Softball vs Baseball Glove

[rfmnz]

Was talking to the owner of a local sports shop and he was telling me the only difference between a baseball and softball glove was the adjustable wrist velcro strap on some softball gloves. This conversation came about because I was looking to buy a new glove for my dd..

What is your take?

[tbjd33]

Was talking to the owner of a local sports shop and he was telling me the only difference between a baseball and softball glove was the adjustable wrist velcro strap on some softball gloves. This conversation came about because I was looking to buy a new glove for my dd..

What is your take?

Couldn't be more wrong... Softball gloves have a larger pocket (due to much larger ball!) and all have longer fingers. My DD uses baseball gloves cause they are smaller and easier to play with.

End of the day each DD likes different glove. If she's an outfielder a standard softball glove is perfect in most cases. Infielders usually prefer baseball gloves. From what I have seen!

[progapanda]

Was talking to the owner of a local sports shop and he was telling me the only difference between a baseball and softball glove was the adjustable wrist velcro strap on some softball gloves. This conversation came about because I was looking to buy a new glove for my dd..

What is your take?

Couldn't be more wrong... Softball gloves have a larger pocket (due to much larger ball!) and all have longer fingers. My DD uses baseball gloves cause they are smaller and easier to play with.

End of the day each DD likes different glove. If she's an outfielder a standard softball glove is perfect in most cases. Infielders usually prefer baseball gloves. From what I have seen!

Couldn't be more wrong...Gloves are different sizes from the heal of the palm to the tips of the fingers, not in the pocket. Smaller gloves are used in positions where faster transfers are needed (3B-MI). Larger gloves are used in positions that need coverage from a lack of back up (1B, C & OF). Catchers gloves are the only gloves that have a different pocket for BB and FP. Velcro straps are for smaller wrists or hands.

[rfmnz]

Good information. Thank you.

[tbjd33]

Was talking to the owner of a local sports shop and he was telling me the only difference between a baseball and softball glove was the adjustable wrist velcro strap on some softball gloves. This conversation came about because I was looking to buy a new glove for my dd..

What is your take?

Couldn't be more wrong... Softball gloves have a larger pocket (due to much larger ball!) and all have longer fingers. My DD uses baseball gloves cause they are smaller and easier to play with.

End of the day each DD likes different glove. If she's an outfielder a standard softball glove is perfect in most cases. Infielders usually prefer baseball gloves. From what I have seen!

Couldn't be more wrong...Gloves are different sizes from the heal of the palm to the tips of the fingers, not in the pocket. Smaller gloves are used in positions where faster transfers are needed (3B-MI). Larger gloves are used in positions that need coverage from a lack of back up (1B, C & OF). Catchers gloves are the only gloves that have a different pocket for BB and FP. Velcro straps are for smaller wrists or hands.

What the hell is "lack of back up"?? So your saying DD's need a friggen shovel to stop the ball? Uhh dumb...

I'm not even going into the difference just know there's a reason they make a glove specifically for a much bigger ball...

[Safebyahare]

How to put this with out being a joker, or jerk.
Baseball pants are the same as softball pants.
Baseball bats are the same as softball bats.
NOT!!!!!
The ball is a different size. The hand that goes in the glove is a different size.
Why would you even consider the two the same? Buy the correct equipment that lets others know that your dd serious.

[Hollow Grind]

Was talking to the owner of a local sports shop and he was telling me the only difference between a baseball and softball glove was the adjustable wrist velcro strap on some softball gloves. This conversation came about because I was looking to buy a new glove for my dd..

What is your take?

My take is that there are a ton of generalities being thrown around on this thread! There are so many different manufacturers, glove patterns and levels of quality on the market that making assumptions is folly.

Slowpitch softball gloves, generally speaking, have huge pockets and long fingers, as stated above. Fastpitch gloves are specifically designed for female players, thus most are made with narrower finger stalls and velcro straps to provide better fit for girls with narrower wrists. They can come in a variety of sizes, from 11.5" for middles to 13" for outfielders, and the patterns are 12" softball specific. Compare the 11.5" Mizuno Global Elite fastpitch glove vs. the 11.5" Miz GE baseball glove and the difference in pattern and purpose is apparent.

