At what age/level does it become important to use a FP glove vs. a baseball glove?

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

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

Dec 26, 2017
487
63
Oklahoma
Does it ever matter that much for middle infielders? Does it matter less with an 11" ball? I'm just curious as to what the consensus is about that. Thanks!
 
Feb 17, 2015
318
18
USA
The biggest advantage to a fastpitch glove is the fit. The FP gloves are generally made for the smaller female hand
 
Dec 26, 2017
487
63
Oklahoma
My 10u player is extra small. Her brother's Rawlings Gamer Youth Pro Taper, even with the smaller opening and finger stalls, feels big to her, although she likes using it otherwise. I am wondering if something as simple as having velcro would help that. It seems like the amount of youth "baseball" gloves that are a little step up in quality dwarfs the amount of softball gloves in that same quality range.

The reason I'm asking because she has asked for a nicer glove, and she's earned it. She has never asked for new stuff and has never complained about less expensive equipment, etc. I'm just hesitant to pull the trigger and my options to try anything out before buying it are very limited. I just didn't want her to fall in love with something and then find that there is more than just a negligible difference in pocket construction in a way that affects performance (as much as that matters in 10u-12u). I coach baseball but I've learned that Softball is it's own animal and I have more respect for it than to just assume the distinctions aren't important without asking.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
The only true "fastpitch" glove Anna has ever used was a LS Valkyrie when she was 10? It's been true baseball gloves without velcro ever since! In fact I don't remember the last time I actually looked at or for a FP glove online!? Well other than a catchers mitt.....
 
Dec 26, 2017
487
63
Oklahoma
Thank you all!

So- should I try and keep her in gloves that are a quarter to a half inch longer than what her brother is in, for the most part? They're both middle infielders and left fielders (although she pitches as well). is 11.5" on the small side for fast pitch? Does THAT even matter?
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Thank you all!

So- should I try and keep her in gloves that are a quarter to a half inch longer than what her brother is in, for the most part? They're both middle infielders and left fielders (although she pitches as well). is 11.5" on the small side for fast pitch? Does THAT even matter?

Size is personal preference. If she feels best with an 11.5", that's the right one for her.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Thank you all!

So- should I try and keep her in gloves that are a quarter to a half inch longer than what her brother is in, for the most part? They're both middle infielders and left fielders (although she pitches as well). is 11.5" on the small side for fast pitch? Does THAT even matter?

I do agree with Eric that glove size is personal preference and she should use what she's comfortable with. At her age she can probably get away with her 11.5" glove now. BUT, for pitching and playing LF plan on buying her a larger glove pretty soon, especially when moving to a 12" ball. My DD is 16, she's been using a 12" glove since first year 12U. Sometimes I still wish she would wear a little larger glove for pitching for a little more protection!
 
May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
Thank you all!

So- should I try and keep her in gloves that are a quarter to a half inch longer than what her brother is in, for the most part? They're both middle infielders and left fielders (although she pitches as well). is 11.5" on the small side for fast pitch? Does THAT even matter?

I would say a 11.5" glove for softball is certainly on the small side. Fine for baseball, too small for softball imo. Especially once you get to a 12" ball. That being said I swear some 11.5" gloves are bigger than other brands 11.75" gloves.

My daughter uses a 11.75" Wilson A2k and my son uses a 11.5" Rawlings Heart of the Hide. Those two gloves are the same size, if anything the HOH is slightly bigger.

To answer the original question I don't think it age makes any difference between a fastpitch glove and a baseball glove. Of all the college players that I know of I can't think of one that uses a fastpitch specific glove unless they are a catcher. They all use whatever their school gets for free or at discount.
 
Last edited:
Dec 26, 2017
487
63
Oklahoma
You all have been a huge help! It at least helps me sight in a little bit, on what I'm looking at. There are a lot of options between $75-$125 that will be PLENTY (too much) of glove for a 9 year old, if I'm not trying to chase down a FP specific glove.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,475
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top