Your Ultimate Guide to choosing the right glove size
Choosing the right Baseball or Softball glove size is crucial for success in either sport. Whether you’re in the outfield, infield, on the pitcher’s mound, at third base, or anywhere else, a properly-fitting glove will be your game’s foundation.
Identifying the correct measurements can be tricky, which is why we’ve put together this guide. Keep reading for our recommendations based on age and position.
Youth Baseball Glove Size Chart
| Age | Outfield | Catcher | First Base | Second Base/Short Stop | Third Base | Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11–13 | 11.75–12.5" | 31–32.5" | 11.5–12.5" | 11–11.5" | 11–11.75" | 11.5–12" |
| 8–10 | 10–12" | 31–31.5" | 11.5–12" | 10.5–11.25" | 10.5–11.5" | 10.5–11.5" |
| 7 and under | 9–10.5" | na | 11.5" | 9–10.5" | 9–10.5" | 9–10.5" |
Youth Softball Glove Size Chart
| Age | Outfield | Catcher | First Base | Second Base/Short Stop | Third Base | Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11–13 | 11.75–12.5" | 31–32.5" | 12–13" | 11.5–12" | 11.5–12.5" | 11.5–12.5" |
| 8–10 | 10–12" | 30–32" | 11.5–12" | 10.5–11.25" | 10.5–11.5" | 10.5–11.5" |
| 7 and under | 9–11" | na | 11.5" | 9–10.5" | 9–10.5" | 9–10.5" |
Adult Baseball Glove Size Chart
By age 14 and older, ideal glove sizes become standardized.
| Age | Outfield | Catcher | First Base | Second Base/Short Stop | Third Base | Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 and above | 12–13" | 32–34.5" | 12.5–13" | 11.25–11.75" | 11.5–12" | 11.5–12.5" |
Adult Softball Glove Size Chart
| Age | Outfield | Catcher | First Base | Second Base/Short Stop | Third Base | Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 and above | 12–13" | 33-34" | 12-13" | 11.5–12.5" | 11.75–12.5" | 12–12.5" |
Slowpitch Glove Size Chart
Slowpitch gloves come in a smaller range of standard sizes that fit players of all ages.
| Age | Outfield | Catcher | First Base | Second Base/Short Stop | Third Base | Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 and above | 12–13" | 32–34.5" | 12.5–13" | 11.25–11.75" | 11.5–12" | 11.5–12.5" |
How Should A Glove Fit?
As you can see in the charts above, recommended baseball and softball glove come in a range of sizes. To ensure a glove’s suitability, you’ll need to evaluate how it fits on the players wrist and hand. The glove should fit snugly. A floppy glove will reduce your ability to catch properly whereas an overly-tight glove will make for an uncomfortable fit.
Key factors to consider when choosing the correct glove size are the wrist size and fit on the hand. If a glove is too large it will feel loose on the hand, palm and fingers. A glove with an adjustable wrist strap is a great option for younger players or those with smaller hands.
How To Measure A Glove?
New gloves come with specifications on the tag. You can typically find the measurements etched into either the thumb or pinky finger. If your glove doesn’t have any specifications, stretch a measuring tape between the tip of the index finger, down along the glove, and to the center heel.
Tips For Choosing The Right Glove
Everything you need to know about webbing, padding and glove materials
Carefully Consider The Type of Webbing
Two Piece Closed
A two-piece closed web allows you to hide the ball and your fingers. It’s popular among pitchers for this reason.
Ideal Positions:
Pitcher, Middle Infielder, Catcher, First Base
Modified Trapeze
If you don’t have a particular webbing preference yet, the modified trapeze style is versatile enough to start with for most positions.
Ideal Positions:
Pitcher, Third Base, Outfield
Trapeze Web
The trapeze web style is very popular among outfielders because it helps with catching balls that make it out that far.
Ideal Positions:
Outfield
I-Web
I-Web gloves are very popular with infielders because the large gaps easily allow dirt and debris to fall through.
Ideal Positions:
Infield
H-Web
The H-Web design is very sturdy. Large gaps also allow players to keep an eye on fly balls.
Ideal Positions:
Outfield, Third Base
Basket Web
Ideal Positions:
Pitcher, Third Base, Catcher, First Base
Fastpitch (Softball) Players should choose an Open Web Design. Open web designs help you get the ball out of your hand and ready for throwing much fast.
Ideal for following positions: First Base, Middle Infielder, Outfield.
For additional support, Baseball players should use a Closed Web Design.
Ideal for the following positions: Pitchers, Third Base, Outfield.
Choose an appropriate Amount of Padding
The ideal amount of padding also depends on what position you play.
Position: Catcher
Padding: Extra
Pitches travel very quickly. Ample padding is needed to prevent injuries. Padding also wears down quickly in a catcher’s mitt, which is why you need plenty to begin with.
Position: First Base
Padding: Extra
The first baseman requires mobility when scooping balls out of the dirt.
Position: Pitcher
Padding: Not Much
The pitcher’s glove is designed to be flexible, light, and comfortable. Pitchers still do need to catch drives coming in their direction but generally aren’t as concerned about padding as players in other positions.
Position: Infielder
Padding: Not Much
Infield gloves tend to be on the smaller side to allow for faster transitions.
Position: Outfielder
Padding: Not Much; More Emphasis on Finger Support
Outfield gloves are typically on the wider side with more support in the fingers. This makes it easier to catch from this position.
Try Different Types Of Leather
There are four main types of leather used to produce Baseball and Softball gloves.
Full-Grain Leather
Full-grain leather gloves are stiffer than most other types. This is a result of the grain being left intact during the manufacturing process. Once the glove breaks in, however, you’ll find it lasts longer and feels better than most other types of leather.
Ideal for frequent players, given the rigorous activity required to break in a full-grain leather glove.
Premium Steerhide Leather
As the name would suggest, premium steerhide is one of the more luxurious baseball glove materials. It still arrives fairly stiff and will need to be broken in. Professional players typically use premium steerhide.
Ideal for serious players who don’t mind spending a bit more money on a glove.
Kip Leather
Kip is also a premium baseball and softball glove material but arrives more supple than premium steerhide.
Ideal for players who want a premium glove but don’t want to spend hours breaking it in.
Basic Leather or Cowhide Leather
This is the base-level glove. It breaks in very quickly but also wears down rapidly, showing its age faster than the other types of leather.
Ideal for casual players or those just getting started in the sport.
Components Of A Glove
Webbing
The glove webbing connects the thumb and fingers. This component is essential for catching the ball and keeping it in your mitt. Certain hits like fly balls and line drives would be near-impossible to catch without webbing.
Palm
The palm on a baseball or softball glove is heavily padded (for some positions more than others) to offer protection against impacts. This prevents the ball from damaging your lunate, ulna, scaphoid, and radius bones.
Heel
Your glove’s heel lies just below the palm. It’s also typically padded.
Hinge
Gloves have a section at which they fold shut. This section is called the hinge and it makes holding onto your catch possible.
Adjusters
Adjusters aren’t present on every glove but tend to be found on those meant for youth baseball and softball. They’ll allow you to customize your glove’s fit based on conditions.
Fingers
A baseball or softball glove’s fingers are, of course, where your four digits go. Some gloves actually lock the middle and index fingers in place to offer better control. This is an alternative to what many players do, which is stick those fingers outside of the glove.
Lace
Lace is what holds the baseball or softball glove together, giving it form. These are typically thin pieces of leather that become more flexible over time as your glove “breaks in.”