My DD has been pitching for three years now and last year at 13 she was pitching too well for me to use my baseball catchers mitt. I ended up buying a Softball First baseman's glove because the regular fast pitch catcher's mitt wouldn't fit. I like the mitt cause it seams I catch more balls I would have missed. I also heard that Kelley Glove Company makes custom mitts if your willing to spend the money. I agree on the shin pads I started wearing my old Hockey shin pads to catch my dd two years ago.