Catcher's mitt - does more expensive actually last longer?

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May 20, 2015
36
8
Bradenton, FL
DD (starting 14U) is in need of new Mitt. She is using Vinci JCV-PC that I got from casedawg back in Dec 2015 and she has been very happy with the mitt.

I wasn't sure how long a good mitt typically lasts, but for my DD after a little over 2 1/2 years she has worn a hole in the leather on the palm.

I'm wondering if I should get her a very similar replacement ($150ish) or if it is worth upgrading to one of the Vinci mitts that are $250-300. Performance of her current mitt is good so it would only make sense if the mitt is going to last her longer than 2-3 years.

We have a pretty heavy schedule and she catches 80% of games, according to game changer she caught almost 1000 TB innings with current mitt + probably another 500 in rec and scrimmages + weekly catching for her pitchers (not sure how many pitches that adds up to).

Appreciate any feedback on high end mitts and if you can expect them to last 4+ years with that kind of use. If I'm gonna spend $300 on a mitt I would hope it would last through high school.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
My DD (14U TB) is a bit over a year into her Vinci JCV34. I don't see any signs of needing replacement for the foreseeable future. The Mizuno MVP mitt she had before lasted 1 year of 12U TB.
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,219
113
USA
My Catcher DD has a Vinci JCV-VM that she loves and has a ton of catches on (14 & 16U plus HS ball and a lot of her sisters pitching practice). We nee ed to get it relaced and tuned up late this past summer so we picked up a Liberty Advanced as a back up....well, that has now become her go to glove and the older Vinci (which is now in great shape again) has become a back up. Her new 18U team is an Easton club so she'll be getting one of there mitts soon. We'll see what she chooses for games at that point.

Working with Jenny Topping for some catching work and she recently came out with a video about replacing mitts much more often than I wanted to hear! Her point being with as much work as a catcher's mitt gets put through, they need to be replaced a lot more frequently than other positions. I'd say keep it in good shape (not pancaked), make sure the stays are not broken and the finger stalls still intact and yeah, it's still useable. That catchers mitt sees more balls than that composite bat!

Will a more expensive mitt last longer? All things being relative (ie; within one brand, etc.) - usually.
 
May 20, 2015
36
8
Bradenton, FL
Thanks Eric,

I see the JCV34 is at a higher price point than the JVC-PC. Wondering if it is a higher quality leather? the 34 states it is kip leather, the PC does not say on website description.

I don't mind spending more if it is higher quality and going to last a few years longer. DD likes the fit of her Vinci, but it is here first real glove so not much to compare it too. I don't have anywhere where she can try a few of the models out, so it is either replace with what she has and has been happy with or upgrade and hope she loves it.
 
May 20, 2015
36
8
Bradenton, FL
My Catcher DD has a Vinci JCV-VM that she loves and has a ton of catches on (14 & 16U plus HS ball and a lot of her sisters pitching practice). We nee ed to get it relaced and tuned up late this past summer so we picked up a Liberty Advanced as a back up....well, that has now become her go to glove and the older Vinci (which is now in great shape again) has become a back up. Her new 18U team is an Easton club so she'll be getting one of there mitts soon. We'll see what she chooses for games at that point.

Working with Jenny Topping for some catching work and she recently came out with a video about replacing mitts much more often than I wanted to hear! Her point being with as much work as a catcher's mitt gets put through, they need to be replaced a lot more frequently than other positions. I'd say keep it in good shape (not pancaked), make sure the stays are not broken and the finger stalls still intact and yeah, it's still useable. That catchers mitt sees more balls than that composite bat!

Will a more expensive mitt last longer? All things being relative (ie; within one brand, etc.) - usually.

I was looking at the Liberty Advance, may be worth checking out as an option, would be nice for DD to find one local to try out.
Thanks!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Thanks Eric,

I see the JCV34 is at a higher price point than the JVC-PC. Wondering if it is a higher quality leather? the 34 states it is kip leather, the PC does not say on website description.

I don't mind spending more if it is higher quality and going to last a few years longer. DD likes the fit of her Vinci, but it is here first real glove so not much to compare it too. I don't have anywhere where she can try a few of the models out, so it is either replace with what she has and has been happy with or upgrade and hope she loves it.

