History of Softball Gloves
For the past 120 years, softball gloves have been evolving. In the 1800s, softball gloves offered limited protection, with scarce finger padding and poor webbing. Laced fingers were added in the 1930s to improve grip and ensure a secure fit. Softball gloves today generally feature larger webbing and increased padding, for the highest level of protection possible.
Softball Glove Buying Guide
Different positions require different styles of gloves. In softball, there are catcher's mitts, first base mitts, infield gloves, and outfield gloves. The largest and deepest glove is the catcher's mitt, heavily padded for extra protection and optimized to catch fastballs. A first base mitt is the longest of the gloves, offering extra length to help catch balls thrown from the infield. Shorter and shallower than other mitts, the infield glove is designed with an open web to keep up with fast-paced action. A closed web design is useful to pitchers, to help conceal the ball. Specifically designed to catch high speed balls, outfield gloves are perfect for players who are constantly having to leap and dive to make crazy catches.
Best Softball Gloves
The best softball glove depends on the position and playing style of the player, but popular brands include Rawlings, Mizuno, Easton, Franklin, and Wilson. The Easton Salvo Elite is perfect for players who want versatility, as it features a deep palm design and a secure wrist strap. The Rawlings Liberty Advanced is created with innovative technology to improve fastpitch performance. Designed with bio soft leather, the Mizuno MVP Prime SE Glove is preferred by professional and elite level softball players. Specifically optimized for outfield players, the Mizuno Premier offers a secure, simple fit that is lightweight yet durable.