FACT: Too many amateur ballplayers on too many fields are wearing the wrong ballgloves. It's not the brand that's at issue here, but the size and web pattern.

Kids begin playing ball way before Little League with gloves that are way oversize for them. Making the problem worse, these gloves are often hard vinyl or cheap, stiff leather. The result: they can't control the glove so they don't catch well. And the learn - incorrectly - to catch balls in the webbing, not properly in the palm as shown.

But the worst of it is - they get used to the size.  So as the players grow so do their gloves. And even into midteens, too many players think that a glove must cover their wrist. And the longer the better!

The second problem, of course, is choice. Little gloves don't come in many web patterns. That's not because a choice isn't possible,  but more because of price. Parents of 5 and 6 year olds are not about to pay extra to get a specific web pattern - nor are they likely to realize that the difference is more than cosmetic. So the young player starts with whatever he starts with and often just keeps buying that same web pattern.


So here is the advice you missed as a young player or as the coach or parent of young players. Note: gloves are measured from wrist strap, across the back to finger tips. To see web pattern images check out the WebBall Glove Guide.

Fielder	Adult Size Range *	Web Pattern / Style	Why...
First	12 - 13 in.	Closed or Flytrap, deep pocket	In addition to the scooping and reach required of a first baseman's trapper, he will also have to get pop-ups. I'd prefer to see the so-called flytrap (trapasphere) or some other pattern that is strongly reinforced yet allows sighting on flyballs.
Second	10.5 - 11 in.	Crossbar with slit, shallow pocket.	You want a short glove so when it is right down on the ground, the heel is in a good position to catch rollers and bad hops. Also you should condition/shape it (with lanolin) so that it spreads wide. You should catch balls as deflections off the heel of the glove. (A deep pocket or crosscross web pattern could snag fingers making it tougher to get the ball out.)
Short	11 - 11.5 in.	Cross bar, T or H, shallow pocket	Like second base, smaller and wider is better. With the extra range often required at short, a half inch isn't going to make much difference, but you are the infield captain so should probably have a more open web to sight on those many pop-ups and short flyballs you must chase.
Third	11.5 - 12 in.	H or Double H, reinforced	Knocking down hot shots is the biggest challenge - that's why you need onw of the strongest feilding glove. So condition your glove wide and stay away from basketweaves (often weak and too deep) or other webbing that could make getting the ball out hard.
Outfield	12.5 - 13 in.	Flytrap or double H	Bigger is better out in the big country. You want reach for fence-high snowcones and long rollers in the deep grass The ability to block the sun and sight through the glove on flyballs dictates an open web. The Flytrap (trapasphere) is more popular today.
Pitcher	12 - 12.5 in.	Basketweave or other tight webbing, deep pocket.	While you are an infielder, the primary purpose of the glove is to hide your grip on the pitch and block the batters view on delivery. Remember there are rules about multiple colors on pitching gloves so stick to all-black or all-tan.
Catcher	31.5 - 34 in.	Solid, reinforced web, rolled in edges.	The basic difference in catcher's gloves - other than color and finish, seems to be the edge padding. Recommendation from WebBall is to go with a mitt that has the seams on the outside circumference and a gentle curve into the pocket - to help borderline pitches find their way into the mitt. (We personally don't like the kind with the flat, double-seamed outside edge.)

* Note: sizes for most gloves are measured from heel (hand opening) to finger tips. Catcher mitts are measured on the circumference. Sizes shown here are for high-school, college, and adult players. But the comments on shape and web pattern apply to all ages.