How to Buy a Softball / Baseball Glove

Baseball Gloves / Softball Gloves

• Glove Features
• Glove Sizes
• Field Positions
• Glove Care Tips

Choosing an appropriate baseball glove or softball glove is dependent upon several factors. The most critical factors include your field position, your size, your level of play and your personal preferences. Based upon these factors, baseball gloves differ in size, pocket depth, webbing, back style and amount of padding.  Below we will explain the type of glove that is typically used for each position and age / play level. We offer baseball gloves for every position and level from the top baseball equipment brands on the market including Rawlings, Louisville Slugger, Franklin and Wilson. All of these manufacturers design gloves priced from budget to premium, and use a variety of materials, ranging from excellent quality to standard.

If you need more help deciding on a baseball glove, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-693-6368 and we will do our best to find the baseball glove that best fits your needs.

Glove Features

• Webbing: Every baseball and softball glove has either an open web or a closed web. The style you choose will depend on your fielding position as well as your personal preference. A closed web is standard on all catcher's mitts and often used by pitchers to hide the ball from the batter. A closed web is also used if the player prefers more support when catching. An open web helps players, especially middle infielders, get the ball out of the pocket quicker to make throws to bases.
• Pocket Depth: Shallow pockets are ideal for positions that require fielders to quickly grab the ball and throw it to base after making a catch. Deeper pockets are designed to help players hold onto fly balls. Softball players also need a deeper pocket to catch the bigger softball.
• Backs: The choice of an open or closed back is mostly a personal preference as well. An open back has a space above the wrist adjustment on the glove whereas a closed back does not. Many infielders use an open backed glove because it gives them more flexibility. On the contrary, outfielders typically use a closed back with a finger hole for extra support.

Glove Sizes

Youth Baseball Gloves / Softball Gloves are made smaller to cater to the smaller hand of youth players and give them more control. The following size chart will give you a general idea of what size glove fits each age group and position. Franklin offers the most extensive selection of youth gloves for boys and girls beginning their baseball or softball careers.

For those lefties who always have trouble finding left handed gloves, be sure to check out our Left Handed Baseball Glove section devoted entirely to you.

Field Positions

• Catchers Mitts - Baseball and softball gloves made for catchers are fingerless gloves (often called mitts) with heavy padding to provide more hand protection.  These baseball gloves are built to withstand heavy use throughout the game and reduce the sting that occurs from repetitively catching fast balls from pitchers. The webbing on catcher's mitts is closed and they feature a smaller pocket, making it easier to get the baseball out of the pocket.  Softball catcher's mitts have a larger pocket with less padding than a baseball catcher's mitt due to the larger ball size and slower pitching speeds. Catcher's mitts are not used by any other position on the baseball field and are measured by circumference rather than length. Youth catcher's gloves are typically 31 inches or less and adult catcher's gloves are usually 32 inches or larger.

• The Rawlings RCM30 33.5" Mike Piazza Baseball Catcher's Mitt is a player preferred mitt and is signed by the Oakland Athletic's great catcher, Mike Piazza. Excellent padding will protect your hand while taking a beating game in, game out.

• First Base Gloves - First base softball and baseball gloves resemble a catcher's mitt because they are also fingerless but have less padding than a catcher's mitt. Adult first base gloves typically run from 12-12.5 inches in length for the game of baseball and have a shallow pocket so the first baseman can quickly retrieve the ball from the glove. For the game of softball, most players use a 13-14 inch length glove. First base gloves also feature a open webbing style so players can trap the ball a little better than with a closed web glove.

• The Wilson A2800 PSB 12" Adult Baseball First Base Mitt features rugged, durable leather and is used by professional baseball players like Jason Phillips. One of the best first base gloves out there, it also features a patented Dual Welting finger design to maintain a stable pocket and Dri-Lex lining to wick moisture away from your hand.

• Pitcher's Gloves - Most pitchers want a glove with a closed webbing so they can hide the ball as they adjust their grip before throwing the next pitch. As for the size and rest of the glove features, it is up to personal preference.

• The Wilson A700 XLC 12.5" Adult Pitcher's Baseball Glove features exclusive Ecco™ Leather that is unsurpassed for comfort & quality and the Dri-Lex® lining transfers moisture from the skin, keeping your hand cool and dry.  The Sorbothane shock absorbing palm pad allows you to feel the baseball but not the pain.

• Infield Gloves - Infielder's gloves are generally smaller (10.5-12 inches in length) and shallower than outfielder's gloves so players can retrieve and throw the ball to base more quickly. Many also prefer an open webbing style for the same reason. Third basemen will sometimes choose a closed web if they want extra support since balls are often hit harder and faster to the third base line. Infield gloves for softball players have a deeper pocket for catching the larger ball.

• A great baseball glove for infielders is the Wilson A2000 1788 11.25" Adult Infielder's Baseball Glove.  Professional players love the durability, feel and performance.  The Dri-Lex® lining transfers moisture from the skin, keeping your hand cool and dry.  The Dual Welting patented finger design helps maintain a stable pocket and this baseball glove also features Super Skin, which is a strategically placed PU micro fiber that lightens the glove for twice the strength and half the weight.

• Outfield Gloves - Outfielder's gloves are larger and longer (12 inches or more for adults) to give players the greatest possible advantage when catching fly balls. These baseball gloves also features a deeper pocket and usually have a closed web to trap the ball in the glove.

• The Franklin 4834 RTP Microvent Series 13" Outfielder's Adult Baseball Glove features a SHOK-SORB interior palm pad and exterior index pad as well as microvent perforations to increase ventilation while reducing weight. All Franklin gloves are already broken in and ready for action!

Glove Care Tips