Buying A Glove
How To Buy A Glove Generally Depends On Age and Position
Although age is also a factor, the position you play is the most important consideration in choosing a baseball or softball glove.
Little League/Youth
- Youth models are smaller to help kids maintain control
- Avoid the urge to buy a bigger glove that you'll grow into
- Kids under the age of 8 should stick with a glove from 9 to 11 inches
- Kids from 8 to early teens, consider an 11-inch glove
- Beginners also benefit from the added control that they get from smaller gloves
High School/ Adult (age)
- Outfielders need 12 to 12 1/2 inch gloves with deeper pockets
- Infielders need smaller gloves (10 1/2 to 11 1/2 inch) with shallower pockets for better control and quicker ball transfer
- Pitchers can go with a slightly larger glove than infielders but still need a small enough glove for fielding and throwing quicklyl
- Softball players require gloves that are slightly longer in length and deeper in the pocket to help field the bigger ball
Catcher's Glove or Mitt (position)
- A fingerless mitt (it does not have individual fingers)
- Has heavy padding to reduce the sting from the pitcher's throw
- Reinforced to withstand the heavy use throughout a game
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First Base Baseball Glove (position)
- Resembles a mitten, but has less padding than the catcher's mitt
- It is longer to help the first baseman field throws from infielders
- A shallow pocket allows the first baseman to quickly retrieve the ball from the mitt
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Infield Gloves
- A five-fingered glove with a shallow pocket
- A youth size is between 9 - 11 inches
- Adults 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches is the typical baseball size
- Softball infielder gloves have a deeper pocket to accept the bigger ball
- Second basemen need a smaller glove to help make those quick throws while still having control
- Shortstops use something in the middle for grounders and quick throws
- Third basemen need a larger glove
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Outfield Gloves
- Usually sized at 12 to 12 1/2-inches for adults, about 11 inches for children
- A deeper pocket to handle balls hit high in the air
- Longer length to give as much reach as possible
- If you plan to play various outfield positions, find a glove that provides the most control for those outfield positions
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Pitcher Gloves
- A pitcher's glove can be any size, (just make sure it's comfortable on your hand)
- The closed web is what classifies it as a pitcher's glove
- Pitcher's use a closed web to hide their hand and ball
- Sometimes they have a finger hood to conceal the index finger
- Basket, Basket Connector, Two Piece Solid and Solid One Piece are popular web styles for pitcher’s
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Softball Gloves
- Generally larger both in the pocket and length to help players handle the larger ball
- If you play both baseball and softball, and you only want to buy one glove, select a softball glove
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