Secondary position glove opinions?

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Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
Hoping to get some advice and opinions before ponying up for more gloves and any thoughts or suggestions here would be appreciated. My twins are 15 and play 16A travel ball and High School. They are still growing some at 5'5", 125 - 135lbs with I'd say average size hands and their primary positions are pitcher/catcher. Good kids, excellent students and put in a lot of work towards their softball dreams. In the grand scheme of things I view a quality, long lasting glove as small potatoes compared to what we spend on everything else in this sport!

DD who pitches also spends a lot of time in the outfield (loves playing Center) and is pretty strong at middle infield as well. She uses a Vinci BV-1929L which we bought a year or so ago from Drakemir. Should she just use the 1929 for outfield or would she truly get better coverage and results with something bigger and a different/more open web?

DD who catches also spends a lot of time at 3rd and gets some time in the OF. She uses a Vinci JCV-VM that we bought from Casedawg a couple years ago and has an older fielders glove that's starting to get a bit floppy. Looking for a suggestion for a good upgrade that would last and work well for her at 3rd/OF.

I've talked with Drakemir a bit about this but open to other companies (AnnasDad - what Rawlings models/builds might you suggest?) or even thoughts on configuring a custom Vinci with the right web/lacing...

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts! DFP rocks!!
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
I’m a big fan of the BV-1929L. DD is primarily a catcher, but plays SS and 3B as well. The 1929 is probably a shade big and deep for a true SS, but is an excellent choice for 3B. I know several pitchers, 3B and a couple OF who also use the 1929. It definitely has an adequate pocket to be used as an OF glove. I’m not sure there is a better utility glove out there.
 
Jan 28, 2017
1,661
83
DD pitches and plays 2nd and 3rd base. BV-1929L is what she plays with and loves it. The finger stalls a very small which is perfect for her. It's a well made glove.

Can't go wrong with a well made Rawlings that fits.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
I’m a big fan of the BV-1929L. DD is primarily a catcher, but plays SS and 3B as well. The 1929 is probably a shade big and deep for a true SS, but is an excellent choice for 3B. I know several pitchers, 3B and a couple OF who also use the 1929. It definitely has an adequate pocket to be used as an OF glove. I’m not sure there is a better utility glove out there.

Jdaddy is spot on with his comments on the 1929 being a great utility glove! Gotta run, I’ll be back shortly and comment a little more later, wifey has a list going:mad:.
 
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Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
As I've mentioned one of my DD's (pitcher) has a 1929 and absolutely loves it...was just venturing off the path a bit and based on some of the other threads and comments which have been made here about glove size, pocket depth and visibility through the web I thought it'd be interesting to hear and see what others may think. The Vinci gloves have been great (no problem with the laces yet) so I am not ruling them out. In the Vinci line up I've looked a little bit at the 1961 and Drakemir mentioned the BMb-ob but haven't gotten any more details. DD has played around a bit with the Rawlings custom glove builder but so far that's been primarily based on style! ;-)

Average sized hands with very strong grip strength.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Tatonka, man with your situation and with two girls......I could seriously write for days! If I start to not make sense, it’s completely self inflicted :rolleyes:

In your position, for both of your girls, I’d contact Drakemir and probably stick with Vinci. You’re in a situation where you could seriously spend a bunch of money, I know you commented that good quality gloves are small potatoes in the big picture compared to all the other expenses we deal with in our sport, and by that comment you’re a man after my own heart! BUT, this could get expensive!

I love Rawlings, obviously you already know that! DD who pitches and is pretty strong at middle infield could really benefit from a Don Morton Horween Rawlings Pro1000-HC exclusive from Ballgloves.com. I sold one to our 2B on Anna’s TB team, she loves it! It’s a Japanese tanned Heart of the Hide, the newest release from Don Morton’s is Horween leather, oh yeah!!

Do both daughters play on the same TB team? Could they share the same OF glove? As Jdaddy said, the BV1929 makes a really good 3B and utility glove, and in the big picture will also make a pretty good MI glove, but the RV1961 definitely makes a much better OF glove! We have two RV1961’s on Anna’s TB team that I got from Casedawg that those girls love!

Ok, thinking out loud (and spending your money :p).........

If they play together and could share, get a RV1961 from Drakemir for both the girls to use in the OF.
Get DD who pitches and plays MI a Rawlings Pro1000-HC from Don Morton’s.
Get DD who catches and plays 3B a custom Vinci BV-1929 from Drakemir with an H-web or a Double bar web like on the MEO24 (Rawlings RV23).

You never said what kind of fielders glove DD who catches and plays 3B uses? You could get her a standard BV1929 (and immediately have it re-laced) or order her a custom 1929 with a better web for 3B, I remember Casedawg telling me a long time ago about the hybrid BV1929’s he had made for some girls on his team, and by hybrid, pretty sure he just had them made with H-webs. And actually DD who pitches and plays MI could use a 1929 with an I-web if Vinci will put one on a 12.5” glove? An I-web would make that glove a little more shallower and overall a better glove for MI.

I know you’re not wanting to buy 3 (or 4) gloves......but if that’s something you’re considering I’m sure Drakemir would really work with you. That Pro1000 is pretty expensive glove, but an incredibly awesome glove also!

This is a lot to absorb, I think I’ll let you think about this before I write anything else, and who knows, this may be way outside of anything you were originally thinking? But with the success your DD’s have had with Vinci, why not stick with what works? Heck, take that old ugly basket web off the 1929 and flush it, buy a new H-web from Vinci or USA sports direct, send it to Jeffrey Rous and have it re-laced and have the thumb & pinky inserts replaced, better than new, one glove down!
 
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Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
We have 3 custom 12” Vinci gloves here. No model number, tan Kip leather with black H-webs. All 3 definitely measure larger than 12”. They all measure 12.25” and all 3 make great pitcher, 3B, and MI gloves. Anna’s has switched to a Pro206 Rawlings, but her oldest custom Vinci that’s been re-laced 6 or 7 times is always near.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Just like a new $350 bat is not going to make your DD a better hitter, a $300 glove is not going to automatically make her a better fielder....
 

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