Gearing up for softball season requires a glove that meets the demands of your position. There is a difference between a glove and a mitt --- mitts have no finger slots. First baseman and catchers use mitts, which make it easier to collect a ball not squarely hitting the pocket. All other positions use gloves with some type of netting to scoop the ball. Depending on what position you play, you want a glove that is big enough, but not too big.
Taking care of your Mizuno GNP 1400 softball glove ensures sound catches each time you go for a ball. On occasion, it may be necessary to remove tattered lacing and lace up the loops at an edge, the heel or the crisscross at th...
The process of selecting the right softball glove is similar to how you would go about choosing a baseball glove, except that you have to take into consideration that softball is played with a bigger ball, and a deeper and ofte...
Many glove manufacturers offer their own glove oil solutions, which are made specifically for their ball gloves. Lard-based oils such as neatsfoot, lanolin and mink also will help to protect your glove.
A softball glove takes time to break in and mold to your hand. When you have a glove that is comfortable, it is difficult to give up. With proper maintenance, a softball glove should last for years. One part of the glove that m...
The best softball gloves are made of high quality leather which, from the factory, is very stiff and difficult to play with. For decades, players have applied oils to their gloves and implemented time-tested techniques that hel...
The ball size also makes fielding the ball and catching it in the glove more difficult, since it is large in relation to a player's hand. Handling the ball well requires a properly sized glove.
Slow-pitch softball may start slow, but once the bat strikes the ball it is anything but. A shortstop must have a glove that is quick and responsive. The best size softball glove for a shortstop is small, but does not sacrifice...
Softball gloves sizes will differ slightly from baseball glove sizes, so it's important that you get the right fit. You'll need to size your glove according to the position you play, your age and the fit you like the best in or...
Men's softball equipment is almost identical to baseball equipment except for one thematic difference; everything is a little bit bigger. When talking about men's softball gloves, the first thing to understand is that gloves ar...
Softball gloves are a beautiful piece of leather craftsmanship that, if treated correctly, will provide you with years and years of loyal service, often improving with age. To ensure that your glove lives a full life, certain m...
Infielders typically use a smaller glove so they can feel the ball against their hands. Outfielders will use a larger glove because they need the extra room to make plays on the ball. The gloves are typically measured using a f...
When playing softball, you have to regularly check your glove and determine if it it is in the proper condition to play a game or go through a serious practice. The glove has several individual areas that you must check, includ...
The correct glove size, fit and feel can do wonders in the field of play. Softball players that play in the infield will generally chose smaller gloves for efficient transfer of the ball from glove hand to bare hand. Outfielder...
Some positions, including catcher need a wider glove, while other positions such as the infield require smaller gloves. When measuring a softball glove, begin at the top of the index finger, go down the middle and then out to t...
Manufacturers suggest that oiling a softball glove is no longer necessary because they are broken in when they arrive on store shelves. However, to get the softball glove broken in to a point where you are comfortable playing w...
A shortstop plays between second and third base. It's a dynamic position that requires agility, speed and skill. To improve your performance at shortstop, choose a glove that properly fits your hand. The proper size of your s...
An infielder playing slow-pitch or fast-pitch softball should use a number of factors, especially hand size, when selecting the size of his fielding glove. Wearing a bigger glove doesn't automatically improve a player's fieldin...
Softball gloves are made from various materials such as leather or synthetics, with additional features to enhance performance at every defensive position. The gloves are designed with a slim fit to accommodate the smaller hand...
Although hitting the ball is easier in softball because of its size, this can also make fielding the ball more difficult -- softballs are much more likely than baseballs to be fumbled or dropped because their size allows little...
The most significant difference is the size of the ball used -- softballs are much larger in diameter than a baseball, making the ball easier to hit. But the size of the ball can actually make some aspects of the game more diff...
The best girls' softball glove for you depends on your needs and on what position you play. There are gloves designed specifically for catchers, pitchers, infielders and outfielders. Whatever type you need, when shopping for a ...
Looking back on the evolution of this particular piece of sports equipment, it is no wonder that players acquire such an attachment to this extension of themselves. From the small padded palm covering to the much larger leather...
To get the most functionality out of your softball glove, you really have to break it in. That is, you have to spend the time to soften the leather and help it form to the softball if you want to get the most out of it. There a...
Lacing your softball glove properly takes the correct tools and patience. Softball gloves should last for at least two full seasons if you are an active player, but you will likely have to make occasional repairs to your glove....
The excitement of buying a new softball glove may diminish quickly after you try it out for the first time and realize that the ball won't stay in it very easily. A new glove often has stiff leather that needs several weeks of ...
One of those leagues, the Independent Softball Association, has over 18,000 youth teams, women's teams, coed teams and men's fast-pitch and slow-pitch teams in all age groups. Just like major league teams, softball associa...
About the time that George Hancock was drawing up the first softball rules, gloves made from old mittens or sewn together horsehide were becoming popular with organized baseball players. The padding increased as players' abilit...
