Fastpitch Glove Sizing, Break-In & Care

Glove Sizing, Break-In & Care

Looking for a fastpitch glove but not sure what you’re looking for and what size to get? This helpful guide will walk you through the ins and outs of glove sizing, what you should be looking for, and even how to care for your new mitt.

Also – See my favorite glove recommendations below!

Choosing the right softball equipment is hard.

Helpful links and buying guides for coaches, parents, and players looking for a little help.

If you are going to spend your money, do it right the first time.

Let’s make sure you have all the facts and pick the right equipment before making such an important investment.

Thank you for helping me help your daughters.

I will receive a small commission on these links if you purchase them within 24 hours of adding them to your cart.

Younger players buying a new mitt should look for a softer mitt that they can squeeze and close. Most young players also should look for lightweight options that they can handle and move around their bodies quickly.

The older you get the stiffer glove you should get, this will provide more protection and padding on harder hit and thrown balls. Older players also have larger hands and are more likely to be able to close and squeeze their gloves better. As you get older, quality does matter, especially with players who are playing year-round.

This is a tough topic. I always relate glove sizes to jean sizing – which is always absolutely ridiculous (seriously, why isn’t this easier?). A size 8 pair of jeans at American Eagle are going to fit completely differently than a size 8 at Abercrombie & Fitch. A 12inch mitt from Mizuno may be a completely different size than a 12inch mitt from Rawlings. Sizing with gloves is challenging without seeing it in person, and without being able to physically see the ball in the pocket. The pocket size may also be different as well, even though the glove is supposedly ‘the same size.’ It’s always recommended to see the glove in person before you buy.

If you plan on buying the glove online, once you choose the brand and model, you may want to purchase a few different sizes and send back the rest (free returns is the real MVP TBH).

If you plan on buying instore, I always recommend bringing the age-appropriate ball with you to the store to see what the ball looks like in the pocket. Does it fit? Does the glove close around the ball? What does the pocket look like? Does the pocket have a lip, or is it flat?

Dick’s has great beginner options although typically with limited sizing, but if you are looking for a glove on the nicer end of the spectrum you’ll probably have better luck online. Dick’s has high-end brands like Rawlings and Wilson, but typically only carry the lower and mid-range models in store. Also – watch out for their markups, you can almost always find the same glove online for cheaper.

I would recommend APPROXIMATELY an 11.5 inch glove for girls who are using the 11-inch ball (10u and under). As stated above, it’s can be difficult to tell without trying it on depending on the brand and your daughter’s hand size.

Any utility player using a 12 inch ball (12u and above) should be ok with a 12 inch glove. Infielders may want to go with a 12, 11.75, or 11.5 inch to keep their transfers quicker, whereas true outfielders will benefit from a 12.5 inch glove and bigger pocket size.

How you choose to break in your mitt can help your glove last and improve its performance.

I know the old-school way of breaking in a mitt is to oil it, condition it, bake it in the oven, sleep with it under your mattress, etc. However, I truly believe you get what you pay for. What you really are paying for when you purchase a mitt is the quality of leather. The more expensive the mitt, the better leather it will have. Most nice leather has a stiff feel to it. When you oil, condition, or bake your brand new mitt, although you are making it softer, all you are actually doing is deteriorating the leather. If you are going to invest in a new mitt (especially an expensive one), I always recommend breaking it in the hard way. Just play catch with it until it softens up. I always recommend preserving the pocket as much as you can, NOT pancaking it, and just catching the ball in the pocket as much as possible.

Whenever I bought a new glove, my Dad and I used to rent a cage with a pitching machine to speed up this process. I used to stand in front of the machine while he rapid fired balls off for me to catch. This also allowed me to form the pocket of my mitt exactly how I wanted.

Of course, companies who sell you gloves also want to sell you on oils, conditioners, etc.. with the idea that you’ll purchase another mitt next year.

Obviously, if time is of the essence and you don’t care about the longevity of a glove, or it was a cheapie anyways, feel free to use any of the above options to break your new mitt in.

Lastly if breaking in your glove a certain way worked for you in the past – don’t hesitate to continue just because I told you something different. Your glove is a very personal piece of equipment! Always do what’s best for you! So please don’t ruin your lucky streak just because I wrote something different!

