How to Buy a Baseball Glove...
![]() Youth baseball and softball gloves are made smaller to cater to the smaller hand of youth players and give them more control. The following size chart will give you a general idea of what size glove fits each age group and position.The table below you an estimate regarding glove size based on age and position. The bottom line is the glove needs to be comfortable on the player's hand.
A2000 Showcase Series Gloves I have mentioned them before, but we are big fans of the Wilson A2000 baseball gloves. A few years ago they came out with what they called the "Showcase Series" which is the same, high-quality A2000 glove designed specifically for players with smaller hands. My boys use Showcase Series A2000 gloves for their fielding gloves and for their catcher's mitt. We couldn't be happier with them! They are an investment, but rather than buying a $60 or $70 glove each season, these gloves will last you a number of years, as long as your young player respects them and isn't the type to misplace their equipment. Click here for more information on the A2000 Showcase Series Gloves Wilson also has a custom glove making website.(We just did one for T's birthday that you can see in the photo gallery!) Click here to design your own Glove Features Webbing: Every baseball and softball glove has either an open web or a closed web. The style you choose will depend on your fielding position as well as your personal preference. A closed web is standard on all catcher's mitts and often used by pitchers to hide the ball from the batter. A closed web is also used if the player prefers more support when catching. An open web helps players, especially middle infielders, get the ball out of the pocket quicker to make throws to bases.
Field Positions
Breaking In Your New Glove / Glove Care Tips Taking care of your baseball glove is import to insure that it lasts longer and that it maintains its softness. The softer your mitt, the better the feel. And the better the feel means you can field the ball better whether you're snagging a line drive or getting the ball quickly out of your glove to turn a double play. There are a million different ways that people break-in their baseball gloves. Some of it might seem a little crazy right after you spend a bunch of money on your glove. (Roll-over with a car, dip in water, freeze it, bake it in the oven, etc.) At least for us, and the Wilson A2000 baseball gloves that we use, we have found going to a reputable baseball specialty store that has a Mizuno Glove Steamer to be the absolute best and easiest way to get a new glove game-ready in a very short period of time. We recently took a brand new A2000 Showcase Series catcher's mitt to be steamed. That glove was game ready after just two-days of playing catch with it after having it steamed. We had other catcher's mitts that took over a year to get to that point. I know there are people out there that think the moisture might add weight to the glove, but it hasn't been noticeable, and the results have truly spoken for themselves when it comes to getting a glove ready to use out on the field. If you want to see something cool, click here to out Aso, Wilson's Glove Guru, on YouTube to see how he breaks gloves in for the professionals. The final step is the to get outside PLAY CATCH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!! Your glove will break in faster the more you play with it. If for some reason you can't get out to play catch, as you sit in front of the television use a weighted ball and just keep throwing it into your glove to get the pocket developed. When you're not playing with it during the first month or so it's not a bad idea to keep the ball in it wrapped in string. If you take good care of your glove and break it in properly, you will have for many years to come. Other Baseball Glove Care Tips:
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