Looking for the right Glove

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Jul 15, 2014
4
1
My DD is 8 (almost 9) playing 10U travel ball. Her glove that she is in love with is a cheaper Mizzuno 11.5" that I picked up for her a couple of years ago, it has seen it's better days after a couple hundred games and I'd like to upgrade her to a better glove that will hopefully last her a few years. She plays SS and 2B and has smaller hands, I'd like to keep her in a 11.5-11.75 glove due to her size and playing MIF. What are some opinions on what I need to be looking at? Cost is not an issue, thanks.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
If cost is not an issue PM Casedawg51 and ask him which Vinci he would recommend. If you can move her into a 12" glove it may be the last glove you ever buy.
 
Dec 22, 2014
14
0
My situation is almost identical so I'll be following this thread. Daughter is turning 9, plays SS with a travel ball team and is using a Mizuno MVP 11.5 that has been good but is getting floppy. I'm starting to search for her next option as well.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
The "right" glove can be a very personal choice...sometimes just about color. For people looking to buy an upper-quality glove, my recommendations tend to be (not in order)...
- Vinci (talk to Casedawg, as previously mentioned)
- Worth Liberty Advanced
- All-Star Vela
- Wilson A2000
- Akadema
 
Dec 22, 2014
14
0
Can 9 year olds handle these high end gloves? I have very little experience with high end gloves, but I'm envisioning them not being able to squeeze the thing closed even after break in. I was following the thread about Vinci's PC leather, wondering if it is a good compromise between the low end gloves and these stiff Kip leather models. I thought that's what I was buying with her Mizuno MVP series, but I'm not impressed with how it has held up.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Can 9 year olds handle these high end gloves? I have very little experience with high end gloves, but I'm envisioning them not being able to squeeze the thing closed even after break in. I was following the thread about Vinci's PC leather, wondering if it is a good compromise between the low end gloves and these stiff Kip leather models. I thought that's what I was buying with her Mizuno MVP series, but I'm not impressed with how it has held up.

Once a glove is fully broken-in, it should close easily, no matter what kind of leather. If it's still stiff to close, it isn't fully broken-in. For high-end gloves, the process is longer.

I haven't been impressed with the Miz MVP-series gloves, either. That said, the natural (brown) seems to be a little better than the colored-leather versions.
 
Dec 15, 2012
102
18
At that age I would recommend getting a smaller, softer glove that is easy to break in. My daughter started with a low end Mizuno 8u, then moved to a mid level Mizuno 10u, then to a Rawlings heart of the hide 12u, and now to a Nokona 14 - 18u. The best advice I can give is to resist the urge to buy gear that is too large for young kids to comfortably handle. If you buy a glove that is too large or stiff, the girls WILL struggle. As a coach, I can tell you that the most important thing is to get appropriately sized gear. Parents often make the mistake of buying larger gear that the kids will grow into. Bad, Bad idea.
 

999

May 13, 2015
112
0
My daughter has used the mizuno prospect 11.5 in 6u, and gone through 2 of the 12" ones in 8u and first year 10u. Mainly because they were easy to break in, and the fit her small hands and wrist well.

Now that this one is getting floppy, I have ordered an Akadema, that hopefully she will like and get her through another year or so. This one should be a little harder to break in but last longer and got her as she's grown a little.

Use the code HOLIDAY50 (someone posted it in another thread about dad catcher mitts) and it is only $58.50 plus shipping.

AJB74 Softball Glove: RH/LH Throw 12

I think I will wait until 12u or possibly later before buying her a nice Vinci. She dose not like breaking gloves in during practice, but is opening up more as she gets older.
 
Oct 16, 2014
32
6
My daughter is similar age as yours, turns 9 in February, pitches and plays SS for a 10U team. I went through the same process you are now. I wanted something lite on her hand and fit tight so I wanted a Velcro strap. I ended up getting her an older model NOS Wilson A2000 11.75 FP model that has Velcro strap and super skin on the back to lighten it up. Wilson has a similar model listed now but I don't think it has the super skin back. My DD loves hers and it fits her good. She is 53" and 71lbs for reference.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Can 9 year olds handle these high end gloves? I have very little experience with high end gloves, but I'm envisioning them not being able to squeeze the thing closed even after break in. I was following the thread about Vinci's PC leather, wondering if it is a good compromise between the low end gloves and these stiff Kip leather models. I thought that's what I was buying with her Mizuno MVP series, but I'm not impressed with how it has held up.

Kip leather gloves will take 3-4X longer to break in, but once broken in, should perform like a regular glove. Your DD can help strengthen her grip during the break in, but to be honest with you, when my DD and I broke-in her new glove I used it during bucket time for the first couple of weeks. Great way to break in a glove quickly, but to be honest with you my DD now throws too hard for me to enjoy breaking in a fielders glove during bucket time....
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,478
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top