Glove Size

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Simple Tips to Buy Baseball Gloves

Baseball glove is one of the most essential pieces of equipment required to play ball. The right glove can greatly enhance your performance whereas the wrong one can make even great players look bad on the field. This is why it becomes so important to invest your time to buy the right baseball gloves. This guide will help you do just that by educating you on some basic aspects that you need to take into consideration which buying your glove.

Type of glove to buy

The type of glove you need to buy purely depends on the position you will be playing in the game. Based on the position you can decide to go for infield, outfield, first base, pitcher’s or catchers gloves. Incase you plan to play at more than one position it would be best for you to buy multiple gloves.

If you are a catcher you should be looking to buy catcher’s mitts that come with extra padding and a deep pocket. 1st basemen should go for 1st base gloves that are specially structured and come with a deeper pocket to easily trap the ball. Infield gloves that come with smaller pockets are meant for 2nd basemen and shortstops whereas outfielders can go for larger outfield gloves that offer maximum reach.

For recreational purposes you can even decide to go for general purpose gloves that can be used for any position.

Size of the glove

Size of the glove is an extremely important factor as improperly fitted gloves can negatively impact your performance. There is a good chance that a loosely fitted glove can come off your hand during the game. Lose fitting can also make it difficult for you to catch the ball properly. A glove that is over tight on the other hand can cause injury by restricting proper blood flow to your hand. So ensure that you buy yourself the right sized glove.

The best way to do this is to try out the glove at a store. See if the glove fits right and feels good. You can then order the same size glove online if you find better rates.

Quality of the glove

The quality of the glove depends mainly on the material used to manufacture it. Baseball gloves are made using heavy leather or synthetic materials. Gloves made with synthetic material are easy to break in and are usually inexpensive. You can go for these types of gloves if you are a starter or recreational player.

For professional players it is best to go for heavy leather gloves. Heavy leather gloves have a longer break-in period but provide a snug and comfortable fit. Some of the types of leather used to manufacture these gloves include top grain, kip leather, cow hide, kangaroo skin and pig skin. Top end gloves are made either with top grain or kip leather. Top grain gloves are heavier in nature and require a longer break-in period. Comparatively kip leather gloves come a bit lighter and have faster break-in. Gloves made with cow hide is easier to break in but also wear out faster. Pig skin and kangaroo skin gloves are far less durable and are best suited for younger players.

How much to invest?

The rate of a baseball glove may vary hugely depending on the type of manufacturer, nature and size of the glove and material used. Low end gloves can be brought at rates as low as $50 whereas a top end adult’s glove could cost you up to $300 or more. With proper research you should be able to get yourself a decent pair of leather gloves at $150 to $200. If you are a casual player, go for gloves priced between $80 to $125.

Glove maintenance

If you decide to go for leather gloves it is imperative that you buy a leather conditioning oil. Apply oil immediately after purchase and then break in the gloves by playing catch. For longer glove life make it a point to oil your gloves before every season, at the midpoint and finally at the end of the season. Make sure that you do not use any oil other than the conditioner made especially for baseball gloves or fine leather. Also ensure that you do use any oil that contains silicone irrespective of the manufacturer. Use oil sparingly and do not saturate your glove. You also got to remember some basic common sense tips like not leaving your gloves under direct sunlight and not submerging your glove in water. Following these simple tips will help keep your glove in perfect condition and help the leather stay healthy.

Good luck!