They are as follows: Full-grain leatherįull-grain leather gloves are stiffer than most other types. There are four main types of leather used to produce baseball and softball gloves. This makes it easier to catch from this position. Outfield gloves are typically on the wider side with more support in the fingers. Not much more emphasis on support for fingers Infield gloves tend to be on the smaller side to allow for faster transitions.
Pitchers still do need to catch drives coming in their direction but generally aren’t as concerned about padding as players in other positions. The pitcher’s glove is designed to be flexible, light, and comfortable. The first baseman requires mobility when scooping balls out of the dirt. Padding also wears down quickly in a catcher’s mitt, which is why you need plenty to begin with. Ample padding is needed to prevent injuries. The ideal amount of padding also depends on what position you play. The following positions fastpitch baseball should use closed web designs for their additional support: The open web design helps you get the ball out of your hand and ready for throwing much faster. The basket web is another style that allows you to hide the ball easily, which pitchers prefer.įastpitch softball players should choose an open web design for the following positions: Large gaps also allow players to keep an eye on fly balls. I-Web gloves are very popular with infielders because the large gaps easily allow dirt and debris to fall through. The trapeze web style is very popular among outfielders because it helps with catching balls that make it out that far. If you don’t have a particular webbing preference yet, the modified trapeze style is versatile enough to start with for most positions. It’s popular among pitchers for this reason. If your glove doesn’t have any specifications, stretch a measuring tape between the tip of the index finger, down along the glove, and to the center heel.Ī two-piece closed web allows you to hide the ball and your fingers. You can typically find the measurements etched into either the thumb or pinky finger. New gloves come with specifications on the tag.
How to measure a baseball/softball correctly? A glove with an adjustable wrist strap is a great option for younger players or those with smaller hands. If a glove is too large it will feel loose on the hand, palm and fingers. Key factors to consider when choosing the correct glove size are the wrist size and fit on the hand. A floppy glove will reduce your ability to catch properly whereas an overly-tight glove will make for an uncomfortable fit.
To ensure a glove’s suitability, you’ll need to evaluate how it fits on the players wrist and hand. How should a baseball/softball glove fit?Īs you can see in the charts above, recommended baseball and softball glove come in a range of sizes.