3 Important Features That Make Better Baseball Gloves

Baseball gloves are supposed to adapt to the player’s hand, skills, and even position to ensure a better game is achieved in every game. Grip really matters in a game of baseball and therefore you cannot be a complete player without the best baseball gloves. Looking at the gloves available in the market, you will find different sizes, fast pitch softball gloves, slow pitch softball gloves, and even left handed gloves. The design of the gloves will determine if they are suitable for infielders, outfielders, catchers, or pitchers.

But while most baseball gloves look very similar, there are important design elements that make them unique from each other. These are the characteristics that give baseball gloves the different field abilities that they have. When you start by understanding the three main features, it will be easier for you to choose the most suitable gloves for your position, size and age as a player. Remember that your choice of gloves can determine the individual performance you have on the field.

1. The pocket

The notch in the palm of the glove is what is known as the pocket of the glove. This is where the ball rests with every catch. Baseball gloves can have a deep or shallow pocket and the depth determines how easy it is to transfer from the glove to the throwing hand. This is the characteristic that will determine the player’s grip on the ball. Shallow glove pockets are best for quick plays and are the perfect choice for fielders who need quick ball grips and even quicker pitches to get the ball on the plate. Deeper pockets, on the other hand, are better for strong, lofty shots, making them more suitable for outfielders.

2. The girth

The baseball glove strap connects the thumb of the glove to the fingers to help players catch and hold the ball. Most gloves come with highly specialized webbing patterns to improve ball recovery, but generally the webbing can be closed or open. Closed weave patterns offer a strong and solid fabric thanks to the leather patterns that are closely woven. The result is a sturdier style for added catch support. The closed girth is the perfect choice for pitchers, catchers and fielders. Open nets, on the other hand, offer faster ball transfers and are useful for catching flies because they offer better visibility. Infielders and outfielders prefer this type of strap.

3. The back

Baseball gloves have either an open back or a closed back. For the open back, the open space is above the wrist closure at the back of the glove and the design offers quicker turning and mobility, especially for infielders. Closed back gloves offer more support and strength and are therefore preferred by outfielders; those with a finger hole are even better because they offer additional support for catching flies. But when it comes to the design of the back of the glove, it’s usually a matter of player preference and nothing more.