How to Choose a Baseball Glove

Rawlings Gloves laying on the baseball field

No matter the level of competition, having confidence when stepping out onto the baseball field is fundamental. With the right size of baseball glove , you're able to not only increase your confidence simply ameliorate your overall operation. Whether you're picking out a glove for yourself or a young baseball player, knowing the nuts of how to cull a baseball glove is a primal stride to playing your all-time on the field. Since there are a combination of different factors that become into determining which baseball glove is right for yous or your player, we intermission down what you lot demand to know in order to choose a baseball game glove. One time you narrow downwardly the size and style of baseball glove you need, run across what gloves our experts suggest as the Best Baseball Gloves for 2022.

How To Measure a Baseball Glove

Before identifying which baseball glove size volition fit best, information technology'southward of import to have a basic agreement of how to measure a glove. All baseball gloves and catcher's mitts volition have a size listed, usually in inches.

  • To make up one's mind the size of a baseball game glove , mensurate from the tip of the index finger along the palm to the heel of the glove. Nigh baseball gloves don't measure greater than 12.five inches.
  • When looking for a catcher's paw , you'll notice that the sizing of the glove is between 32.5 to 34 inches. That's considering a catcher's hand is measured past the circumference.

Baseball Glove Size & Position

When finding the correct size baseball glove, at that place are several factors to consider including hand size, age, and field position. The baseball glove size charts below are a slap-up starting indicate in narrowing your size options.

Youth Baseball Glove Size Chart

Age Baseball Glove Size
5 & under 9" - 10"
half dozen - seven 10" - ten.v"
viii - 10 10.75" - 11.v"
eleven -12 11" - 12"

Youth Catcher'southward Mitt Size Chart

Historic period Catcher's Glove Size
Under 7 29.5" - 30"
8 - 10 xxx" - 32"
11 - thirteen 31" - 32.v"

Loftier School & Adult Baseball Glove Size Nautical chart

Position Glove Size
Infield 11" - 12.25"
Outfield 12.v" - 12.75"
First Base 12" - 13"
Pitcher 11.5" - 12.5"
Catcher 32.5" - 34"

Depending on your position, yous'll want to expect for specific features within a baseball game glove to help improve your overall performance. It's important to note that if you're a utility player or are but starting to play baseball, it's more important that your baseball glove feels comfortable than meets all the requirements below. Below is a summary of what to look for in a baseball glove based on your position.

  • Infield Gloves : If you're playing an infield position, you'll use a smaller glove with a shallow pocket. This allows infielders to quickly transfer the ball from the glove to their throwing hand.
  • Outfield Gloves : For an outfield position, y'all'll typically desire a larger glove with a deep pocket. With the extra length, outfielders have a longer reach to snag fly balls, while the deeper pocket offers added command after the grab.
  • Get-go Base of operations Mitts: Playing get-go base is i of the about demanding positions on the field. A start base of operations mitt is constructed as more of a hybrid between a catcher'south paw and an infield glove considering start basemen spend much of their fourth dimension catching throws or fielding ground balls. The manus-mode construction provides a deeper pocket for easier catching and scooping up basis balls, while the extended length of the mitt makes fielding throws easier.
  • Pitcher's Gloves : When you're a bullpen, you'll employ a glove most the same size as an infielder, simply you'll want to pay more attending to the webbing on the glove. With a closed spider web-pattern, a pitcher can hibernate their grip to forestall the batter from knowing which pitch is coming their manner.
  • Catcher's Mitts : With a catcher'southward mitt, y'all should be most concerned most which size offers the all-time feel for your hand. With the right size catcher's mitt for your hand, you're able to catch and transfer the baseball game quickly.

Baseball game Glove Spider web Types

Web Styles i web, modified trap, two piece, and h web

Aside from size and position, you lot'll likewise want to consider the baseball glove'southward web blazon. To improve efficiency in communicable and transferring the ball, you'll want to discover the correct glove web type that matches your preferences and position. Below is a brief summary of the 4 near common spider web types.

  1. I-Web: A baseball glove featuring an I-Spider web is mostly used by infielders. This webbing is an ideal size and will sift through clay when scooping up a ground ball.
  2. Modified Trapeze: The modified trapeze webbing, often referred to as mod trap, is used by infielders or the pitcher. With a modernistic trap design, there is a leather strip downwardly the centre of the webbing to provide more than stability equally well as help hide the pitcher's grip.
  3. 2-Piece: This manner of webbing is mainly used past pitchers because this webbing option helps conceal the bullpen'south grip the best. Added coverage means added weight, so a glove with a two-slice webbing is typically used by older players with more forcefulness.
  4. H-Spider web: Depending on the glove's size, the H-Web webbing can be used by infielders or outfielders. With the leather strips making an "H" blueprint, this webbing is very strong yet allows players to see through the webbing to locate fly balls.

Aside from these four baseball glove spider web types, at that place are a few more position-specific web types including basket, trapeze, single-mail, and dual-mail service.

For a brief review of how to choose the correct baseball game glove, i of our baseball experts, Jimmy, summarizes what you lot need to continue in mind before picking out your next glove.

At present that y'all take a bones understanding of how to choose a baseball glove—considering your age, playing position, and webbing—you're ready to start browsing in store or online for your next glove. Just think when choosing your baseball game glove, it's all about personal preference and comfort. If you lot need additional help or have questions virtually how to choose a baseball glove, contact your local SCHEELS to speak with a baseball adept!

Looking for other new baseball equipment? Bank check out our two expert blogs— How to Choose a Baseball Bat and the Best Baseball game Cleats .