Hey there, fellow slow-pitch softball players! Are you ready to have an amazing time out on the field, and indulge in some friendly, healthy competition? To truly excel at softball, you'll need a glove crafted just for the game.
Enter the world of slowpitch softball gloves— expertly designed to offer you top-notch performance, snug comfort, and unbeatable durability. Thanks to features like breathable materials, reinforced linings, and moisture-wicking fabrics, you'll enjoy a comfortable, unconstricted fit throughout the game.
But wait, there's more! We're here to guide you through the various types of slow pitch gloves, and help you find your perfect match. Get ready to discover our favorite picks that cater to your distinct needs. So stick around, and let's find your ideal softball companion.
How to Choose the Best Softball Glove for You
Shopping for a softball glove is like shopping for a new car. There are so many options and features to consider, and it can be overwhelming. Before you go out and buy a glove, you should understand what all the bells and whistles mean so that you can make an informed decision.
Let’s get ready for that pitch...
Sizes
Softball gloves come in different sizes depending on the age and size of the player. Generally, slow pitch gloves are 11-12.5 inches. Keep in mind that a baseball has a circumference of ~9 inches, and a softball has a perimeter of ~12 inches. So it’s important to get the right type of glove and the right size for your hand — not too big or too small — because it will affect your performance on the field.
Webbings
The webbing is essentially a pocket between your index finger and thumb where you catch the ball. The type of webbing you choose will depend on how much flexibility you want in your glove as well as how quickly you want to be able to close it up when catching a ball.
I-web: Primarily used in the middle infield. A shallow pocket in the glove allows for quick, easy ball-to-ball exchanges.
Trapeze: It is preferred webbing for outfielders. The trapeze web allows for deeper, larger pockets without sacrificing glove quality.
Modified Trapeze: This is a highly practical webbing. It is similar to trapeze webbing, but a strip of leather runs across the top of the webbing, giving the glove more stability.
Basket: This glove is usually reserved for pitchers, as it is easier to hide the ball behind the webbing. Position players who use this webbing are few.
Backs
There are currently few types of backs for gloves:
Leather is strong but tends to require more break-in time. It is the most common lining for gloves and is tried and true.
Mesh is lightweight but less durable than leather or superskin. It is a lightweight alternative to calfskin. It breaks down easily and reduces the weight of the glove somewhat. In any case, most agree that cowhide or SuperSkin is stronger than mesh.
SuperSkin is said to be half the weight of leather while twice the durability. They weigh less than traditional leather gloves, but has different handling characteristics than you might expect.
Oddities
You may have heard about various “oddities” when it comes to softball gloves - like wrist backing or custom designs - but these aren’t necessary unless they contribute something special to your game.
Wrist Backing helps provide extra support which can be helpful if you’re playing at a higher level. Open and closed are two types of wrist backing. Infielders lean toward the open wrist because the glove is lighter and more flexible. Outfielders prefer closed wrists backing because the gloves are stiffer.
Single vs Double welting: The welting is leather stitched to the back of the glove’s finger stalls. The standard is single welting. Double welting sews two pieces of leather onto the glove for each finger. Double welting adds material to each finger stall, giving the entire glove a tough feel. This makes the break-in period of the glove longer and harder.
Custom designs allow you to personalize your glove with colors or logos that reflect who you are as a player. The market has been flooded with custom gloves in the past several years. The ability to tailor gloves to suit your taste in almost every aspect is appealing.
Price
Finally, let’s talk money! Softball gloves range anywhere from $20-$300 depending on brand name and quality – so shop around before settling on one particular model. Keep in mind that buying high quality now may save some money in the long run; since cheaper models tend to wear out more quickly over time.
- Great for those looking to spend under $100 - these gloves are on the low end in terms of quality and can typically last ~3 years, depending on personal preference. They don’t hold their shape for long. The palm and finger pads wear out quickly and don’t protect your hands as well as they should. These are great products for the league night player or occasional player who can’t afford to spend much money on their equipment.
- High-end gloves in the mid-price range, between $100 and $200. Depending on your preference, may last ~5 years. These gloves can retain shape for a long while depending on use, care and capacity. Recommended for league night players or tournament players who need a high-quality glove that will last a awhile.
- These high-quality gloves cost over $200 and should last 5+ years, depending on personal preference and care. These gloves will retain their shape as long as they are cared for according to their intended use. These gloves are ideal for the avid league player who relies on their gloves. These gloves are also a great investment because you can expect them to last.
How We Chose the Best Slow Pitch Softball Gloves
There are many different brands, materials, and sizes to choose from. We've read dozens of reviews on the internet to help you find a lasting glove. Our list includes gloves made from leather and synthetic materials.
🏅 Rawlings RSB slowpitch softball glove
❤️ why we love this glove
These slow pitch gloves provide the players with a quick break-in pocket, ensuring complete comfort and confidence when you stop the extra base hits and snag the ground balls. They're comfortable for all the men and women players as they come with the velcro strap and Neo-flex back.
