How To Size A Baseball Glove

If you are looking for the perfect baseball glove but don’t know which size will be perfectly fit in your hand then keep on reading this guide. Choosing the right size glove is the key to optimizing your game.

You want a glove that fits in your hand perfectly and provides you with reasonable control over the ball when you catch it.

A well-fit glove will allow the player to make catches in various situations without difficulty or losing focus on the game.

On the other hand, if the gloves are not properly fit, then it will cause discomfort and problem, and even injuries during play.

Before selecting the glove, there are some questions about your experience with the game, whether you will play baseball/softball, age, and what position you want to play.

How to Size A Baseball Glove Correctly

The first thing you’ll want to do is measure the length of your hand (from fingertips to wrist) in inches. The size of your glove is measured in inches. So make sure you measure the gloves in inches.

For example, if your hand measures eight inches from end to end, you’ll want a size eight glove. The position you play is an important factor in choosing the right-sized baseball glove for you.

A first baseman will need a more oversized glove than an infielder or outfielder because they are responsible for catching more balls and require additional padding.

For instance, a first baseman would probably be better off with 11-12.5 inch gloves. In contrast, outfielders could get away with smaller sizes between nine and ten inches long, depending on their preference and comfort level.

The dimensions of a baseball catcher’s mitt can range up to 35 inches. Again the average catcher’s mitt size for most high school leagues and the professional leagues are about 32.5 inches to 34 inches. Those 15 inches and 35 inches gloves are for outliers.

Now let’s talk about the measurement of a baseball glove.

Measurement

Choosing the right size baseball glove is key to optimizing your game. You want a glove that fits your hand perfectly and provides you with reasonable control over the ball when you catch it.

You’ll need to use your measuring tape or ruler to measure the length of your hand. Place your measuring tool about two centimeters above the thumb pit, which is the small portion of your thumb.

After that, take the measuring device and position it halfway up your palm. Start by circling your hand clockwise with the instrument in place.

The total distance measured will be your hand circumference and glove size, according to the manufacturers. But if you are going to buy the gloves offline like in the store, then try the glove unit; it fits perfectly on your hand.

Different Baseball Gloves Parts

There are four major things used in the gloves while making them a more comfortable fit. These are heel, web, palm, and fingers, etc. Let’s discuss them one by one in detail.

Heel

The wrist is where most of the action happens with a one-cuff glove. The backhand and main sides are generally the exact sizes, although they differ in design at times.

However, because each player’s shape, hand length, and preferred grip are different (and even individual preferences within a team), it is far more important that a glove is sized correctly. It is the most rigid component of a new glove that gives padding to the top wrist and lower hand.

Palm

It’s the little pocket in the glove. It primarily aids by absorbing a significant portion of the impact when the ball is caught. Then it helps by keeping the ball trapped in the hand after you close the glove.

The palm padding makes sure that you’re comfortable wearing the glove for an extended time and helps hold the ball even when it’s wet.

Webbing

Webbing is a piece of string that runs across the palm side, and it helps give your hand flexibility inside the glove.

It comes in different thicknesses and materials. The thicker it is, to more flexible for your hand. The material can be made of leather, nylon, or Kevlar for maximum durability.

The webbings help you get a better grip on your baseball glove when fielding grounders because they give you extra support so that your hand doesn’t slide out.

Typical webbings are stitched into the glove to give extra flexibility and provide a better fit for your hand. For the different players, webbing offers a different meaning.

Fingers

Fingers are the functional segment used in the baseball gloves to fit inside the hand. They allow you to catch and grip your ball and hold on tight when catching the balls. The finger helps you get better control over where you want to throw the ball, for example, throwing it back into play from behind an infielder or catcher.

Finger stalls are the different areas on a player’s hand where they can place their fingers. The finger stalls vary in size for each glove, so choose one that fits you best. There’s a finger stall for everyone, so choose the right size for your hand.

Choosing The Glove By Position

Baseball gloves are an important piece of equipment that every player on the field should have. When choosing a glove, it is essential to know what position you play on the field so you can choose one that fits your needs best.

Infield

Infielders wear a glove that is slightly smaller glove than other positions to catch pop-ups and ground balls. A baseball player who plays on the infield should choose a patterned or textured material at the back of their glove, which will help them get a better grip quickly throw the ball to a base.

Infielders usually wear smaller baseball gloves to get better control over ground balls and throw from teammates. Also, the webbing of these gloves is typically open to allow dirt to flow through so that the infielder does not have to remove a fistful of mud when attempting to remove the ball from the glove.

The typical size of a youth infielder’s glove is 10.75″ to 11.75″.

Outfielder

Outfielders wear a bigger glove than infielders due to the higher number of fly balls and players they have to catch. The average size for an outfielder’s baseball glove is 10.75’’-12′ with some variations in between.

Also, it tends to be more padded on the palm side because these players often have to dive for fly balls and make quick catches. The average size of an outfielder glove is 10’-14′, but there can be some variation in between based on the player’s personal preference.

Outfield gloves are usually more padded on the palm side because these players need to catch tough throws while diving around the outfield.

Pitchers’ Gloves

Pitchers wear a glove that is not only bigger than infielders and outfielders, but they also have to figure out which one works best for them. The average size of a pitcher’s glove is 11’-15”, but some players choose to wear even bigger gloves than that.

Pitchers’ gloves have a closed webbing that helps to grip the ball and also helps to determine how many spins they can put on their pitches and where they want the ball to go.

Catcher’s Mitts

The key difference between a mitt and a glove is that gloves have individual digits, whereas mitts lack them. They’re called “mitts” because they resemble mittens. They have more padding and a hinged, claw-like form, which distinguishes them from gloves.

This can be done because of their aggressiveness, which allows them to utilize fastballs into the pocket and acquire a decent target for pitchers. These gloves also require a break-in baseball glove process in order to make them useful for any league.

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Derek

My name is Derek. I am a 2019 high school graduate who has been playing baseball since I was around 9 years old. Baseball has always been my passion, and it's the only thing that motivates me to get up early in the morning.

Baseball has given me so many opportunities in my life, and it's time for me to give back by helping others do the same.

It is something that not only brings happiness and joy to others but also brings out the best in me.