Amazon.com Baseball and Softball Glove Guide
Playing the Field
Baseball and softball gloves have been developed specifically to suit the needs of the given field position, with each style of glove boasting unique features to improve a player's performance at his or her position. The next is often a brief summary of each one glove's characteristics:
Catcher: No finger channels, with heavy palm padding and overall reinforcements to lessen the sting of repeatedly catching pitchers' throws
First Base: Also lacks finger channels, though less padding a catcher's mitt, with added length to assist catch infield throws and shallow pocket, enabling quick ball retrieval
Infield: Five-fingered glove has shallow pocket for fast ball retrieval, with nine- to 10-inch youth sizes and 10.5- to 11.5-inch adult sizes, and softball infield gloves having a deeper pocket to just accept the greater ball
Second base players require smaller gloves to balance control while using need to create quick throws
Shortstops work with a mid-sized glove for ground balls and quick throws
Third base players need a larger glove for optimum catching power
Outfield: Glove is longer to offer extended reach, with an in-depth pocket to take care of high-lofting balls, and sizes range between 12 inches or more for adults and 11 inches for youth players
Softball Gloves: The characteristics, by position, of softball gloves are generally comparable to their baseball counterparts, with softball gloves having more length and deeper pockets to take care of the greater ball
Anatomy of your Glove
Gloves are made to perform a relatively simple task--catch a ball. The quality of materials and craftsmanship that can be in to a creating a glove, however, could be surprising. Below is definitely an overview of the glove's components and the way each helps optimize your defensive game:
Pocket: Pocket depth depends upon player position, with shallower pockets helping infielders quickly retrieve and chuck the ball ball, and outfielders' pocket depth aiding in capturing a ball about the fly. Softball players likewise require deeper pockets to hook the larger ball.
Webbing: The most well-liked webbing pattern is partly determined by field position and partly by player preference. Generally, open webbing helps infielders quickly retrieve the ball, closed or tightly woven webbing gives outfielders and third basemen extra support, and closed webbing allows pitchers to hide the ball through the batter.
Backs: The back of your glove, or part that goes across the top of one's hand, can be either closed or open, that is largely a a few player preference. Some infielders find an open back being more flexible and forgiving, while outfielders may just like a closed back with finger hole for added support.
Wrist Adjustment: Some gloves include fit systems, or wrist adjustments, to aid maintain your glove tightly affixed to a player's hand. The most used closures are buckles, D-rings, lacing, and Velcro.
Padding: How padded a glove's pocket is depends upon position, with catcher being one from the most heavily padded. In recent years, many manufacturers have begun to add padding with other position gloves to relieve "palm shock."
Materials: By and large, gloves are constructed using among three materials--leather, treated leather, or synthetic--with the differences associated with feel and durability.
Leather: Most high-end gloves are made of leather, that offers optimal feel and durability, with leather quality being a significant cost driver
Treated Leather: Leather material is softened and strengthened during production for quicker break-in, better durability, reducing maintenance
Synthetic: A lower-cost substitute for leather that gives reduced durability and responsiveness, and is often a good choice for beginning players
Fits Like a...
As mentioned above, age and position would be the most significant factors in selecting an effective glove size. Outfielders need larger gloves with deeper pockets for max "catchability," while infield gloves are smaller and possess shallower pockets for optimal control and speedy ball removal. Some pitchers opt for infield gloves which are slightly greater than standard, yet small, and shallow enough for rapid fielding and throwing. Most younger players will reap the benefits of youth-sized gloves that assistance with control, and it's actually a good idea to face up to the temptation to get a larger glove a child will grow into.
The tables below give you a general guideline for proper glove size by sport, position, and age.
Baseball Glove Size
Age Position Glove Size
Under 8 Infield 9"
Under 8 Outfield 11"
9-13 Infield 9-10"
9-13 Outfield 11-12"
13 and older Infield 10.5-11.5"
13 and older Outfield 12-12.75"
Softball Glove Size
Age Position Glove Size
6 and under All 9-10"
7-9 All 10-11.5"
10-14 Infield 11.5-12.5"
10-14 Outfield 12-13"
15 and older Infield 12-13"
15 and older Outfield 12.5-14"
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Product Features
The all new Wilson Advantage Series, designed with the EZ Fit and EZ Snap system gives hands of all sizes more control as soon as it comes home from the internet. Supple cowhide provides a glove that is comfortable and easy to close
Direct embroidery and custom matched logos give it a big league look
EZ Snap Closing System-A specially designed heel, along with a modifies web crown, makes a glove that snaps closed quickly
Exclusive MLB keychain: All Baseball models come with an exclusive glove leather keychain featuring the MLB logo and an embossed Wilson logo
More About ___Wilson A500 Advantage Series Baseball Glove (11-Inch)
This Gold Glove Gamer model features the Modified Trap-Eze Web pattern, that is an extremely strong web providing you with ball snagging functionality. With its 11 1/2 Inch pattern, this glove is our most widely used model and with the Pro Level is primarily used at the shortstop/pitcher position and in the collegiate/high-school level it might supply at 2nd, 3rd, and shortstop. This newly released Gold Glove Gamer Series utilize pro quality materials and designs including authentic Rawlings Pro Patterns and high-quality US made Pro Grade Laces. With new pro soft leather that allows for the quicker, easier break-in, and full grain finger linings, these gloves maximize comfort and durability. 11.5 Inch Model Back: Conventional Lace Color: Black Shell: Tumbled Pro Soft Leather Web Style: Modified Trap Position: Infield, Pitcher, Third Base