⚾️ features
The Rawlings brand produces these gloves with a size of 12, 12.5, 13, and 14 inches. The leather is used to make these gloves in grey and black colors. They have both left and right-hand throw orientations. This slowpitch baseball glove is made for adult players. You can use them for recreational and competitive adult slowpitch softball and baseball. They are made for extra quickness, optimal balance, shape retention, and comfort for the player.
🥈Wilson A360 Slowpitch Softball Slove
❤️ why we love this glove
With these gloves, you will be comfortable throughout the game. These are great slow pitch softball gloves, regardless of your position.
⚾️ features
The Wilson brand produces these adult slow pitch softball gloves with sizes of 13, 14, and 15 inches. The leather material is used to make these slow pitch gloves in black color. These gloves, having the first base glove type come with left and right-hand throw orientations. These slowpitch softball gloves are made with the closed V-laced web and come with a velcro design that enables you to adjust easily. They are easy to control and lightweight because of the all-new CarbonLite Shell.
🥉 Mizuno Premier slowpitch softball glove
❤️ why we love this glove
A lot of players show their trust in these gloves due to their innovative features and good-quality materials. These gloves are affordable. They are particularly designed for slow pitch players.
⚾️ features
The Mizuno brand produces these slow pitch softball gloves with a size of 12, 12.5, 13, and 14 inches. These slowpitch gloves come in gold H web and black colors. They have both right and left-hand orientations. These slowpitch softball gloves feature PU palm lining, which makes sure comfort for you and increased durability. They also have a power lock wrist strap to provide a secure fit. These gloves are suggested for unisex adults.
Slow Pitch Softball Glove FAQs
There are a lot of different options out there when it comes to choosing softball gloves, and it can be tough to figure out which one is right for the game you play. We've done the research for you and found the best slow pitch softball gloves on the market. Please join us to learn more with the Frequently Asked Questions.
What is a slowpitch softball glove?
Ignoring glove types for a moment, catching the ball is the sole purpose of all softball gloves. In other words, the major purpose of the glove is to make it easier to grip the ball in different positions. There are two types of these gloves, slowpitch and fastpitch softball gloves.
The difference in design is actually the major difference between the two types, as slowpitch gloves have deeper pockets than fastpitch gloves. Ideally, a slow-speed glove should be able to catch fly balls easily. These gloves’ deep pocket design allows them to catch fly balls easily. The size of these gloves is 12 to 15 inches.
Which material is used in the manufacturing of slowpitch Softball Gloves?
In General, slowpitch softball gloves, like other types of softball gloves, use leather, artificial leather or treated leather. Each of these materials has its pros and cons, with the main difference in feel and durability being what makes them different from each other.
Genuine leather is durable and high quality and feels great in hand. Processed leather is just as durable but soft, allowing for quick break-in and easy maintenance. Synthetic leather is the easiest to use and cheapest of the three types. It is often used for kid gloves.
What are the different types of Slow Pitch Softball Gloves?
Slow pitch softball gloves can be broken down into three primary categories – infield/utility gloves, pitcher’s gloves, and outfielder’s gloves.
Infield gloves are usually characterized by their shorter length and closed webbings between the index finger and thumb designed for superior control. These types of gloves are typically ideal for middle infielders as well as other positions that require quick fielding reflexes due to the closure on the palm precluding a ball from entering during play. As such, these types of slow pitch softball gloves tend to be constructed with lightweight materials like leather or synthetic alternatives to reduce restrictions on hand movement while still giving you durability against wear-and-tear over time in use.
Pitcher’s glove designs tend to concentrate more heavily on protection rather than mobility given pitchers generally don’t handle too many batted balls compared their infield counterparts during normal game play. Due to this focus on protecting your hand from speeding balls off bats coming back toward you at high speeds. Most feature extra padding near the base where it rests against your wrist as well longer lengths for increased coverage which ranges anywhere 14-15 inches across multiple brands that specialize in slow pitch pitching models specifically.
Outfielder's Gloves boast features modified patterns within them which provide additional space underneath finger stalls allowing higher flexibility & control when catching flyballs hurtling downward at relatively high speeds due its increasing surface area which allows increased probability when completing catches with relative ease even under greater pressure.
How do I choose the right Slow Pitch Softball Glove?
The size of your slow pitch softball glove should be the main factor and based on the size of your hand and also tailored to match the field position you’ll be playing in. A bigger glove can always help with more further fielding positions, but it also might limit wrist movement due its weight and bulkiness, especially when pitching or throwing short passes across bases. It’s best to try out several gloves that fit within different sizes until you find one that feels just right.
Best SlowPitch Softball Gloves for You
When shopping for softball gloves there are lots of factors to consider – sizes, webbings, backs, price, and other oddities – making it easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices available. By understanding what all these features mean however, you can make an informed decision about which glove best suits your needs both now and in the future so that you can perform at your best on the field.
To make it even easier, we've shared some factors for you to consider before purchasing softball gloves. We've also shared our 3 favorite gloves that may suit you. We hope it will be a helpful guide for you to choose the best slow pitch softball gloves.
Good Luck!
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