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“Which glove should I buy?” This is a question we coaches often get from parents when their kid is just starting out. So, what are the best choices to make? There are quite a few options. #decisionstress

You can ask yourself the following questions when deciding what type of glove you need to:

How much money do you want or can you spend?
How sure are you that your kid will stick with the sport?
What glove size do you need?
Is there a difference between a left-handed and right-handed glove? Spoiler: Yes!
Which color(s) should I choose?
Brand—does it really matter?
Where can I get the glove?
Do I need to try it on first?
Is the glove game-ready right away?
Does the glove need any maintenance?
Is there a difference between a baseball and a softball glove?

In this article, we’ll cover all these questions for you.

From Our Own Experience

Reinier: “My daughter plays softball, my son plays baseball. They both started with beeball three years ago. It was a bit of a trial run, so we decided not to go all out on two brand-new gloves right away. We grabbed a couple of mitts at Decathlon. These have now become backup gloves, since they’ve been upgraded to better ones. At their first practice with the new gloves, they caught 50% more balls. It’s unbelievable what a difference it made—no more dropped balls or tricky catches. It almost felt like the problem was totally solved.”

Reinier adds: "I think we actually made a good choice, although maybe it would have been even better to start with 2 pairs of used gloves."

Should Reinier have bought brand-name gloves right away? Well, if he had unlimited cash, sure—but yeah. Dropping €80 twice, so €160, when you’re not even sure if they’re going to stick with the sport is maybe a bit over the top.

How Much Does a Baseball or Softball Glove Cost?

A youth glove (beeball) from a brand usually costs between 35 and 100 euros. Sizes range from 10 to 11.5 inches. You can find cheaper alternatives for around 15 euros. Used gloves are also an option, of course.

A Left- or Right-Handed Glove

Gloves come in all shapes and sizes, just like our hands do. Makes sense, but it's good to know! Left-handed gloves go on your right hand and are a bit rarer. So, when you're shopping around, you might find there’s a smaller selection to pick from.

The photo below shows two Decathlon gloves, size 9.5 inches. They’re not real leather and feel pretty stiff.

If you throw right-handed, you’ll need a glove on your left hand — but it’s still called a right-handed glove.

Is there a difference between a baseball glove and a softball glove?

Absolutely! That mainly comes down to the ball—the size differs, which is why the catching area (the pocket) on a softball glove is bigger. If you, as a parent, decide to go for a beeball glove, you don’t really have a choice in the matter. Luckily, beeball is played with a small, soft ball, so it doesn’t really matter. But once the kids move up to the little league level, it’s definitely a good idea to start paying attention to this.

11-inch baseball glove & 12-inch softball glove

Should I consider the playing position and type of glove?

No, we believe kids should play all over the field and discover their favorite position first. So, there’s really no need to buy a bigger outfielder’s glove or a special pitcher’s glove just yet. By the way, did you know what makes a pitcher’s glove so unique? It’s completely closed up so the ball can’t be seen by the opposing team during (and before) the pitch—pretty cool, right?

What Glove Size Do I Need?

The sizes are in inches, and you can choose from 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, and so on. Your club might have a few spare gloves to try on, or you could ask your teammates if you can try theirs. That’ll give you a good starting point. Still, just like with any other gear, it’s smart to try them on because one brand can fit smaller than another. Plus, some gloves have a kind of lining inside that gives a different feel altogether.

So let's say you try on a teammate’s glove that fits like a charm—you could easily buy that exact one online. In all other cases, avoid a bad buy and try them on first. Comfort is key.

Gear and Color Choices

Learning is the key. Cheaper gloves are sometimes made from synthetic leather, like Sky. A genuine leather glove can be broken in and shaped to your liking—whether you want it stiff or more flexible. Of course, leather gloves do come with a higher price tag.

Color matters a lot to many kids too. Gone are the days when all gloves were just brown—now you can find them in tons of colors and patterns. A bright pink glove? Go for it! If that’s your style. Want to play it a bit safer? Then pick a glove that matches your team colors or go for something neutral (black or that classic trusty brown glove).

Brands

Wilson, Rawlings, Mizuno, Easton, Franklin, Louisville, Teammate, Boombah… these brands are the ones you’ll mostly find in Dutch stores. Especially the first five are global giants, but if you browse US online shops, you’ll discover even more options. Our tip? Try them on first, and only then pick a brand. All these names have stood the test of time and they’re solid choices. If you try them on and your favorite color isn’t there, or you want something a bit different, just ask the store if they can order it for you.

We haven’t had great experiences with online purchases from foreign webshops—think: lots of hassle with extra customs fees and unclear delivery times that can stretch for months.

Custom Glove

You can also get a custom glove made, but honestly, we rarely see that happen with the youth. Hands grow way too fast—what a waste of money, effort, and time. That said, down the road, it does make a pretty cool keepsake to hang on the wall when they're playing in the MLB . Nope, the market’s just too small here to build a business around it. Looking for a custom glove for an adult? Get in touch. We know the spots.

Stores in the Netherlands

There are only a few stores in the Netherlands where you can try on gloves. Check the websites of the following shops for their opening hours:

Pro tip: give them a quick call first to check if they’re open and have enough stock. Sometimes a big shipment arrives a week later. Waiting that extra week can be worth it since newer models come in, and sometimes the older ones go on sale for a bit less.

Label the Glove

Once you've picked a glove, label it! Do it right away. Read here why labeling gear is an absolute must!

Taking Care of Your Glove

The moment has arrived—you’ve got yourself a new glove. Sweet! Want to keep that glove in tip-top shape, maintain its form, and make it last season after season? Of course! Check out how to take care of your glove.

Missed something or got a tip?

In this article, we aim to be as thorough as possible, with the goal of helping parents and giving coaches a solid handle on things. Now, here’s a question for you as a reader: did we miss anything or do you have a tip? Let us know below and we’ll update the article. Thanks a lot!

The post Buying a Baseball or Softball Glove: Your Guide to Finding the Right Mitt. first appeared on Coach Ball.

Baseball glove or softball glove shopping: your guide to picking the perfect mitt.