.

• Slower Reaction Times: Heavier bats slow down her back lift, potentially reducing the accuracy and effectiveness of her shots.

• Injury Risks: A bat that’s too heavy or large may strain her wrists, forearms, and shoulders over time, increasing the risk of injury.

Conclusion: Let Trogon Cricket Help Find the Perfect Bat for Your Daughter

Selecting the ideal cricket bat for your 14-year-old daughter involves balancing size, weight, quality, and her unique preferences.

At Trogon Cricket, we’re committed to helping young players find the perfect bat that fits their height, strength, and style.

With our range of English willow bats and custom options, we can assist you in finding a bat that not only meets her needs but also enhances her performance.

Buying With Confidence from Trogon

If you've reached this point, I sincerely thank you for reading it all through. Your interest and support mean the world to me and the team at Trogon Cricket, and it's greatly appreciated.

Whether you're here to learn more about our cricket bats or other products or just out of curiosity, your engagement makes a real difference. Thank you for being part of our Trogon journey.

Trogon Product Guarantee

6-month guarantee on all cricket bats. That means if you purchase a bat through us and it breaks, as long as it has been knocked in properly, we will replace it like for like. This is our commitment to you on top of your statutory protections when buying products online.

Find The Perfect Cricket Bat for your 14-year old Daughter

We have a range of cricket bats here at Trogon that are designed for ladies and junior cricketers.  Click on the links below and find your next cricket bat.