How to Choose a Ball Glove

Choosing the right glove is an important and personal decision. The best place to start is age. If you are buying a glove for a child, this scale that should give you an idea of glove sizes appropriate to the age of your player. Please keep in mind that people (especially children) come in all shapes and sizes so make allowances as necessary.

Age	Position	Glove Size
5-6	Fielder	10 to 10 1/2 (youth model)
7-8	Fielder	10 1/2 to 11 (youth model)
9-12	Fielder	11 to 11 1/2 (youth model)
Junior/Senior	Infield	11 to 11 1/2
Junior/Senior	Outfield	12 to 12 1/2

Choosing a Baseball Glove Based on Position

As each defensive position in baseball or softball requires a specific set of skills, the glove used by each player should reflect the type of situations they tend to face. Here are some guidelines.

Catcher – Catchers mitt. A pitcher throws pitches extremely hard and the catcher has to catch many pitches over the course of a game. No fingers and more padding are needed for the catcher. The catcher's mitt is the only glove used for this position.

First Base – First baseman's Mitt. First basemen also have to catch a lot of hard throws from the other infielders. Like the catcher's mitt, the first base mitt has no fingers however it will have less padding and be larger in diameter creating a larger pocket and allowing the first baseman to catch arrant throws and get to ground balls. First base mitts come in open or closed web.

Second Base and Short Stop – 11” to 12” open or closed web. Good middle infielders turn double plays like a well oiled machine. In order to stop a bouncing ground ball with spin and then get rid of it quickly, the middle infielder needs a smaller glove with a shallow pocket (soft hands help too).

Third Base – 11 ½” to 12 1/4” preferably open web / trapeze. Much like the middle infield, the third base position requires the ability to stop and throw the ball quickly. The main difference is less involvement in double plays and more hard line drives. Because of the harder hits, a slightly larger glove with a deeper pocket is used at third.

Pitcher – 11 ½” to 12 1/2” closed web / trapeze. A pitcher's job is to confuse and deceive the hitter. The closed web is necessary to conceal the grip used for the pitch. The pitcher's glove should be small enough to field a grounder or dribbler but large enough to protect from the occasional line drive up the middle.

Outfielder – 12” to 13” open web / trapeze. The outfielder's main job is to catch the ball. The bigger glove makes this easier by extending the reach and maximizing the size of the pocket.

Softball – 12 ½” to 14” open or closed web. Softballs are bigger than baseballs requiring a larger web and pocket. There are softball gloves made specifically for women with smaller hands.

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What you get for your money

Leather has always been the main material ball gloves have been made of. We have seen a dramatic change in technology with bats, clothing, training equipment, footwear and pretty much everything else involved with baseball. Even with all our technology in materials, good old fashioned leather is still the best material for building top-quality ball gloves.

What separates different levels of ball gloves is the amount of leather and the quality of it. A pro-level ball glove will be made from all leather parts (aside from the padding inside the fingers and palm) and have heavy duty lacing. The leather in a pro ball glove is of the highest quality for durability and to maintain its shape when broken in. A pro ball glove will last for many years if properly cared for. As you go down the ball glove scale, you will begin to see more parts of the glove made of synthetic material which is cheaper to produce. These synthetic parts are usually in the trim and inner lining of the ball glove where it won't affect its performance too much. Ball glove manufacturers are making pretty good gloves for the $30-$50 range and these gloves are quite adequate for the weekend warrior. Here are some of the manufacturers whose ball gloves we carry:

Pro gloves – Rawlings Heart of the Hide & Pro Preferred , Wilson A2000 &A3000 , Nokona Classic Series , American Pro Series, Buffalo / Buffalo Combo , Fast Pitch Series , Akadema Praying Mantis , Reptilian , Professional Series , SSK Pro Series are all top quality lines of ball gloves many of which are used on the field of play in the major leagues.

Almost pro gloves – SSK Enforcer Series ball gloves are very high quality for a glove that is less than $100.

Inexpensive gloves for the casual player- Easton Black Magic Series ball gloves are pre-oiled and ready to go. Starting at $30, this series is perfect for those who need a usable glove for a low price.

Caring for a Ball Glove

There are as many methods to breaking in a glove as there are kinds of gloves. Some people use oil while others use shaving cream. The goal is softening the leather of the glove and shaping the pocket. The simplest way is to apply conditioner to the pocket and web and play catch. Heat from the sun and your hand will break the glove in faster than anything. Most companies realize that breaking in a glove can be a chore and now make gloves that are pre-oiled to help speed this process. Though it can seem tedious, a properly broken-in glove will provide years of use at any competitive level.

Check out our line of products in our ball glove care section

Once it is broken in, your glove's leather will require regular conditioning to maintain its elasticity, suppleness and prevent it from becoming dry and chapped. When your glove begins to become lighter in color, it may be a sign that it requires some conditioning. Conditioner or oil can be applied with a cloth to any and all parts of the glove. The parts of the glove that require extra conditioner are the pocket, webbing and palm. Regular care will maximize the useful life of your ball glove.

Always store your glove with a ball in it when not in use to maintain the glove's shape. If you store your glove without something in the pocket, it may flatten out and loose some of its shape.