Ledgends - Katchet

Company Description

Ledgends is dedicated to providing original and superior quality products for the sports training ground.

The Problem

Before the Katchet was invented, the best practice aid for a wicket keeper was a device called the pitch roller, a semi-circular shape providing degrees of deflection in either direction. However, the direction of deflection could be predicted and it was extremely heavy, so it was difficult to move around. Also, the number of exercises that could be performed with it was limited. Colin Smith, wicketkeeper for the Scottish Saltirs and Director of Ledgends Ltd, wanted to create a better alternative and contacted MotionTouch in October 2004.

The Challenge

The challenge was to create an improved alternative to the pitch roller. The product also needed to be low cost so that it could be sold in the market at a competitive price with enough profit margin for manufacturer and retailer alike.

The Process

When Ledgends approached MotionTouch they had a wooden example of the kind of device they were looking to create. But, there were limitations with the prototype in that the wood was slowing the ball down on contact, the impact of the ball was not being absorbed and the deflection angles needed to be adjusted.

By working closely with Ledgends, MotionTouch used its team of designers to revise the products design. In an attempt to keep costs as low as possible, a prototype of the product was then created using a process called vacuum forming, but this did not provide the rigidity or durability required. It was then re-created in a range of different materials such as fibreglass, which was effective but expensive. Eventually, injection moulding was found to be the most effective manufacturing process.

Once the manufacturing process had been agreed, it was then a matter of trial and error of trying different materials and thickness, along with different injection points and temperatures before coming to the finished article. Which was then sent to production.

The Solution

The Katchet is a series of curved surfaces lined up side-by-side, which has none of the limitations and shortcomings of the pitch roller. It is lightweight, durable, easy to transport and the direction of the ball cannot be predicted. You can also link more than one Katchet together, so that you can create an even larger practice area.

The Product

The ‘Katchet’ fielding board is a training aid for Cricket. It allows the wicketkeeper to try slips, short leg and other positions, where practising deflection and reaction are crucial. For these reasons it has also proved beneficial for training Hockey goalkeepers.

The Outcome

The Katchet is unique, there is nothing like it on the market worldwide. The product was launched in March 2006 and initial sales have been promising, selling 160 in the first week alone, with little marketing having been conducted.

The Katchet is all ready being used by the Test teams of Australia, England, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa, with the Pakistan team also having placed a recent order. Six English counties are also all ready using them.

Colin says, "Creating the Katchet has been an exciting process and has taken a fair degree of time and effort. The project was entirely funded by my business partner and myself and there are now other new and innovative products just on the market, which we are working to bring to the market in order to fulfill our company goal. Hopefully this is the start of a long and fruitful partnership between MotionTouch and us. The staff are always helpful and friendly, and in the initial stages when confidentiality was required MotionTouch showed to have the trust and integrity that any business requires when dealing with a partner."