The 34 is kip. The PC is steerhide. Kip leather is a higher quality material, and will last longer. That said, the 34 is a BEAST to break in. Also, if you're interested in a Vinci, contact DFP'er Drakemir. He can get better pricing for you.

The Rawlings Liberty Advanced series is good stuff.

For palm protection, Vinci is at the top of the heap.
 
Oct 21, 2016
189
28
DD (starting 14U) is in need of new Mitt. She is using Vinci JCV-PC that I got from casedawg back in Dec 2015 and she has been very happy with the mitt.

I wasn't sure how long a good mitt typically lasts, but for my DD after a little over 2 1/2 years she has worn a hole in the leather on the palm.

I'm wondering if I should get her a very similar replacement ($150ish) or if it is worth upgrading to one of the Vinci mitts that are $250-300. Performance of her current mitt is good so it would only make sense if the mitt is going to last her longer than 2-3 years.

We have a pretty heavy schedule and she catches 80% of games, according to game changer she caught almost 1000 TB innings with current mitt + probably another 500 in rec and scrimmages + weekly catching for her pitchers (not sure how many pitches that adds up to).

Appreciate any feedback on high end mitts and if you can expect them to last 4+ years with that kind of use. If I'm gonna spend $300 on a mitt I would hope it would last through high school.

Addy's Dad, My DD has had knee troubles and is no longer catching, so we have a Vinci JCV34 (blue and white) that I was getting ready to post on here for sale. It was used for 3/4 of a travel ball season where she caught 50% of the innings, so it is in great shape. GC changes tells me it was 84 inning caught with the glove last year plus practice time. I swear the thing is just finally broken in. If you are interested send me a PM.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Addy's Dad, My DD has had knee troubles and is no longer catching, so we have a Vinci JCV34 (blue and white) that I was getting ready to post on here for sale. It was used for 3/4 of a travel ball season where she caught 50% of the innings, so it is in great shape. GC changes tells me it was 84 inning caught with the glove last year plus practice time. I swear the thing is just finally broken in. If you are interested send me a PM.

That sounds about right on how long it takes to break those things in.

Addy's Dad - This is worth checking out.
 
May 20, 2015
36
8
Bradenton, FL
Addy's Dad, My DD has had knee troubles and is no longer catching, so we have a Vinci JCV34 (blue and white) that I was getting ready to post on here for sale. It was used for 3/4 of a travel ball season where she caught 50% of the innings, so it is in great shape. GC changes tells me it was 84 inning caught with the glove last year plus practice time. I swear the thing is just finally broken in. If you are interested send me a PM.

Thanks, sent pm
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
DD (starting 14U) is in need of new Mitt. She is using Vinci JCV-PC that I got from casedawg back in Dec 2015 and she has been very happy with the mitt.

I wasn't sure how long a good mitt typically lasts, but for my DD after a little over 2 1/2 years she has worn a hole in the leather on the palm.

I'm wondering if I should get her a very similar replacement ($150ish) or if it is worth upgrading to one of the Vinci mitts that are $250-300. Performance of her current mitt is good so it would only make sense if the mitt is going to last her longer than 2-3 years.

We have a pretty heavy schedule and she catches 80% of games, according to game changer she caught almost 1000 TB innings with current mitt + probably another 500 in rec and scrimmages + weekly catching for her pitchers (not sure how many pitches that adds up to).

Appreciate any feedback on high end mitts and if you can expect them to last 4+ years with that kind of use. If I'm gonna spend $300 on a mitt I would hope it would last through high school.

If I got 2.5 years and the amount of innings and balls caught out of that particular Vinci model, I'd probably be looking to replace it with that exact model again.......you did good! I never buy a glove with the "how long will it last mentality", I buy based on fit and performance. A catchers mitt takes more reps and abuse than probably any other piece of equipment on a softball field, so buy quality, and when she needs a new one in a few years, do it again!

And starting 14U, and with the number of innings caught, she's obviously a good catcher who's in it for the long haul, at this age and up she's going to start seeing faster, harder pitching with more spin, she needs a quality mitt with all the thumb protection you can buy! If her mitt has a hole in the palm, it's been thin for a while now.......it's CC time.;)
 

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