Your $200 glove won’t help you if you treat it like trash. I see so many girls just throw their mitts onto the bench, on the ground, or into their bags willy nilly. If you’ve practiced with me you KNOW this is a pet peeve of mine. If you’re going to make the investment you should always take care of it and treat your glove like the game-changing piece of equipment that it could be.

Always put your glove down POCKET DOWN. Whether that’s on the ground or on your bench, or on your helmet. PRESERVE YOUR POCKET AND YOUR GLOVE LIP.

Most of my younger girls’ gloves look like pancakes when they lay them on their sides. I actually believe that’s how you can tell you may need a new mitt. Pancake gloves don’t have the pocket or lip needed to keep balls from falling out of your mitt. Especially backhands. When putting your glove in your bag, make sure you have a ball in it, or two. If you don’t have an extra ball, put your sneaker or flipflops (or anything) into the pocket to keep your glove from pancaking or smushing flat. YOUR POCKET MATTERS. TAKE CARE OF IT.

I hope this helped! Enjoy your new leather!

For catches gloves – see catchers buying guide!

High end gloves for players committed to the ball life. These gloves are good investments for girls who play year round. They are on the pricier side, but what you pay for – you’ll get in extreme performance and longevity. You’ll find these listed in order of my personal favorites. See guide below for details on break in and care.

Rawlings | Heart of The Hide Fastpitch Softball Glove Series

You already know I am a huge Rawlings fan, and if you don't know yet you will from this list. I recently just upgraded from the Liberty Advanced. I love this Heart of the Hide glove because you can mold it during the break in process to be exactly what you want it to be. This is Rawling's top of the line series and the quality of this glove is no joke. My personal favorite glove on the market right now. This glove is typically a crowd favorite with both my high schoolers and college players as this glove can take some time to break in. If you don't mind the break in process, this glove is an amazing choice. It does come stiff out of the package, but give this baby time to break in and you'll be ready to write this glove into your inheritance in no time.

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WILSON | A2000 FP12 12" Infield Fastpitch Glove

If I had to choose a mitt other than the Rawlings above, it would be this one. Wilson is also known for making great, long lasting, durable gloves. Our shortstop in college swore by the Wilson brand and she had 1 mitt the entire 4 years she played. I appreciate that this glove features a beautiful looking cross web (because us girls want our glove to be good looking too) and a pocket shallow enough to allow quick transfers to your throwing hand. The black snakeskin pro stock leather gives this glove some character while an improved lining ensures that comfort is never an issue. I would recommend this glove tot the older travel, high school, or college player.

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Gloves for players who want the best of both performance and price. These are great options for girls who want a stiffer feel, but not as much break in time!

Rawlings | Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove Series

This glove is a great pick for those players who want to play everywhere on the field. A step below Rawling's Heart of the Hide series, this glove is a great intermediate/advanced option. The website says that this glove is designed for pitchers and infielders, but this Liberty Advanced 12 inch fastpitch softball glove is perfect for a utility player who needs a glove that will break-in quickly and form a long-lasting pocket. I have used this glove in the outfield with no problem. If you had to choose a glove for all positions. This would be it. This glove comes in multiple sizes and colorways, but I highly recommend the 12 inch for any utility player. Disclaimer: This glove comes deceivingly stiff out of the package but does break in nicely! Fun Fact: I did name my mitt 'Glove,' because I thought it was catchy (pun intended).

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Rawlings | R9 Series Fastpitch Softball Glove

A step down from Rawling's Liberty Advanced Series, The R9 comes out of the wrapper softer and more malleable. The easier break in process makes this an ultimate choice for girls who are intermediate, have small hands, or have difficulty squeezing their mitt. The adjustable pull strap closure allows for a custom fit and improved feel for any hand size. I like the H web on this mitt as well as the deep pocket. I have recommended this mitt to many girls 10u-14u and actually have a few older players still swear by this mitt. I would recommend a 12 inch mitt for any utility player.

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Gloves for players who want to try out the sport or don’t want to spend an arm and a leg! Younger players buying a new mitt should look for a softer mitt that they can squeeze and close. Most young players also should look for lightweight options that they can handle and move around their bodies quickly. See the glove size guide below.

