Gloves - whats the verdict?

JLF said:

Picked up a 12" Wilson A950 in the spring for my slightly below average sized 12U. She played primarily CF and SS, with some LF and 2B.

https://m.dickssportinggoods.com/p/...018-17wilw12950fpbrwnfpg/17wilw12950fpbrwnfpg

With coupons it was under $70.

She really liked it and did well with it. No problems getting the ball out of the glove. Pretty easy to break in. Plus it "looked cool" with the 2-tone finish.


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just picked up the A950 12.5 for my DD as well, moving to 12u ball now, and she needed new fielding glove (need versatility too, as she moves around in field, C is primary position, and three quality pieces simply were not in budget), she was using an old Rawlings 12 inch entry level glove, flopply like an old beat up stuffed animal . We went to store, she tried on everything they had, and liked the A950. is taking a bit to break in, she is losing a few popups and low throws , but it is getting there. honestly, this might be glove to carry her for several years, I think she will be able to use it even as her hand grows. hardest part was to keep steering her away from the 30-40$ youth gloves that were already pliable, she simply likes they way they feel, but her old one line drives and hard throws were sometimes getting through the glove because it would bend so much.

My DD's glove is actually a 12.5". I said it was 12" in the earlier post.

Bought our A950 at Dick's and let them steam it. I also baked it at home with Barbasol. Still stiff enough where she has to use 2 hands to help close the glove on fly balls (not a bad thing!).

Since she's a little undersized, I expect she will be able to use it for a few years like your DD.

DD uses a 12" A2000 as a middle infielder. Thought about going slightly smaller but she has no problem getting the ball out quickly with a 12". Plus playing 2nd every other game gives her a little more help with covering first on bunts.

I spent $200 on DD's top of the line Worth Liberty when she was in 7th grade. Great glove and is still holding its shape after hundreds of games the last three years. I went with a 12.5 because she was primarily in the OF with a little catching mixed in. After some camps and talking to players and coaches she was told many college athletes use 11.75-12 in the OF. At least that's what the Auburn players used.

Rambler34 said:

I spent $200 on DD's top of the line Worth Liberty when she was in 7th grade. Great glove and is still holding its shape after hundreds of games the last three years. I went with a 12.5 because she was primarily in the OF with a little catching mixed in. After some camps and talking to players and coaches she was told many college athletes use 11.75-12 in the OF. At least that's what the Auburn players used.

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Definitely not doubting you Rambler, but that makes no sense to me! I'd want a minimum of a 12.5" glove for the outfield, minimum! And I think a 12.75" is even more logical, I'd want a big enough H-web or six-finger trap glove to wrap a ball up so on a diving catch the ball wouldn't bounce out when hitting the ground hard.....but that's just me and I don't coach Auburn!

Rambler34 said:

I spent $200 on DD's top of the line Worth Liberty when she was in 7th grade. Great glove and is still holding its shape after hundreds of games the last three years. I went with a 12.5 because she was primarily in the OF with a little catching mixed in. After some camps and talking to players and coaches she was told many college athletes use 11.75-12 in the OF. At least that's what the Auburn players used.

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Curious if many of those Auburn OF played infield at the younger ages..may just be what they are used to using.

ANNASDAD said:

Definitely not doubting you Rambler, but that makes no sense to me! I'd want a minimum of a 12.5" glove for the outfield, minimum! And I think a 12.75" is even more logical, I'd want a big enough H-web or six-finger trap glove to wrap a ball up so on a diving catch the ball wouldn't bounce out when hitting the ground hard.....but that's just me and I don't coach Auburn!

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Believe me I was surprised. This was under the old regime so Dean may have a different philosophy. The whole reason I went with the 12.5 was because I thought you wanted a bigger glove in the OF.

DD uses a 12" Mizuno MVP Prime. It's a great glove, held it's shape for over a year now. She just ran the gauntlet of tryouts, and was actually offered the starting SS position on two different teams. She's never played SS on a travel team in her life, so obviously the glove works just fine in the middle infield. As others have stated, the smaller IF glove is actually better suited to the advanced player.

You don't need a huge glove in the outfield if you know how to catch. 11-11.5 infield and 12 outfield is plenty. Otherwise it becomes unwieldy especially with small hands

625ender said:

You don't need a huge glove in the outfield if you know how to catch. 11-11.5 infield and 12 outfield is plenty. Otherwise it becomes unwieldy especially with small hands

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Although I see where you're coming from here, I couldn't disagree more with your 12" glove in the outfield is plenty! Let's take two really great 12" models, a Rawlings Pro206 HOH and a Wilson A2000 DW5, these are NOT suitable outfield gloves for baseball, much less softball. And yes a great outfielder could use them but why would they?

Check out this list of 2017 Gold Glove winners, all 6 outfielders use 12.75" models, these guys could catch with an infield paddle trainer if they wanted but they all use a 12.75" for a reason......and they're not catching a big ole 12" softball either!
https://www.whatproswear.com/gold-glove-2017-18-winners-18-gloves-with-links-to-buy/