How To Choose a Softball Glove for Your Position

Finding the best softball glove for you depends on the requirements of your position. A little further on, we break down the best features to look for in a softball glove by position; however, here’s a general idea of what to look out for in a softball glove:

Anatomy of a Softball Glove

Softball Gloves for Each Position

Softball gloves have come a long way. The number of choices you’ll have to make and options available to you when choosing a softball glove can overwhelm the best of us. Quick decision makers can reference this cursory list of our expert tips:

• Deep or shallow pockets? Go deep for comfort and consistency and shallow if you want a quick catch and throw.
• Open or closed webbing? Go open for more flexibility and closed for support or secrecy.
• More or less padding? Get more for increased protection and less for more sensitivity to the ball.

If you’re looking for a more thorough walkthrough on how to choose a softball glove, we’ve compiled a summary of features to consider broken down by each position:

Choosing the Best Material

Softball gloves are typically made from two types of material: synthetic and leather. So is leather or synthetic the better choice? Well, it’s a bit more complex than a black and white approach. It all comes down to player preference.

Leather gloves, in general, tend to be more durable; synthetic gloves are lighter and often less expensive. Among the more popular synthetic material options, most manufacturers opt for either some sort of mesh material or brand-designed material engineered for specific benefits or purposes.

To help you choose which is best for you, here is our breakdown of each type of softball glove material:

We broke the ‘leather’ category down by more affordable, lightweight options as well as premium, Pro Series grade options. Here is a brief overview of each grade of leathers:

• Leather: Pigskin, cowhide, kip leather are all lighter in weight yet still very durable — making them perfect for younger players.
• Premium leather: Full-grain hide leather and steerhide leather are the heavier options geared toward Pro Series or older players.

How to Size a Softball Glove

To find the perfect size of softball glove for your hand, flex your hand and measure from the tip of your index finger to the start of your wrist. Glove sizes are measured by inches so be sure to write this number down. The right-sized glove will feel snug — not tight — and can vary by age or position.

Catcher's mitts are measured by circumference instead of length to provide a better idea of the catching area.

Keep in mind that kids' softball gloves should be snug, too. Parents often make the mistake of buying a glove their child can 'grow into,’ but doing so can lead to injuries and errors.

Softball Glove Size Chart

There are two general types of softball glove sizes: adult softball gloves and youth softball gloves. However, both of these two categories can be further broken down by age:

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• Fastpitch softball gloves
• Slowpitch softball gloves

Consider the Glove Maintenance Commitment

You can't spell ‘glove’ without L-O-V-E. No matter which softball glove you choose, regularly cleaning your glove is so important. Not only will it keep it looking nice and ready to use, proper glove care helps extend the life of your glove — giving it a better shot at lasting season after season.

While gloves can be affordable, caring for yours helps to ensure your investment won’t just be temporary. Breaking in new gloves can be a quick process for synthetic material; however, for more expensive, premium leathers, you should always be mindful that it takes a bit more time to break in.

Use these tips to give your glove a little extra TLC, and keep it looking and feeling good for the games to come:

Repair

Don't replace - re-lace. If your glove needs a new set of laces, use a knife or U-wire and a straight-lace grooved needle to remove and replace one lace at a time. You'll need approximately three to six new laces, depending on your glove's size and the number of laces damaged or worn.

Storage

Keep your glove dry and protected during the off-season to help extend its life. Avoid leaving it in a humid gear bag or exposed to outdoor conditions. Find a cool, dry storage space indoors, and keep a ball stored inside the pocket to help your glove keep its shape.

Browse our glove accessories for breaking in your glove as well as cleaning it.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Is there a difference between softball and baseball gloves?

A. Baseball and softball are similar in many ways, including most game rules, positions, and gear. But if you look a little closer, you'll notice a difference in one essential piece of equipment. Softballs are bigger than baseballs, so the gloves and webbing are bigger to catch them. This difference also explains the variation between baseball and softball pitches.

Q. How often should you get a new softball glove?

A. The material used to make your softball gloves greatly influences the durability of it. Synthetic gloves and leather gloves each have their own strengths to consider; however, leather gloves can generally last longer than synthetic.

The signs that indicate it’s time to buy a new glove include:

• Overly floppy structure or form
• Rips, cracking, or tears
• Noticeable change in weight
• Thinned padding that isn’t protecting your hand

Q. What’s the difference between slowpitch and fastpitch softball?

A. There are two types of softball to consider as you think about choosing your new softball glove:

• Slow-pitch softball: A recreational version of softball played by adult men and women
• Fast-pitch softball: A competitive sport for girls and women of all ages

Keep in mind that men's soft-pitch gloves typically have wider, longer fingers than women's soft-pitch gloves. Be sure to check the label, so you buy the right size for your version of the sport.

Q. How to break in a softball glove?

A. You can’t just buy a softball glove and expect to use it on the field right away. You have to spend a bit of time breaking it in to get it soft enough to properly play. One of the most reliable and safest ways to do that is to follow the glove guru’s signature process.

Shigeaki Aso’s approach requires only a few tools like warm (never hot or boiling) water, a glove mallet, and some elbow grease. Other popular methods like steaming, shaving cream, and placing the glove in the oven are not safe for the integrity of your softball glove! Improperly breaking in your glove using any of those methods can destroy the structure, dry out the material of your glove, or void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Learn more about how to safely break in your softball glove.

Q. How have softball gloves changed over time?

A. You might think that the origins of softball stem from baseball — given all the two sports have in common. However, most experts agree that it was actually a game of football on Thanksgiving Day in 1887 from which softball began.

Softball gloves have come a long way from their original counterpart (just a balled-up boxing glove). In the 1920s, the sport saw substantial padding added to the gloves for the first time. Protecting the players’ hands was just as important then as it still is today.

Over the years, more modifications and improvements have continued to alter the gloves we all know. Now, there are a range of specific features for each position on the field. While the options and variety of gloves can feel overwhelming, Academy Sports + Outdoors has knowledgeable team members to help you choose your perfect softball glove!

Next Steps

With all of this in mind, you can now better assess your unique needs and choose the best softball glove for you while also ensuring it will last you season after season.

Check out the selection at Academy Sports + Outdoors now.