Choosing a glove

OK, this is a stupid, basic question, but I still need the advice. How do you choose a new glove? My DD (11) got a new glove before last spring, but while it's a brand name (Rawlings), it's from Wal-Mart and we're already seeing wear and tear (leather wearing down). So I told her when this season is over (this weekend), she can spend her own money on a new glove. Here's what we know...

* her budget is ~$60
* her current glove is a 13", and she's used to it
* she pitches, plays 1st, 3rd, and OF (going to a new team I have no idea where she'll play)
* she starts using a 12" ball next week.

So we've gone to a couple sporting goods stores and she's tried a couple on. There are some she likes (two Mizuno, a Demarini, and a Worth), and some she doesn't. We'll throw a little in the store (maybe 15' between us), but that's not much of a "trial". Of course we can go online, but how do you select something like a glove based on a picture?

Also, all gloves need broken in. But do you automatically use glove oil (a light coat) and let it soak in (I think that's what I read) before using the glove or just start throwing? Does it depend on the glove?

Thanks

My fabulous dd (12) forgot her glove for a tournament a couple of weeks ago (after she was asked "are you sure you have everything?" as we pulled out of town). We had to go to the store and get a new one (only leftie on the team). We were told to get a 14", but that was absolutely ginormous in the rightie glove, no 14" in leftie. Got her a 13.5" glove, which is the size of the glove she left at home. Bought the "old" glove last season when she started playing varsity ball - size was recommended by her coach. It's a Mizuno and fabulous - have had no problems and it has had plenty of wear!! We use something called "Hot Glove" that you can get at the sporting goods store. It's this foamy stuff you squirt all over the glove and then you bake it in the oven on a towel lined pan. Pull it from the oven and get to bending back and forth. We usually do that a few times and then put a ball in it, clamp the glove with a large rubber band and leave it like that over night. I think the glove we bought a couple of weeks ago is a Worth, or something like that, from Hibbett's. She complained that night that it was "stiff" - well, hello!!! Brand new and nothing done to it! Needless to say, it's been "hot gloved" and is ready to go from here on out. My dd also plays first and that size works great for her. Our varsity pitcher from last year used a much smaller glove and it seemed to do the trick. I don't think, however, a smaller glove will work as well fielding with a 12" ball. Had a smaller glove when we started last year and were told to get the bigger one for her. Good luck!

FYI,

Local shoe stores( the real kind that do repairs not foot locker at the mall ) can relace an old glove. I had one in town put in new strings on my daughter's fielder glove that had just gotten nice and then broke a lace and it cost $5. You can play softball with a 12" or 12.5" glove even at the varsity level. IMO, You won't find many infielders using a 13" or larger glove at the Varsity level only outfielders.

My dd used a 13.5 as a pitcher and usually pitchers don't use that big of a glove but she liked having the extra length and she felt it gave her an advantage. (Her opinion)

She always liked the Nokona but it is substatially more expensive than 60$. I never liked the ball in the glove with the rubber band bit. Candrea in his video says it gives the glove a "taco look". She always placed the glove over her helmet which gave a more open pocket. But everyone has their own preferences.

I guess that our infielders on our varsity squad must have been misinformed because most of them have the larger gloves. I agree about the taco look - funny way of putting it and never thought about it in that sense before the post! I also agree about the "advantage", which is more than likely why our girls use them more than not. Must do something right b/c they are back-to-back state champions!

A 13" glove seems big for an 11yr to me (especially with an 11" ball), especially for an infielder (other than 1st base, maybe).

I'm 40 and out of shape, and my glove for slow-pitch is only a 13", and the other guys on my team call it a picnic basket. The biggest glove I've seen is 14". Most of our infielders (on my guys slow pitch team, that is) only use a 12" glove. Which is also what my 14U DD uses, she's 5'7" and usually plays SS and pitches some.

After seeing her with the 13" for the last year, putting a 12" or smaller on her hand looks small to me. I guess we can look at weight, but what other factors go into choosing a good glove?

fit and feel go into it, see if she can try out a fellow teammates golve and see if she likes their glove, (then steal it) ;-)

My youngest is 10 and plays rec league as a 10U, but travel ball as a 12U (rec league won't allow you to play up). Until she started with the 12U travel team (playing only 10U rec ball and using an 11" ball) she used a Mizuno 11.5 inch glove. When she started with the 12U, we moved her up to a 12.5" Muzuno. Absolutely love these gloves, but now we've retired the 11.5 inch glove. Both daughters now use the Mizuno MVP series gloves, --one is the GMVP 1257 and the other is the GMVP 1258.

Glove

We like Mizuno as they seem to be already soft/pliable at purchase.

My DD that turned 11 last month has used a 12" this past year ... she is 5 feet tall, weighs about 80....uses it for catching, first and 3rd.
She wanted red ....
Uses 12" and 11" ball during the year.

MY DD has had her Mizuno 12" for three full seasons. Still in great condition ... she pitches, outfield and 3rd.
Just got her a Miken bat...a glove may need to wait for Xmas....may go up to 12.5 ...not a 3, though.

(my son is 8 and he also uses a mIzuno for baseball.)

Bought them all online ... unseen and untested.
All worked out fine.