Choosing Your Baseball Glove - Advice From GloveSlingers.com

“For Serious Baseball Players & Softball Players”

The right baseball glove or the right softball glove is your tool for good fielding. Use this guide to help pick the right glove, and you will be a better player.

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Choosing An Akadema Professional Baseball Glove

Consider the Materials

Baseball players or softball players can choose from synthetic, leather and treated leather. Baseball gloves and softball gloves come in a variety of materials, with the difference being in the feel and durability.

Synthetic materials (Good)

A lighter less durable material, plastic and synthetics
Less expensive, good for youngsters
Will not withstand the wear and tear of playing ball nearly as well as leather

Leather (Better)

Material of choice for gloves
Leather offers the best comfort, control and feel
The better the leather, the better the glove

Treated Leather (Best)

Leather is treated and softened for faster break-in and increased durability
Treated leather also reduces the care needed for the glove and helps the glove keep it's shape

Remember, your Akadema Professional Baseball Glove is a tool for good fielding. Break it in properly and fit it to your hand. Condition your glove with Akadema conditioner regularly and replace loose and broken lacing when needed.

Consider the Glove Construction

Determine the pocket, back and wrist adjustments that best suit your game and abilities.

Pocket

The size of the pocket depends on your position
Shallow Pockets - help infielders quickly grab the ball and throw
Deeper Pockets - help outfielders catch fly balls
Softball players also need a bigger pocket to catch the bigger ball

Backs

There are two choices of backs - Open and Closed
The type of back is a matter of personal preference, but some styles fit positions better
Open Back - leaves a space open across the glove's back
Outfielders prefer a closed back with a “finger hole” for extra support

Wrist Adjustment

Gloves come with an adjustment to keep it snug. Not all gloves have these “Fit Systems”
Velcro Fastener - offers convenience of pulling and adjusting to fit - very easy
D-Ring Fastener - allows you to pull on the lacing to make the glove tighter

Choosing Your Fit

Consider the age, game and position

Youngsters / Beginners

Youth models are smaller to help kids maintain control
Avoid the urge to buy a bigger glove that you'll grow into
Kids under the age of 8 should stick with a glove from 9 - 11 inches
Kids from 8 to early teens - consider an 11 inch glove
Beginners also benefit from the added control that they get from smaller gloves

High School / Adult

Outfielders need 12 - 12½ inch gloves with deeper pockets
Infielders need smaller gloves (10½ - 11½ inch) with shallower pockets for better control and quicker ball transfer
Pitchers can go with a slightly larger than infielders but still need a small enough glove for fielding and throwing quickly

Softball

Players require gloves that are slightly longer in length and deeper in the pocket to help field the bigger ball

Glove Size Guidelines

Age	Position	Glove Size
Under 8	Infield	9”
Under 8	Outfield	11”
9 - 13	Infield	9” - 10”
9 - 13	Outfield	11” - 12”
High School / Adult	Infield	10½” - 11½”
High School / Adult	Outfield	12” - 12½”
Softball	Infield / Outfield	12” - 14”

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