| 1. Consider
the Materials |
| Consumers may choose
from synthetic, leather and treated leather. |
| Gloves come in a variety
of materials, with the difference being in the feel and durability.
|
| Synthetic materials
(Good) |
|
| A lighter less durable
material, plastic and synthetics |
| Less expensive, good
for youngsters |
| Will not withstand the
wear and tear of playing ball nearly as well as leather |
| Leather (Better) |
|
| Material of choice for
gloves |
| Leather offers the best
comfort, control and feel. |
| The better the leather,
the better the glove. |
| Treated Leather (Best) |
|
| Leather is treated and
softened for faster break-in and increased durability. |
| Treated leather also
reduces the care needed for the glove and helps the glove |
| keep it's shape. |
| 2. Consider the Glove
Construction |
|
|
|
| Determine the pocket, back and wrist
adjustments that best suit your game and abilities. |
|
|
|
| Pocket |
|
|
|
| The size of the pocket depends on
your position |
|
|
|
| Shallow Pockets - help
infielders quickly grab the ball and throw |
| Deeper Pockets - help outfielders
catch fly balls |
|
|
|
| Softball players also
need a bigger pocket to catch the bigger ball |
| Backs |
|
|
|
| There are two choices
of backs - Open and Closed |
| The type of back is
a matter of personal preference, but some styles fit positions better |
| Open Back - leaves a
space open across the glove's back |
| Outfielders prefer a
closed back with a "finger hole" for extra support |
| Wrist Adjustment |
|
|
|
| Gloves come with an
adjustment to keep it snug. Not all gloves have these "Fit Systems" |
| Velcro Fastener - offers
convenience of pulling and adjusting to fit - very easy |
| D-Ring Fastener - allows
you to pull on the lacing to make the glove tighter |
| 3. Choosing Your Fit |
|
|
|
| Consider the age, game and position |
|
|
|
| Youngsters / Beginners |
|
|
|
| Youth
models are smaller to help kids maintain control |
|
|
| Avoid
the urge to buy a bigger glove that you'll grow into |
|
|
| Kids
under the age of 8 should stick with a glove from 9 - 11 inches |
|
|
| Kids
from 8 to early teens - consider an 11 inch glove |
|
|
| Beginners
also benefit from the added control that they get from smaller gloves |
| High School / Adult |
|
|
|
| Outfielders
need 12 - 12 1/2 inch gloves with deeper pockets |
| Infielders need smaller
gloves (10 1/2 - 11 1/2 inch) with shallower pockets for better control
and quicker ball transfer |
| Pitchers can go with
a slightly larger than infielders but still need a small enough glove
for fielding and throwing quickly |
| Softball |
|
|
|
| Players require gloves
that are slightly longer in length and deeper in the pocket to help
field the bigger ball |
|
AGE
|
POSITION
|
GLOVE SIZE
|
|
Under 8
|
Infield
|
9"
|
|
Under 8
|
Outfield
|
11"
|
|
9 - 13
|
Infield
|
9" - 10"
|
|
9 - 13
|
Outfield
|
11" - 12"
|
|
High School / Adult
|
Infield
|
10.5" - 11.5"
|
|
High School / Adult
|
Outfield
|
12" - 12.5"
|
|
Softball
|
Infield / Outfield
|
12" - 14"
|
|
