How to measure hand for baseball glove? As a trainer, I have heard that question several times from my newer students and parents whose children are new to baseball.
So I made a decision to let those newcomers who are fans of baseball to the core know about the rules, strategy, tips, and practice for measuring baseball glove size. Let’s focus on that.
Ostensibly, it is confusing but not that hard to find the right baseball glove. If you are craving to know how to measure hand for baseball glove size, you should go through some principles.
That helps you fit it perfectly into your hands. Here we will point them out one by one.
The most important thing to remember when measuring your hand for a baseball glove is to focus on your age and your position. Concentrate on your playing hand. Are you left-handed or right-handed?
Make sure you want to play baseball or softball. What is your budget? All those things are responsible for selecting the right baseball gloves.
Following this path, you can get your desired baseball glove within your budget. Let’s go over the specifics.
Various Sections of the Baseball Glove
Now it’s time to introduce you to various parts of baseball gloves. It will be better for you to know a lot about gloves before making a purchase.
1. Bridge
The bridge is a part of the glove that connects the area at the top, generally made out of leather.
2. The Web
The web is the standard and essential component made of leather on baseball and softball gloves, which connects the thumb to the fingers with gloves. It has several styles or patterns.
It is categorized into two groups: 1. Closed Web and 2. Open Web.
The closed web aids in the catching of the ball, particularly for the catcher and fielder.
On the other hand, the open web is good for catching flies and transferring balls quickly. That’s why it provides extra support to infielders and outfielders.
3. Heel Pad
Heel pad’s area is on the lower part of the palm. It is used to connect with the wrist to make a glove more durable.
4. Palm Beaches
Palm, it is the center of the glove. Its primary purpose is to reduce hits when players catch a ball because the ball comes to direct hit here. This pattern comes with some excellent features to remain the player’s hand safe.
5. Hinge
The hinge is another part of the glove between the heel pad and the little finger pad. It works to make a glove stay tight on the hand.
6. Lacing
It is made out of leather components that exist around the glove to provide shape, besides protecting the glove.
7. Wrist Adjustment
It’s not seen in all types of baseball gloves. It’s a facultative part that exists in youth baseball gloves including slow and fast pitch softball.
Different Web-Based Baseball Gloves
Every year, baseball gloves come with combinations of more patterns and techniques. Let’s check out different types of web-based baseball gloves.
1. Basket:
Basket pattern, which is most popular among pitchers. The main reason for this is its construction. It allows a pitcher to hide the ball from the batter.
2. Modified Trapeze:
With its multipurpose design and structure, it provides more stability. In particular, having a leather strip on the top of the web can offer more strength and durability.
3. H-Web:
This pattern is more specialized. Its strong constructions and customized features help to catch even flying balls. H- Web pattern is the most popular web pattern, especially for the outfielders, infielders, and third basemen.
4. I-Web:
This web pattern is similar to the H web. This pattern helps transfer the ball efficiently and provides a shield to protect the player’s eye from the sun. The infielders use it mostly.
5. Trapeze:
Trapeze web patterns frequently exist on infielder’s gloves. It provides a shield to keep sunlight away from their eyes. And its deeper pocket helps to catch flying balls also.
6. Two-Piece
It’s considered perfect for any player, but especially a catcher, as it is most useful for him. It helps to hide the ball from the batter.
How to Measure Hand for Baseball Gloves?
Many of my students have a misconception that the bigger the better. I think many of you have in mind the same idea.
That idea is undeniably bad for players because they start getting to a point where they get off to the side, and they can swing a ball a little too far away instead of getting over it.
So, I always recommend the smaller, the better because it makes them learn to catch the ball and get over it comfortably.
For measuring baseball glove size, you have to-
- Take into account your index finger length.
- Give priority to hand circumference.
- Make sure of your position.
- Consider your age.
- Know your playing hand, right-handed or left-handed.
- Make sure it’s versatility
- Consider its durability.
- Follow the baseball glove size chart.
- Fix a budget.
Measure Index Finger length for Measuring Baseball Glove Size
The index finger length is always the most important consideration when choosing baseball gloves. Usually, the index finger length is always smaller in size than the middle finger.
In most cases, their length difference remains at 0.25 inches. If it varies in your case, then go for one size down.
You may head to this article How to Stiffen up a Baseball Glove. I suppose this article will help you to use gloves.
Hand Circumference Measure for Baseball Glove Size Measurement
You may wonder, what is the hand circumference? Well, ‘hand circumference is the contact area between the pointer finger and the small finger on the palm.’
Now a question remains: how do we measure our hand circumference? Don’t worry; you don’t have to know your hand circumference when buying a glove in a shop.
When you are in a shop and get their custom-tailored, they measure your hand circumference and send it to the manufacturer to create the perfect size.
Know How to measure hand for baseball glove Based on your position
Basically, your position determines what kind of glove you’ll want. If you follow this guide, I am confident it’ll help you know how to measure hand for baseball glove.
Catcher’s Mitts
Catcher’s Mitts is more customized with position and aged based pattern. It provides you extra padding and hing so when the right size catcher’s mitts is on your hand, with its shallow pocket you are able to catch as well transfer the ball so fast.