Wilson | A700 12" Fastpitch Infield Glove

A great utility glove for all positions. This glove is a teensy bit more heavy duty than the glove below. I like this glove because it has nice leather, but is still soft enough to close. This is a great cost efficient glove for those beginner players who are able to and who have large enough hands to close a stiffer mitt. The black and white color scheme is also pretty sharp IMO. I would recommend this glove to any players aged 8-12. I linked the 12 inch glove, but this glove also comes in 12.5inch as well. I would recommend this for girls 10-14 who are using the 12 inch ball.

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Rawlings | Sure Catch Youth Softball Glove Series

The perfect option for beginner ball players new to the sport. This glove is lightweight soft leather, easy to break in and squeeze. This is crucial for young players who are just starting out and need a reliable piece of equipment to help them learn the fundamentals of fielding. One of the standout features of this glove is its adjustable pull-strap closure, which allows for a customized fit that ensures maximum comfort and control for players with varying hand sizes. This feature is particularly handy for younger players whose hands are still growing and need a glove that can adapt along with them. This glove is available in 3 different colorways and is available to buy in sizes ranging from 10.5-12.5 inches. I would recommend this glove for beginner players aged 5-11.

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To help you find the top softball First Base Mitts that meet different needs, here are four of my favorite options to choose from in order of most advanced at the top to beginner at the bottom!

I wouldn’t recommend getting your daughter a first base mitt until 12u. Their hand size just isn’t big enough to benefit from a bigger pocket. If your daughter is playing mainly 1st base at 10u, make sure to read my ‘Why It’s Important to Play Other Positions’ blog below, but more importantly, her regular fielder’s mitt should be just fine at that age!

Rawlings | Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball First Base Mitt | 2022

The 'Creme de la Creme' of first baseWOMAN mitts. I love this mitt because of its pocket size. Finally glove makers realized that softball players don't have as long of fingers and as large of hand size as most guys do. I love this pocket size as its large enough to give a competitive advantage but not bulky enough to lose the ball in the mitt. I especially like the lip on this mitt, which is important when scooping the ball out of the dirt and this glove feels like a pillow on those harder throws. This mitt will last forever, making this my top choice for all high schoolers or college ball players as this does take some effort to break in and squeeze.

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Rawlings | Liberty Advanced Fastpitch First Base Mitt

I would consider this a midrange to advanced option. I have a few girls who swear by this mitt. The white looks extremely sharp and the pocket is definitely deep. Can you tell from this list that I absolutely love Rawlings gloves? Seriously, you can't go wrong with this brand. Designed for first base players, this Liberty Advanced glove gives players adequate padding and a great pocket for girls looking to upgrade from their fielder's mitts. This glove is ideal for players either in travel or in high school. Because of the extended pocket, you definitely need large enough hands to squeeze this mitt and keep the ball under control. Youth players may have trouble with this mitt for that reason.

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Wilson | A1000 Fastpitch First Base Mitt

Made from full-grain leather, this glove offers durability and long-lasting performance, essential qualities for any player, especially those just starting out. Wilson uses a DriLex Wrist Lining: which keeps your hand dry and comfortable on the field and behind the dish. I like this glove because it's easier to break in than the two gloves above, but is better quality and will last longer than the beginner glove below. This is a great mid range option for players looking for some extra padding at first base but want's a quality piece of equipment.

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Rawlings | Shut Out Fastpitch First Base Mitt

I would recommend this glove as a beginner first base mitt or for a player who only plays the position part time, so you aren't paying an arm and a leg for a mitt she won't use a ton. This is also a great option to see if your player LIKES to use a first base mitt! This glove has a soft leather feel making break in MUCH easier than the other gloves listed above. This glove is the easiest to squeeze making this a perfect choice for girls who have smaller hands or are new to first base mitts. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend getting your daughter a 1st base mitt until 12u. Their hand size just isn't big enough to benefit from a bigger pocket. If your daughter is playing mainly 1st base at 10u, make sure to read my 'why it's important to play other positions' blog below, but more importantly, her regular fielder's mitt should be just fine at that age.

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