How To Build A Protective Case And Magnetic Stump Bracket

Build Your Own
Hardware To Record
From The Stumps

Capturing cricket games from the viewpoint of the stumps provides a unique perspective and is ideal for reviewing umpire decisions. However, ensuring your phone’s safety and securing it in place can be a concern. In this post, we’ll guide you through building your own protective case and magnetic mounting brackets, which will significantly reduce the risk of damage to your device. Please keep in mind that this method does not guarantee the safety of your phone, so proceed at your own risk.

The protective case and magnetic mounting bracket in this article were designed to facilitate easy phone attachment, alignment, and prevent phone tilting during use while also allowing the phone to be used with a battery case. All materials used can be sourced at your local hardware store.

Building The Protective Case

Materials Needed

Sturdy clear plastic that won’t shatter on impact such as polycarbonate
High density foam
Glue
Hook and Loop Velcro
Metal phone plate sticker (only if phone case is not metallic)

Step 1

Take the sturdy plastic and cut it to size. You want the plastic to be slightly larger than the phone. You don't need to be too precise with the measurements. Use masking tape and mark a line where you want to cut. When you have made your cut, remove the masking tape and sand off any rough edges.

Setp 2

Cut the high density foam to size and glue to each side of the plastic. The foam should be thin enough to create a gap between the plastic and the foam, but not too thick that the cover will stick out too much. Also make sure the foam is wide enough that the cover will sit comfortably on the phone, but not so wide that it will obstruct too much of the screen. The foam will act as a shock absorber if the ball hits the cover.

Setp 3

Once the glue has dried, cut two short strips of the hook side of the Velcro. Glue one strip to the end of the case, and glue the other strip close to the camera. These strips should be glued to the top and side of the case. Make sure that the camera is not covered by Velcro when the phone is attached. Glue the loop side of the Velcro to the opposite side of the case.

Step 4

Use insulation tape to cover the glue and tidy up any messy edges if you want a cleaner finish.

Step 5

Attach the protective case to the phone and check it fits well.

Step 6

Depending on your phone cover, you may need to add a metallic plate to the back of your phone case so the phone will stick to the magnets.

Building The Magnetic Brackets

Materials Needed

Angle brackets
Magnets with screw holes
Foam padding with glue backing
Screws

Step 1

Choose a lightweight bracket with a wide ledge that will hold the phone securely and prevent the phone from tilting. You can find suitable brackets at your local hardware store or online. Cut it to size if necessary.

Setp 2

Cut the foam padding to fit the bracket and glue it in place, wrapping it around to cover the edge and both sides.

Setp 3

Attach the magnets to the bracket. Neodymium magnets are widely available at hardware stores or online, but make sure to choose magnets with a hole in the middle so a screw can be inserted. Preferably use two strong magnets for each bracket to increase the magnetic surface area.

Fixing The Brackets To The Stumps

To attach the magnetic brackets to the stumps, position them at the back of each middle stump, around 10cm from the top. Finding the exact middle of the stump to screw the brackets can be challenging. It is recommended to mark the screw holes and pre-drill them before screwing the brackets by hand. This will also help prevent any damage to the stumps.

When attaching the phone to the stumps, peer through the protective case to ensure the camera is aligned correctly. You may need to zoom in slightly if the bowler’s stumps are creeping into the frame.