Catching Mitt Advise Needed

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Oct 21, 2016
189
28
Hi All. Time to upgrade my DD catching mitt this summer for her birthday. She will be turning 13 and moving from 12U to 14U travel ball. She currently has a cheaper 33" Worth that has served her well, but she has gotten more serious about catching and needs a glove to match. She is 5'4" tall and 130 lbs, and she has huge hands. She wears a men's large batting glove and her hands are almost as big as mine and I'm a 6'2", 200 lb male.

I'm hoping this Mitt purchase will take her through High School.

I'm interested in suggestions for sizing and the actual glove.

Thanks in advance!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Vinci JCV34
Rawlings Liberty Advanced 34"
All-Star CMW3000
Wilson A2000

All of these are going to take a while to break in.
 
Jul 14, 2010
150
18
Nokona J9. DD who is now 15 got hers directly from Jamie last year and loves it. Gets compliments all the time from umpires on her catching skills too. DD had a Worth Liberty before and it was so stiff, too thick and dropped strikes were a problem. No longer a problem with the new glove.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Oct 21, 2016
189
28
Having the same problem with her cheaper Worth. As the pitchers have gotten faster the ball pops out more for what appears to be no reason. Hoping a new glove will help that problem. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I have come across few mitts that hold onto the ball as well as the Mizuno MVP. The pocket is very deep. However, it's not a long-term solution if you're handling decent pitching. My 12yo DD (12U TB, handling mid-50's pitching) has been using one for about a year, and it's nearing the end of its lifespan.

We have been working on breaking in a Vinci JCV34 for a few months. It's still not ready for game time.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Vinci JCV34
Rawlings Liberty Advanced 34"
All-Star CMW3000
Wilson A2000



All of these are going to take a while to break in.

Hube, listen to Eric, he's our DFP catching guru! I've got experience with the first 3 on his list, especially the Vinci & All-Star as I own both of those. If her hands are as big as you say, hand stall size and fit are most important! Every Mizuno I've ever used, which is just 2, had very snug hand stalls. My All-Star has a larger hand stall than my Vinci, but my Vinci is 33" JCV-22. I wear medium sized batting gloves for reference.

All four on Eric's list should make your DD very happy, although I've never tried a A2000 mitt, I'm sure it's a great mitt also. Good luck, take your time and enjoy the process, buying gloves is FUN! I ordered a new one an hour ago.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
https://customgloves.rawlings.com/HOH-PROCM34FP/leather

A little spendy but I'm sure you could build a killer fastpitch mitt on the Rawlings custom builder. I would choose Heart of the Hide leather as it's more durable and less expensive than Pro Preferred, plus if I'm reading this right, these are made out of true HOH leather, not the Dual Core crap! Spend a little time playing with options, colors, etc. A couple of must have old school Rawlings options are split gray welting and Vegas gold stitching, gotta have those two!

Build this and see what you think......
Tan back and palm.
Black H-web.
Tan laces.
Black trim.
Standard old school red/scarlet logos.
Split gray welting.
Vegas gold stitching.
Indent stamping.
Either Vegas gold or scarlet embroidery.

On the black leather options, go with the dry black!!
 
May 23, 2015
999
63
Akadema don't bother. The Vinci JCV34 has been a big disappointment. Way too many pop outs due to too much padding. I disassembled the mitt and removed 25% of the padding it's better but far from great. Nokona is basically a modified 1B mitt and the ball really sticks well. Nice mitt and American made. The A2000 mitt has very odd geometry in the finger stalls. I could never figure it out. My daughter and several female friends with different hand sizes tried and none fit. The Rawlings Heart of the Hide 33" mitt has been lights out so far
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Playing around on Rawlings custom builder this morning, here are a couple of mocked up mitts. One with H-web and one with 2-pc web.
 

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Apr 26, 2015
704
43
DD has the All-Star and loves it!
Tried a Vinci (not sure what ahe didn't like about that one) and a Worth Liberty (too heavy) but settled on the All-Star and has never regretted it.
 

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