How to Choose a Baseball Glove

Rawlings Gloves laying on the baseball field

No matter the level of contest, having confidence when stepping out onto the baseball field is key. With the correct size of baseball glove , you're able to non only increment your conviction but improve your overall functioning. Whether you're picking out a glove for yourself or a young baseball game role player, knowing the nuts of how to choose a baseball glove is a primal step to playing your best on the field. Since at that place are a combination of different factors that go into determining which baseball glove is right for you or your thespian, we break down what yous demand to know in order to cull a baseball glove. In one case you narrow down the size and style of baseball game glove yous need, see what gloves our experts suggest as the All-time Baseball Gloves for 2022.

How To Measure a Baseball game Glove

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

  • To determine the size of a baseball glove , measure from the tip of the alphabetize finger along the palm to the heel of the glove. Most baseball game gloves don't measure greater than 12.5 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'southward because a catcher'due south mitt is measured by the circumference.

Baseball Glove Size & Position

When finding the right size baseball glove, there are several factors to consider including hand size, age, and field position. The baseball game glove size charts below are a cracking starting point in narrowing your size options.

Youth Baseball Glove Size Nautical chart

Age Baseball game Glove Size
5 & under nine" - 10"
6 - seven 10" - ten.5"
8 - 10 x.75" - 11.5"
xi -12 eleven" - 12"

Youth Catcher'due south Mitt Size Chart

Age Catcher'southward Glove Size
Under 7 29.5" - xxx"
8 - 10 30" - 32"
11 - 13 31" - 32.five"

High School & Adult Baseball Glove Size Nautical chart

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

Depending on your position, you'll want to look for specific features inside a baseball glove to help improve your overall performance. It'south important to annotation that if you're a utility player or are just starting to play baseball game, information technology's more important that your baseball game glove feels comfortable than meets all the requirements below. Below is a summary of what to wait for in a baseball glove based on your position.

  • Infield Gloves : If you lot'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, you lot'll typically want a larger glove with a deep pocket. With the extra length, outfielders have a longer achieve to snag wing assurance, while the deeper pocket offers added control after the grab.
  • First Base of operations Mitts: Playing commencement base of operations is 1 of the most demanding positions on the field. A offset base hand is constructed as more of a hybrid between a catcher's hand and an infield glove because first basemen spend much of their fourth dimension catching throws or fielding ground balls. The mitt-mode construction provides a deeper pocket for easier communicable and scooping up ground balls, while the extended length of the mitt makes fielding throws easier.
  • Pitcher's Gloves : When you're a pitcher, you'll use a glove nearly the same size equally an infielder, but yous'll want to pay more than attention to the webbing on the glove. With a airtight web-pattern, a bullpen can hibernate their grip to prevent the batter from knowing which pitch is coming their way.
  • Catcher's Mitts : With a catcher'southward mitt, you should be nearly concerned virtually which size offers the best feel for your hand. With the right size catcher'south mitt for your hand, you're able to catch and transfer the baseball quickly.

Baseball Glove Web Types

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

Aside from size and position, you'll also want to consider the baseball glove's web type. To improve efficiency in catching and transferring the ball, you'll desire to detect the right glove spider web type that matches your preferences and position. Below is a brief summary of the 4 most mutual web types.

  1. I-Web: A baseball glove featuring an I-Spider web is more often than not used past 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, ofttimes referred to as mod trap, is used past infielders or the pitcher. With a mod trap design, there is a leather strip downwards the middle of the webbing to provide more stability as well every bit assistance hibernate the bullpen's grip.
  3. 2-Slice: This fashion of webbing is mainly used by pitchers because this webbing option helps conceal the bullpen'south grip the best. Added coverage means added weight, then a glove with a two-slice webbing is typically used by older players with more strength.
  4. H-Web: Depending on the glove's size, the H-Web webbing can exist used by infielders or outfielders. With the leather strips making an "H" pattern, this webbing is very strong still allows players to see through the webbing to locate fly balls.

Aside from these four baseball glove web types, there are a few more position-specific web types including basket, trapeze, single-post, and dual-post.

For a cursory review of how to choose the right baseball glove, i of our baseball experts, Jimmy, summarizes what y'all need to keep in mind before picking out your adjacent glove.

Now that you have a basic understanding of how to choose a baseball glove—considering your historic period, playing position, and webbing—you're ready to showtime browsing in store or online for your adjacent glove. Just recollect when choosing your baseball glove, it'southward all nearly personal preference and comfort. If y'all need additional help or have questions well-nigh how to choose a baseball game glove, contact your local SCHEELS to speak with a baseball good!

Looking for other new baseball equipment? Check out our 2 expert blogs— How to Cull a Baseball game Bat and the Best Baseball game Cleats .