That being said, I see many girls using baseball gloves with great results every Sunday. My DD is thirteen and her hands are as big as mine - she uses a 12" baseball glove which was broken in with a 12" softball for infield, and the shallower pocket works well for quick transfers. Is it "correct equipment?" Damn straight it is, she consistently makes plays. FWIW, she also uses a fastpitch catcher's mitt, because that's what works best.

My advice is simple - if you're looking to buy dd a new glove, bring her along and let her try on as many gloves as you possibly can. If you haven't found one locally she loves, buy a few online from a vendor that allows free return shipping to try on some more. She'll let you know when she's found the one!

[progapanda]

Was talking to the owner of a local sports shop and he was telling me the only difference between a baseball and softball glove was the adjustable wrist velcro strap on some softball gloves. This conversation came about because I was looking to buy a new glove for my dd..

What is your take?

Couldn't be more wrong... Softball gloves have a larger pocket (due to much larger ball!) and all have longer fingers. My DD uses baseball gloves cause they are smaller and easier to play with.

End of the day each DD likes different glove. If she's an outfielder a standard softball glove is perfect in most cases. Infielders usually prefer baseball gloves. From what I have seen!

Couldn't be more wrong...Gloves are different sizes from the heal of the palm to the tips of the fingers, not in the pocket. Smaller gloves are used in positions where faster transfers are needed (3B-MI). Larger gloves are used in positions that need coverage from a lack of back up (1B, C & OF). Catchers gloves are the only gloves that have a different pocket for BB and FP. Velcro straps are for smaller wrists or hands.

What the hell is "lack of back up"?? So your saying DD's need a friggen shovel to stop the ball? Uhh dumb...

I'm not even going into the difference just know there's a reason they make a glove specifically for a much bigger ball...

In my best first grade teachers voice..."lack of backup" refers to, when there is no one behind the player to back them up if they miss the ball, 1B (bad throws from SS, 3B,2B), C (wild pitches), OF (balls not hit into RC & LC gaps). If the IF misses there is a second line of defense, if the OF misses there is not. Players that need a little more insurance to stop the ball use bigger gloves or mitts not shovels. That would be uhh dumb.

HG said it well "so many different manufacturers, glove patterns and levels of quality on the market that making assumptions is folly". If one company calls a ball glove a softball glove they're marketing to a softball crowd. That same glove could be marketed to the baseball crowd. Ball size has noting to do with with the glove. It has to do with the position and skill level.

[PDad]

Compare the 11.5" Mizuno Global Elite fastpitch glove vs. the 11.5" Miz GE baseball glove and the difference in pattern and purpose is apparent.

Good example. Both versions of the Global Elite 60 are 11.5" gloves and nearly the same in most respects. However, besides the obvious color difference, the palms are constructed differently (e.g. see lacing). I suspect the fingers of the FP model are bowed due to a larger pocket. The FP model also has their V-Flex Notch in the heel.

GGE60 (baseball http://www.mizunousa.com/baseball/produ ... ield-glove)


GGE60FP (fastpitch http://www.mizunousa.com/fastpitch/prod ... ield-glove)

[AlwaysImprove]

In general, there is not that much difference between a softball glove and a baseball glove geometry. Some manufacturers definitely make gloves for fastpitch that have smaller finger holes. An 11.5" pocket, is usually still an 11.5" pocket.

To me baseball middle infielders tend to prefer smaller gloves a bit more than women. That said, most of the super stud shortstops I have seen use very small gloves.

15 years ago when you went to the store there were baseball and softball gloves. The softball gloves were for slowpitch not fastpitch. Then the only thing that really mattered was size of pocket.

I remember the year that Mizuno released their first fastpitch glove. We were looking heavily at a Wilson A2000, and they did not have a "fastpitch" version of that glove. We did not want to make a mistake. i knew a rep and sent him an email requesting specifically what was different. He sent it to corporate and they replied with a clear statement that they used the same basic glove molds, but had smaller fingers.

To me the velcro wrist band may add some strength. Definitely on catchers mitts. For me on fielders glove, velcro always feels a bit unnatural.