Pitchers
It’s a closed web globe with a little bit of exposure here. The batter can’t see through it what the baller is doing with the ball. So the baller takes this chance to deceive the batter.
Infield
Infielders’ gloves add speed and flexibility that help fielders get rid of the hit impact simply with a read to create a fast pass to the ball, not just like the first baseman’s mitts, which tend to be smaller.
Some of my students asked if the infielder’s gloves had to be big. I want to clarify that it’s the wrong information.
“Big hands” doesn’t mean big gloves, whatever your hand size is. In general, it is about 10.75″ – 11.75″ for a youth infielder glove.
For adults, glove size varies to 11.25″–12.25″. And 9″ to 10″ is for youths. And finally, the fast pitch average is approximately 11″–12″.
First basemen
This pattern is without finger holes and larger in size than other types of gloves. It comes with some great features and an advanced design needed for a first baseman.
Its unique characteristics are long, wide, open webbing, and shallow pockets. When a ball is thrown in the dirt, it has all those features helpful in picking up the ball from infielders.
Being large in size, ten years or older can wear because, for kids, it’s challenging to have an oversized glove.
Outfielder
These are big in size with deep pockets compared to infielders. The gloves’ pockets are also longer. So it is easy to wear for a long time and catch fly balls.
For youth, outfield gloves are 10.75″–12.5″, for adults, glove size is 12.5 “to 12.75″. And the fast pitch average is concerned at 12″–13”.
Major Factor for Buying Baseball Gloves
Like glove size, there are some major factors that are crucial for choosing a perfect glove. Let’s concentrate on them.
Multipurpose Gloves
It is a prudent decision to buy a multipurpose glove. This type of glove is helpful for those who want to play at different positions, such as infield or outfield positions. Even players use this glove as an in-position first baseman or catcher.
So, choose a pair of gloves that can be used for various tasks.
Consider Its Durability.
Basically, gloves can be made out of many materials, namely leather and synthetics etc. Among those leather gloves are more durable than others.
Durable gloves have some well-thought-out features to absorb hit impact when the ball is in the catcher’s hand. Besides, it will last for years.
Consider Your Playing Hand.
No matter what, whether you are a right-handed player or left-handed. If you are right-handed, then you should buy right-handed baseball gloves. Similarly, left-handed people should go for left-handed baseball gloves.
Considering playing hands is the determining factor in whether to purchase baseball gloves.
If that doesn’t go with your playing hand, you will have to face trouble during play. So, be more careful when you are in a shop buying gloves. The proper glove selection leads you to be the best player; the wrong choice gets you kicked out of the game.
Pocket Size
Select glove’s pocket size depends on playing position. For example, an outfielder’s duty is to catch even a flying ball quickly. So they need a glove with a large pocket size. But for an infielder, they have to get the ball out of the glove so fast.
So, they must need a glove with a shallower pocket.
Price Range
Price range is one of the most significant matters that make people worry. It is a crucial step to select a budget before shopping for gloves. Prices depend on numerical factors, namely material, brand, etc. So, make a budget for buying your glove
Baseball Glove Size Measurement Charts Based On Position and Age
Finally, we reach the part of the article that shows the size chart of softball gloves and baseball gloves. Yes, undoubtedly, one of the main purposes of this article is to measure baseball gloves.
Don’t worry if you have “Large hands’, that doesn’t mean you need a big glove. When you deal with a glove, it covers the upper wrist. That gives you more mobility.
On top of that, focus on your position and age; when selecting the proper size, these two things are the main things to pay attention to.
The correct baseball glove measurements will allow you to keep an eye on the prize. The size given below helps you understand how to measure hand for a baseball glove.
Baseball Glove Size Charts Based on Position And Age
INfo alter; Baseball Gloves Measurement Chart by Position And Age
Fastpitch Softball Glove Size Chart Based on Position Age
Info 6 alter; Softball and Baseball Gloves measurement Chart by Position and Age
You may like to read our article Miken Softball Gloves Reviews where you can gather vast ideas about Miken softball gloves.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Size is Perfect for Baseball Gloves?
A youth infielder’s average Hand size for baseball glove is about 10.75″–11.75″. From high school to a skilled infielder, the average glove size is about 11.25″–12.25″. And finally, the fast pitch average is approximately 11″ to 12″.
2. Is it Important to Measure Hand Size for Baseball Gloves?
To play comfortably, the right size glove is unquestionably essential. And to select the right size you must know how to measure hand for baseball glove. Size depends on some key prospects: your age, position, skill, etc. The right size gloves make you feel at ease and can influence the outcome of your game.
3. What is the Rule for Measuring Perfect Glove Size?
- Exclude the thumb. Measure around the hand with the fullest part.
- Measure your index finger length.
- Right-handed players take measurements with their right hand.
- Left-handed players take measurements from their left hand.
Conclusion
In this article, I have discussed the baseball glove measurement process, such as sizing, fitting, and different types of gloves, so you are expected to understand how to measure hand for baseball glove.
I anticipate that this advice will be helpful to people of all ages and positions, not just my students but who aspire to be players. Best regards to all.
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Hello everyone. My name is Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player. I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego.
I always love to share my experience and knowledge if that can help you. Play baseball, and stay fit.