Baseball Glove Buying Guide

How Do You Buy the Right Baseball Glove?

When it comes to choosing a baseball glove it is important to understand the differences that make a certain glove appropriate for a certain position. There are many options, but with a bit of guidance, you can get the perfect gloves for your needs.

Glove Length

Catcher

If you play catcher your choice of mitt is a bit simpler. You need a catcher's mitt!
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First Base

Like catcher's, first basemen use a special mitt that helps them scoop balls out of the dirt, and also lessons the impact of the ball on the hand since they catch so many throws.
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Second Base/Shortstop

When playing at a higher level, the middle infielders will be using a glove with a length of 10" - 11 1/2". The shorter the glove is the less likely the fielder will fumble the ball in the webbing. When using a short glove, the ball pops out of the glove, which is important to the middle infielders for double plays and smooth transfers of the ball to first.
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Third Base

A third baseman will use a glove that is slightly longer, being anywhere from 11 1/4" - 11 3/4". A third baseman uses a slightly larger glove because third base is closest to the batter and is known for having hard hit ground balls and line drives. The extra length is there to snag line drives and hard grounders.

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Pitcher

A pitcher will want to use a closed web glove that is anywhere from 11 1/2" - 12" that is one solid color. The closed web will conceal the pitchers grip on the baseball to hide which pitch is being thrown, and the single color is a rule in baseball.
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Outfield

When it comes to the outfield the more length the better. The more material that can stretch the reach of a fielder tracking down a fly ball is a plus. When choosing a pocket for a glove, it comes down to a matter of preference. Most outfielders use a "trap-eze" style or an "I-Bar" or "T-Bar". These web styles allow the player to shield the sun on sunny days to catch fly balls.
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Youth Baseball Gloves

When buying a glove for a younger player, the most important factor is comfort. You want the player to be comfortable. Most gloves from 11 1/4" - 11 3/4" are perfect for youth players. Follow the same rules above in regards to the web style.
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