Bucket dad’s - mitt recommendation?

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Feb 15, 2017
391
43
DD is beating my hand to a pulp in my 2.5 year Mizuno MVP. After an hour lesson you can see my heartbeat in my hand

Esteemed experience bucket sitters - please recommend a mitt for an average male hand so DW will quit laughing at me!
 
Dec 16, 2010
172
18
I catch my dd in my basement. She tops out at 60 and I have about 37 feet to work with so I take a lot of hits on the palm.

I use a 15 in slow-pitch softball glove. Got it for $20 second-hand (but practically unused) on Amazon. I'd use a 16-in glove if I could find one.

I cut up a mouse pad in the shape of my hand (like the turkeys I used to draw in grade school) and shoved it into my glove for padding. Lastly, I shove a nerf ball in for extra palm protection. I can't strap it on tightly but it protects my hand.

If you go this route, both your DW and DD will laugh at you.
 
Feb 15, 2017
391
43
I catch my dd in my basement. She tops out at 60 and I have about 37 feet to work with so I take a lot of hits on the palm.

I use a 15 in slow-pitch softball glove. Got it for $20 second-hand (but practically unused) on Amazon. I'd use a 16-in glove if I could find one.

I cut up a mouse pad in the shape of my hand (like the turkeys I used to draw in grade school) and shoved it into my glove for padding. Lastly, I shove a nerf ball in for extra palm protection. I can't strap it on tightly but it protects my hand.

If you go this route, both your DW and DD will laugh at you.

But I got to laugh at you first I started with a 16” slow pitch glove and took a couple zingers to the thumb and couldn’t grip anything in that hand for about 6 months. Love the mousepad idea!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Excellent hand protection...Vinci

Very good hand protection...Rawlings Liberty Advanced, All-Star CMW3000.
 
Aug 10, 2015
21
0
Know the feeling, used a MVP for about 2 yrs and couldn't take it anymore, bought a Liberty 34" advanced and enjoy catching her again. Have watched a couple team catchers use MVP's catching DD and they say it doesn't hurt their hands, if I was younger it would bother me but at my age I will admit I am not as tough as I once was. Yep I wear shin guards also. Get a Liberty
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Best palm protection = Vinci.
Best thumb protection = All-Star CMW3000 with it's single break heel, but also has excellent palm protection.
Liberty Advanced is also a great mitt.

Honestly these are the only three I'd spend my money on, and either of the will three serve you well.

All-Star Vela Pro 33.5" Fastpitch Catchers Mitt | Softball.com
Probably not the cheapest option out there but it's $20.00 less than what I paid for mine a couple of years ago.
 
Last edited:

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
DD is beating my hand to a pulp in my 2.5 year Mizuno MVP. After an hour lesson you can see my heartbeat in my hand

Esteemed experience bucket sitters - please recommend a mitt for an average male hand so DW will quit laughing at me!

Most catchers mitts are designed with minimal padding to help catchers during transfer on throwdowns. There used to be a mitt called a Big Daddy that had extra padding, I think they were discontinued several years ago, but I have seen a couple on Ebay over the years. If you cannot find one of those try stuffing the index finger hole with weatherstripping and keeping that finger outside the webbing (most gloves have a hole designed to allow the finger behind the leather).
 

osagedr

Canadian Fastpitch Dad
Oct 20, 2016
280
28
Bought a Nokona catcher's mitt a few years ago at the same time I picked up a "regular" Nokona for DD. Could not have been more disappointed with both of them. DD ended up with a custom-order Rawlings Heard of the Hide which she really likes. I just ordered the same thing but in a 34 inch catcher's mitt. Pricey but hopefully will last the rest of my bucket-dad days.
 
Mar 29, 2015
61
18
Agree with Osage -- I had a Big Daddy and really liked it until it wore out. I replaced it with a Nokona, which I appreciate for its craftsmanship, but it has taken forever to break in and has no cushioning to speak of. Several of the other bucket dads at our facility have Rawlings liberty and HOH mitts which seem to work well for them.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I love my Worth Liberty Advanced mitt (now Rawlings) and although I miss the extra reach of my 14" fielder's glove, I never use it.
 

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