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Playing baseball requires skills, technique, and the right equipment. One of the most important pieces of equipment a baseball player needs is a good baseball glove. Choosing the right baseball gloves by position is crucial for maximizing your performance on the field. In this article, we’ll comprehensively discuss all positions baseball gloves and the benefits of each one.
Different Types of Baseball Gloves
Before diving into the explanation of each type of fielding glove, it’s important to note that they all share the same materials: synthetic leather, oil-treated leather, and high-quality leather. Each glove has five design points – lacing, web, palm, hinge, and heel – that run from top to bottom.
The lacing is located at the top of the glove, the web is the basket-like design for catching the ball, the palm sits on top of the user's palm, the hinge allows for opening and closing, and the heel at the bottom of the glove just above the wrist. With this in mind, let's explore the five types of fielding gloves in baseball and softball and what sets them apart.
Infielder's Glove:
An infielder's glove is smaller and has a shallow pocket, making it easier for infielders to catch and release the ball quickly. These gloves range in size from 10 to 12 inches and are ideal for players who play second base, shortstop, and third base. These gloves are designed to help infielders make quick plays, as they don't have much time to catch the ball and throw it to another base.
Outfielder's Glove:
Outfielder's gloves are larger than infielder's gloves, ranging from 12 to 13 inches in size. These gloves have a deeper pocket, which allows outfielders to catch fly balls more easily. They are ideal for playing left, center, and right fields. Outfielders need to be able to cover more ground and make catches at a higher height, so these gloves provide more surface area for catching.
Pitcher's Glove:
Pitcher's gloves are smaller than outfielder's gloves, ranging from 11 to 12 inches in size. These gloves are designed to help pitchers conceal their grip on the ball, so they don't give away the type of pitch they are throwing. The gloves have a closed webbing that allows pitchers to hide the ball from the batter, giving them an advantage on the mound.
First Baseman's Glove:
First baseman's gloves are unique because they have a longer and more curved design, which allows first basemen to scoop up ground balls more easily. These gloves are typically 12 to 13 inches in size and have a shallow pocket. The longer length allows first basemen to reach for balls thrown wide or low, while the curved design helps them scoop up balls that bounce in the dirt.
Catcher's Mitt:
This is a different type of baseball mitt. The catcher's mitt is designed to make it easy for the catcher to catch and control the ball while protecting their hand from injury. A catcher's mitt is larger than all other gloves, ranging from 32 to 34 inches in circumference. These gloves have a deep pocket and thick padding to help catch fast pitches. Catcher's mitts also have a closed webbing to protect the catcher's hand from getting caught in the webbing.
Here are some of the top baseball glove brands that you can check out at Headbanger Sports:
- Easton Fielding Gloves
- Marucci Baseball and Softball Fielding Gloves
- Rawlings Baseball and Softball Fielding Gloves
- Wilson Fielding Baseball and Softball Gloves
- Miken Slow Pitch Softball Fielding Gloves
A good baseball glove must fit well, be comfortable, and be made of high-quality materials. Stop settling for mediocre performance. Browse the collection at Headbanger Sports now to find the perfect glove and dominate your diamond like a pro!
