
Are you ready to enjoy some nice weather with a few games of baseball?
There’s a lot of equipment you’ll need to look at so you can ensure the best experience possible.
With so many gloves on the market, it can be hard to determine what will best fit your needs. Follow along while I discuss what makes for the best youth baseball glove.
Best Baseball Glove Comparison Guide
Image | Product/Model Name | Colour | Size (In) | Right/Left | Price | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black and Gray | 11 | Right | $ | |||
Black and Brown | 32.5 | Right/Left | $$$ | |||
Black and Red | 9 | Right/Left | $ | |||
Brown | 11.5 | Right/Left | $$$ | |||
Black and Brown | 34 | Right | $$$$ | |||
Black | 31.5/ 32.5/ 11.5/ 12.5 | Right/Left | $$$ | |||
Brown | 12.5 | Right/Left | $$$ | |||
Black and Orange | 12 | Right/Left | $$$$ | |||
Blue and Black | 10 | Right/Left | $$ | |||
Black and Brown | 9.5 | Right | $ |
What Are The Important Elements Of a Baseball Glove?
A baseball glove consists of four main parts; the heel, webbing, fingers and palm. Baseball players will often choose their glove by the webbing and there are eight different webbing choices available.
There are distinct preferences where some people will like closed webbing while others are sure the open webbing option is superior. This is true depending what position you’re playing, which I will discuss more in the next section.
Different Gloves For Different Positions
The position you’ll be playing will determine what kind of glove you need.
A first baseman wears a larger mitt to protect the catching hand. In addition, catcher mitts need to be the most protective as they have the position most susceptible to injuries.
This mitt will have a round appearance and will include more padding. It also features a deep oval-shaped pocket with a closed web to make it stronger and more durable.
Someone playing the infield will want a smaller and more lightweight glove that contains shallow pockets for getting the ball back to your pitching hand fast.
Someone in the outfield is, however, not looking for a quick release of the ball he receives, but is more concerned with catching it properly. For this reason, they will generally pick a larger glove with deep pockets for cradling the ball.
If you’re playing in multiple positions, you need a glove that will accommodate you anywhere. Picking a standard, multi-purpose glove would be your best option.
How To Pick The Right Baseball Glove
Aside from picking a glove to fit the position you play, there are some other important factors to think about when choosing the best baseball gloves.
They include:
Adult vs Youth Baseball Gloves
Adult and youth baseball gloves are very different, mainly because of the size and the level of padding. Naturally, youth gloves have a smaller hand opening and are typically smaller in general. Adult baseball gloves tend to be much bigger, with a larger hand opening and more padding for extra protection.
Measuring Your Glove Size
The size of a glove is etched on the thumb or pinky finger. Sizes are going to range from 8-13 inches and up to 35 inches for a catcher’s mitt. You'll want a glove that has plenty of room and it should never be too tight.
Remember to keep enough room inside to wear your batting glove as well. In fact, your best bet is to try on the glove with your batting glove so you know how much room you’ll need.
It's always nice to have an adjustable glove to achieve different fits when you need them.
Standard sizes are 8-10 inches for children aged 4-6, 11-inches for children aged 7-9, and 12-13 inches for children aged 10 all the way through adult.
What’s The Difference Between Baseball And Softball Gloves?
Many people think that you can use baseball and softball gloves interchangeably, but that simply isn’t true. While they share a lot of the same basic features there are specific sizes for fastpitch and slowpitch softball.
Softball gloves are larger to hold the larger balls. The widths vary from 12-15 inches depending what position is being played. Baseball gloves on the other hand typically range from 10 ½ - 13 inches wide.
The design of the gloves is also quite different. A softball glove is going to feature deeper and rounder pockets. The baseball glove is generally shallow and longer except for the catchers and first basemen.
Baseball gloves feature larger hand openings and finger chambers. Both softball and baseball gloves feature the open or closed types of webbing, so that is one similarity.
A high-end baseball glove will cost more money than a softball glove which is why many people attempt to use softball gloves instead.
While it's feasible to use a softball glove for baseball, it would be much harder to use a baseball glove in substitution for a softball glove.
Your best bet would be to purchase a mitt designed for baseball and the position you're planning to play.
The Best Baseball Gloves Reviewed
Here are the 10 best baseball gloves I found that are currently on the market.
1. Wilson A360 Baseball Glove
This 10-inch glove is perfect for all positions and is available for right or left-hand throw.
Wilson is a leader in the baseball industry.
This mitt is my pick for best baseball glove on the market due to the company’s reputation.
Wilson uses the top names in baseball to help them develop the best mitts so you can be comfortable on the field.
With its sleek design and comfortable fit, this glove is sure to be a winner.
5 Reasons Why Wilson A360 Baseball Glove is the Best
- 1Wilson is one of the best baseball brands.
- 2Sleek design.
- 3Fits both left and right hand throws.
- 4It is very comfortable for the wearer.
- 5Very positive reviews and ratings.
2. Mizuno Prospect GXC105 Youth Catcher's Mitt
This large catcher’s mitt measures 32.5 inches and features a ParaShock palm pad to protect from the shock of repeated use, provide less rebound, and provide outstanding comfort.
Clearly the best youth baseball glove around, the Power Close feature allows younger players an easier ability to close the glove and catch their ball.
The V-Flex Notch is created to assist with easy closure for the young player. All around a great choice for a child learning how to play.
3. Rawlings Boys’ Players Series 9-Inch Tee Ball Glove
If you are looking for a great starter mitt for your young one, this is it! This 9-inch glove is made to look and feel like leather while providing fielding flexibility.
The patented web by Rawlings called Basket Web is available on this mitt that offers interwoven leather strips for added strength and durability.
This glove won’t require a lot of break-in time and is ideal for those little hands.
4. Mizuno GPP1150Y1 Youth Prospect Ball Glove
Mizuno has been making baseball gloves for over 100 years and uses other great features such as the Heel Flex Technology for increasing flexibility and the V-Flex Notch for fewer drops.
5. Mizuno 34" World Win GXC75 Catcher's Mitt
Breaking In a New Baseball Glove
Once you’ve received your new glove, it can take a few weeks up to an entire season to get it broken in. The very first thing you want to do is condition the leather. Use a special leather conditioner and lubricate it well.
Work your glove around at hinges and fingers. Be sure you do this as often as you can to get the glove moving.
Make sure you also shape the glove by putting a ball in the pocket and wrapping a band around it. Keep it like this overnight at room temperature for best results.
The best way to break a glove in is to use it! Practice at least once per day so you can start creating that custom pocket right for you.
You may want to punch the glove a few times and help get it in shape. Many people find success with this method.
Caring For Your New Baseball Glove
Once you’ve picked the right glove, you’ll want to know how to take care of it properly. Protect your investment by following these simple guidelines.
Conclusion
You’ve learned what the parts of a baseball glove are as well as the different features you can look for. I’ve also shown you how to measure your glove size and what to pick for the best youth baseball glove.
Finally, I’ve taught you how to break in that new glove and how to care for it so it remains the best baseball glove for many years to come.
After taking in all this knowledge and information, all that’s left for you to do is grab the new mitt and get playing.
Get out there and enjoy some time with family and friends playing America’s favorite pastime.
The video below shows how catching drills can start young.