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 primal. With the right size of baseball glove , you're able to not just increase your confidence but better your overall performance. Whether you're picking out a glove for yourself or a young baseball player, knowing the basics of how to choose a baseball glove is a primal step to playing your best on the field. Since there are a combination of different factors that get into determining which baseball glove is right for you or your player, we intermission down what yous need to know in lodge to cull a baseball glove. Once you narrow down the size and fashion of baseball glove you need, see what gloves our experts advise equally the Best Baseball Gloves for 2022.

How To Measure a Baseball Glove

Before identifying which baseball glove size will fit all-time, it's important to have a basic understanding of how to measure a glove. All baseball gloves and catcher's mitts will have a size listed, usually in inches.

  • To determine the size of a baseball game glove , mensurate from the tip of the index finger along the palm to the heel of the glove. Almost baseball gloves don't measure greater than 12.5 inches.
  • When looking for a catcher'due south paw , you lot'll observe that the sizing of the glove is between 32.5 to 34 inches. That's because a catcher's mitt is measured past the circumference.

Baseball Glove Size & Position

When finding the correct size baseball glove, there are several factors to consider including hand size, historic period, and field position. The baseball glove size charts below are a cracking starting signal in narrowing your size options.

Youth Baseball game Glove Size Nautical chart

Age Baseball game Glove Size
5 & nether 9" - 10"
6 - 7 10" - 10.5"
8 - 10 10.75" - 11.5"
eleven -12 11" - 12"

Youth Catcher's Mitt Size Nautical chart

Age Catcher's Glove Size
Nether seven 29.5" - 30"
viii - 10 30" - 32"
11 - 13 31" - 32.5"

Loftier School & Adult Baseball Glove Size Chart

Position Glove Size
Infield 11" - 12.25"
Outfield 12.5" - 12.75"
Starting time Base 12" - 13"
Bullpen 11.five" - 12.5"
Catcher 32.5" - 34"

Depending on your position, yous'll want to wait for specific features within a baseball glove to assistance improve your overall performance. Information technology's important to note that if yous're a utility player or are but starting to play baseball, it's more than of import 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, yous'll use a smaller glove with a shallow pocket. This allows infielders to quickly transfer the brawl from the glove to their throwing hand.
  • Outfield Gloves : For an outfield position, yous'll typically want a larger glove with a deep pocket. With the extra length, outfielders have a longer achieve to snag fly assurance, while the deeper pocket offers added control later the take hold of.
  • First Base of operations Mitts: Playing first base of operations is i of the most demanding positions on the field. A offset base hand is constructed as more of a hybrid betwixt a catcher'southward mitt and an infield glove considering starting time basemen spend much of their time communicable throws or fielding ground assurance. The mitt-manner construction provides a deeper pocket for easier catching and scooping up ground balls, while the extended length of the manus makes fielding throws easier.
  • Bullpen's Gloves : When you're a pitcher, you'll utilise a glove nearly the same size as an infielder, but you'll want to pay more than attention to the webbing on the glove. With a closed web-pattern, a pitcher tin can hide their grip to forbid the concoction from knowing which pitch is coming their way.
  • Catcher'southward Mitts : With a catcher's manus, you should be most concerned near 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 Glove Spider 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 want to discover the right glove spider web blazon that matches your preferences and position. Beneath is a cursory summary of the 4 nigh common web types.

  1. I-Spider web: A baseball game glove featuring an I-Spider web is more often than not used by infielders. This webbing is an ideal size and will sift through clay when scooping up a basis ball.
  2. Modified Trapeze: The modified trapeze webbing, frequently referred to as mod trap, is used by infielders or the pitcher. With a mod trap design, there is a leather strip down the middle of the webbing to provide more stability too as aid hide the pitcher's grip.
  3. Two-Piece: This style of webbing is mainly used by pitchers because this webbing option helps conceal the pitcher's grip the best. Added coverage means added weight, so a glove with a two-piece webbing is typically used by older players with more than strength.
  4. H-Web: Depending on the glove'south size, the H-Web webbing can be used by infielders or outfielders. With the leather strips making an "H" pattern, this webbing is very strong yet allows players to meet through the webbing to locate fly balls.

Aside from these 4 baseball glove web types, in that location are a few more than position-specific spider web types including basket, trapeze, single-post, and dual-post.

For a cursory review of how to choose the right baseball glove, one of our baseball experts, Jimmy, summarizes what you need to go on in mind before picking out your next glove.

Now that you have a basic agreement of how to cull a baseball glove—considering your age, playing position, and webbing—y'all're ready to beginning browsing in shop or online for your side by side glove. Just recall when choosing your baseball game glove, it'due south all almost personal preference and comfort. If you lot demand additional help or have questions about how to choose a baseball game glove, contact your local SCHEELS to speak with a baseball skilful!

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