Difficult plays will be easier if your glove is appropriately sized for your hand, as the glove can function as an extension of your reach as opposed to a cumbersome barrier between you and the ball. Softball gloves come in siz...
Choosing the right softball glove will impact your fielding and throwing ability. If you don't find a glove that is comfortable, you won't play as well, affecting you and your team. Softball gloves are made by dozens of manufac...
Of the best-rated softball gloves, several brand names tend to stick out like sore thumbs. Rawlings, Mizuno, Louisville, and Wilson are all manufacturers of gloves that have attained 5-star ratings. A great glove will be made o...
Softball fielders wear gloves to protect their hands from the impact of the ball, and to make fielding it easier. Most gloves are made of leather, or synthetic materials that resemble leather. Players’ gloves must meet ce...
Female softball players tend to have smaller hands than their male counterparts, meaning traditional softball gloves don't fit them properly. Several equipment manufacturers have tailored their gloves specifically for the femal...
Softball and baseball gloves are made from leather and worn on the non-throwing hand of the player. They are used by fielders to catch the ball when it is batted or thrown. Both softball and baseball feature gloves that differ ...
Additionally, when picking out a softball glove you have to take into account the position you regularly play. Infielders generally use smaller gloves than outfielders but the infielder's glove must be big enough to secure the ...
When selecting a softball glove, fit, comfort, and design are all important. Each position requires a specific set of skills and selecting the proper glove can make your job, whether it is pitcher, catcher or fielder, easier. M...
No matter if you are a budding softball pro or simply a weekend warrior, it is important to choose the proper softball glove. When buying a new glove, keeping a few simple steps in mind can make the selection a cinch. Using a w...
Fielders' softball gloves enhance catching performance while protecting fielders' hands from such injuries as contusions or fractures. Even for beginning or recreational players, finding the right glove is important. The criter...
The size of a softball glove equals the length of the glove in inches. Softball gloves range from small 9-inch sizes for young players, up to large 14-inch sizes for adult players. First base mitts are also measured by the leng...
Glove size is measured by the distance in inches from the top of the glove index finger, through the inside of the pocket, to the bottom of the glove. Gloves range in size from 9 inches for small, youth players, to 14 inches fo...
Softball mitts are similar to softball gloves, except they do not have individual fingers. Mitts are best for fielding balls that do not need to fall in the pocket. They provide the control necessary to scoop balls off the grou...
Softball gloves have a similar design to baseball gloves but have been adapted to compensate for the larger size of the ball used. Softball gloves are frequently purchased not only exclusively for softball use but also by playe...
Choosing a softball glove is generally figured according to hand size and potential for future growth, field position and material from which the softball glove is constructed--which in many cases means deciding on a budget. So...
Softball gloves are designed to catch fast-moving balls without damaging the hand. They are an essential piece of equipment for any good softball player. To choose the right softball glove for you, keep several considerations...
Selecting a properly-sized softball glove is extremely important; wearing a glove of the wrong size during a game can result in a major slip (of the glove, that is), leading to dropped balls or even the glove itself. A glove th...
A good softball glove is meant to last for years through regular play. It is imperative, therefore, to make sure that you choose the correct size of glove from the very beginning. Learning how to measure for a softball glove ca...
Softball players prefer to use gloves that are pliable and well-worn and conform easily to the shape of the ball. Over time, gloves need to be replaced because they become dry and brittle. New gloves feel uncomfortably stiff an...
A brand-new softball glove cannot be used right away, since its rigidity will make catching or cradling a softball tough; chances are, the ball will simply bounce right off. Thus, a new softball glove must be broken in, or prep...
With proper care and cleaning, your glove can see you through many games. Though cleaning your glove may seem like a difficult task, as leather is known to be a temperamental material, it's actually not that hard to keep your g...
From basketball shoes to football helmets, inferior equipment can keep a player from playing at a high level. Such is the case with softball, especially in regards to softball gloves. It is important that a softball player's...
The sports of baseball and softball follow the same basic concept of hitting a ball to a group of fielders on defense. To field the ball, the players use leather gloves specifically designed for the sport. The softball and base...
Softening a softball glove will help make it move more easily with your hand for better flexibility, and create a deep pocket for the ball to fall into so you can make more efficient catches. A new softball glove will likely be...
Softball gloves are slightly different from baseball gloves when it comes to sizing. This has a lot to do with the size of the ball itself--softball are much larger in diameter than baseballs, making them easier to hit but hard...
Since a catcher's mitt is big and well padded, it's are little tougher to soften up than a fielder's baseball mitt. A new catcher's mitt is stiff and requires a little working in to get it so that the catcher can grab the ball ...
Softball gloves and mitts, with the exception of the catcher's mitt, are sized according to the length from the tip of their index fingers, down along the inside of the glove and out the heel of the glove. In addition to hand s...
A well-fitted glove can make it easier to throw and catch a softball, while a poorly fitted glove can be difficult to control and use. Softball gloves are measured in inches by using a flexible tape to find the distance between...
