What to Look for When Buying a Baseball Glove
With major league full squad games already having taking place in Arizona and Florida, it’s apparent that baseball season is right around the corner. This is true for your spring/summer league, high school/college season and/or child’s baseball season. When analyzing your cache of baseball equipment, you may realize that you are in need of an upgrade in the glove department, or maybe you are trying to increase your utility by learning a new position and will require a different type of baseball glove.
When it comes to the purchase of a glove, this is not a decision to skimp. Very much unlike going to Walmart and seeing Tostitos tortilla chips and the Great Value brand and realizing there is no real difference, the quality gap between a good glove and a bad glove is quite large and can be detrimental.
A glove is the most important tool of a baseball player. It needs to feel comfortable, almost like an extension of the hand. It needs to be position appropriate. It needs to be made of quality materials that can last and survive the elements that are present in the game of baseball.
As far as sizing goes, the matter is pretty objective. You simply follow the table below…
| Age | Position | Glove Size |
| 5-6 | General | 10 to 10 1/2 (youth model) |
| 7-8 | General | 10 1/2 to 11 (youth model) |
| 9-12 | General | 11 to 11 1/2 (youth model) |
| High School/Adult | Infield | 10 3/4 to 11 3/4 |
| High School/Adult | Outfield | 12+ |
Where the decision gets more subjective is when it comes to the material of the glove. Traditionalists like high grade leather gloves made from free roaming cattle who have been allowed to mature to at least three years and haven’t been fed hormone laced grains. Realists and modernists like the synthetic gloves which last longer and are often times quicker to break in. Where you can get tricked is seeing a pre-worn glove that feels amazing and ready to go when you try it on. These are often times made of softer leather which has a propensity to break down faster. Make sure the price is appropriate before you make this purchase.
What’s the glove for you?
If you are buying for a youngster, who will eventually grow out of a glove, making sure to not overspend yet buying a quality glove that won’t impede performance is of utmost importance. Buying a soft leather glove with quick break in time like this glove from the Akadema Rookie Series would be a great option. These gloves don’t last as long, which is why they are affordable. Since you may only need them for 1-3 seasons, they are the perfect option.
If you are a high school or college athlete, or just a mature player looking for a quality glove at an attractive price, the Akadema baseball glove line up is quite solid. The majority of Akadema’s gloves are made from cattle raised in Europe, tanned in Japan and constructed here in the US. The cattle are raised to a more mature age then many of the hides used from other glove manufacturers. This gives them the added benefit of longevity.
The price of their gloves is also unbeatable. Akadema doesn’t spend large sums advertising, or distributing into major retail outlets. This allows them to keep their prices lower relative to the competition.
Akadema currently is endorsed my MLB stars Shane Victorino, Derek Holland and by the comeback attempting Manny Ramirez. Check out some of their offerings like the ADD 103 infielder glove or the ABU 73 Reptillian outfield glove.
Make sure your purchase does not hamper your performance. Do your due diligence when making a baseball glove purchase and have a great 2012 baseball season!
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