Verdict
A Batting Coach In Your Smartphone
I’ll admit, I was a bit sceptical about Str8bat at first. I saw it as another gadget that promises much but delivers little. But after actually taking it out for a nostalgic net session (and sweating it out like a mid-tier Ranji hopeful), I’ve come away impressed. It doesn’t just record your swings, it tells you why that one sweep felt sweeter than the rest. With a price tag of Rs 5,849, it delivers solid value, especially considering the kind of performance breakdown it offers. The Rs 1,188/year subscription feels steep unless you're a regular in the nets, and the lack of multi-user profiles is mildly frustrating. But if you're someone who plays often and genuinely wants to track your progress, this device is a game-aware, data-rich companion. No, it won’t replace a coach, but it might just make your coach’s job easier. And for folks like me, it adds a layer of fun and purpose to rediscovering the game we once dreamed of mastering.
The Good
- Accurate 3D shot tracking with AI-driven insights
- Easy setup and user-friendly app experience
- Helpful features like Challenges and Pro vs You
The Bad
- No multi-user profile support
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Design
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App Experience
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Features
Cricket has always been more than just a sport for me; it’s a first love I never quite got over.
So when I got my hands on the Str8bat gadget, a nifty piece of tech designed to improve your batting, I knew I had to give it a proper spin.
After all, it had made quite a splash on Shark Tank when it was first featured on the TV show.
Now, normally, as tech journalists, we’re pretty used to testing out consumer gadgets by just incorporating them into our daily lives.
But this one called for a wholly different scenario.
I had to dust off the old bat, borrow a cricket kit from my neighbour’s kid (Thank you Ishaan), search for an indoor net where I could knock a few balls since the monsoon is on in full swing, and finally get some mates together to have a bowl at me, while I go back to doing what I do best, which is being a mediocre right-handed batsman who curses his luck for robbing him of the chance of playing for India one day (laugh all you want, but the joke’s on my selectors from back in the day).
Anyway, once I got all this wedding-level planning down, I asked my colleagues, Aadithya and Divesh, to join me at the net.
Both are astute believers in the fact that the shoddy selection process in India had a big part to play in them not becoming the next big things in Indian cricket.
In other words, both were sailing the same boat as I.
It was fair enough then, for this unfortunate trio to come together, albeit for the testing of a cricketing gadget.
But enough about us, the session went smoothly and let me tell you, nostalgia hits harder when it’s coming at 120 clicks.
I played a total of 110 shots that morning, and the data the device gathered from them is the crux of this review
The Numbers Game
During the session, I played 110 shots. 80 connected, 30… didn’t (blame my rusty back).
My average bat speed was clocked at 65 kmph; clearly not setting the speed guns on fire.
In fact, to give you context, MS Dhoni’s bat speed when hitting his best shots is 145-150 kmph.
As for my timing index? It was a humble 42%. That means I timed only 42 percent of the balls I hit.
Not flattering, but you know what, how else would I have gotten such detailed data?
The Str8bat is a gadget that easily provides detailed information right on your phone.
And the best part of it all is that it didn’t just give me numbers; it gave me perspective.
My real “whoa” moment came when I saw one shot logged with a 93% timing index
Immediately, my gut screamed, “That’s gotta be the sweep to Divesh!”
And guess what?
The 3D rendering confirmed it.
Seeing the exact arc, angle, and finesse of that shot play out on my screen was a chef’s kiss.
The App is Where the Magic Happens
Str8bat’s app doesn’t just serve stats; it gives structure.
The Challenges section is especially useful for regulars.
It gamifies improvement by setting measurable targets, keeping the process addictive and rewarding.
Then there’s the Pro vs You feature, a cold, hard mirror that shows you how far you are from the pros, but also where to close the gap.
Whether you’re a club-level warrior or a gully cricket gladiator aiming to go next level, these sections are pure gold.
Setup and Sync
Tech should never get in the way of play, and here Str8bat nails the user experience.
Setup was a breeze.
All I had to do was download the app, register myself on it, stick the velcro pad to my bat, charge and attach the sensor to the velcro pad, and calibrate it by tapping the bat on the ground thrice and laying it down parallel to the stumps.
That’s it.
The sensor stores up to 600 shots before needing a sync, which is a no-brainer process.
Just open the app, hit sync, and your game is ready for post-match analysis.
How it works
The Str8bat gadget uses a compact motion-sensing unit equipped with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which is a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers that capture every nuance of your bat swing in 3D.
Once you swing your bat, it records data like bat speed, angle, swing path, and impact timing.
This data is then synced via Bluetooth to the Str8bat app, which uses AI-powered analytics to break down your performance and even recreate your shots as detailed 3D visuals.
It’s like having a biomechanics lab in your bat, minus the wires and complexity.
Sharing Sessions: A No No
One slightly annoying hiccup during the session was that the Str8bat gadget recorded every shot played with the bat, whether it was me holding it or not.
So out of the 110 shots logged, at least 9 were actually played by Aadithya or Divesh when they picked up the bat for a quick hit.
Since the gadget stays connected to one account at a time, the only way for them to log their own shots would have been to disconnect it from my account, reconnect to theirs, and go through the whole setup again, which frankly would’ve killed the vibe mid-session.
I really wish there were a feature to assign multiple profiles and switch between them on the fly.
But then again, Str8bat is designed to be a personal gadget, more like a digital batting diary, not something you pass around. Still, a guy can dream.
Pricing and Value
The Str8bat device is priced at Rs 5,849 on both Amazon and Flipkart, and for what it offers, that’s a pretty fair deal, especially for amateur and semi-pro cricketers looking to get serious about their batting.
It’s a one-time investment for something that turns your regular net session into a data-rich experience.
And then there’s a nifty subscription plan, which costs Rs 1,188 per year, which comes to about Rs 99 per month.
This unlocks features like access to all past sessions (not just the most recent one), detailed analytics, and enhanced comparisons.
For someone playing frequently and using Str8bat as a genuine coaching tool, the subscription does add a lot of value.
But for casual players or weekend warriors, it may feel a bit steep over time. Ideally, Str8bat should consider a lower-tier or pay-per-session model to make deeper insights more accessible.
That said, the free version still gives you a meaningful taste of your performance, making the device itself a smart buy, even without the monthly upgrade.
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