Baseball is one of the most commonly played games of all times and the right baseball gloves and ball are required to enjoy playing the game in a better way. And for this, buying the right pair of gloves and the right ball are equally important. Without these, you will not be able to play freely and will find it difficult to play the game conveniently.
It should be mentioned in this respect that the baseball glove or baseball mitt is an important tool which is used by the players of the defending team. Buying the wrong glove will not only prevent you from playing well but can also cause you to feel uncomfortable. Also, the game will remain incomplete without the right ball as the entire game is centered round it.
But the question is- how to select the right baseball glove and ball? First of all, let us come to the tips regarding buying the right baseball glove and then we will move on to the details of selecting the ball.
Tips For Buying The Right Baseball Glove
1. Position in the Game
The baseball glove that you need to buy will depend on the position in which you play. The gloves worn by the middle infielder will be different from that worn by the outfielder. Again, the shortstops and second basemen will use a different glove size since their pocket size will be shallower.
2. The Webbing of The Glove
The webbing of the glove is another important area where you need to be careful. A glove can have different types of web such as I-Web, Basket Web and Closed Web. The other types of web available are the Single Post Web, Modified Trapeze Web and Dual Post Web.
3. The Padding of The Glove
The padding of the glove is an equally important factor. The players who are playing in the first and third base require more padding while the ones at the corner infield positions require excessive wrist padding.
4. The Fit
While buying baseball gloves, you should definitely try them once in your hand to ensure that they fit you perfectly and feel strong while playing the game. The fit mainly depends on your age and also your position in the field.
5. Additional Features
Next, you will have to find out whether the gloves come with any additional features like wrist adjustment. Such features will help the gloves to fit in easily into the hands and they can be taken out of the hands with ease, as required. This is made possible with the usage of Velcro, D-ring fastener or lace.
6. Material of The Glove
This is another important factor to consider here. You will find gloves of a variety of materials such as synthetic materials, leather and mesh. We would advise you to buy gloves made of leather since it is the most durable and comfortable of all. You must keep this in mind that the cheaper gloves are made using synthetic materials and should thus be avoided at all cost.
Particularly the ones with a shiny appearance are to be avoided while buying the baseball gloves.
7. The Hand on which You Are Wearing It
The baseball gloves are meant for the non-dominant hand and should be chosen accordingly. While choosing one, you should check whether it is being able to provide you flexibility and agility to your right hand (in case you are a left-hander) or to the left hand (in case you are a right-hander).
How To Pick The Right Baseball Ball
Now, let us move on to a discussion regarding the perfect baseball to be used in the game. It has to be mentioned in this respect that all baseballs are not same, though they might look similar. Here are the factors to consider while choosing the ball:
8. Material of The Ball
A baseball may be made using different materials such as leather or synthetic covers, raised or rolled seams while the core can be either cushioned or made using cork or rubber. The material must be chosen such that the ball can withstand pressure and last throughout the game.
9. Safety Features
Some baseballs known as the safety balls are available in the market that can be used by the beginners. These “safety balls” are basically sting-free and are utterly soft. They come with polyurethane cores but offer true bounces and a real feel.
10. NFHS and NCAA Approval
If you are looking for a baseball for playing at the school level or college level, the ones approved by NFHS and NCAA will be the perfect for you.
11. Baseball For Playing in The League
If you are planning to buy a baseball for playing in the league, you should buy the ones which weigh in between five ounces and five and one-fourth ounces.
12. The Right Circumference
The right circumference of a baseball is nine inches. Balls of this diameter are easy to handle and can be grabbed by the hand in a better way.
13. Price
It is better not to compromise with the quality of the baseball for the price. You may end up getting balls of a cheaper quality if you look for the balls in a lower price range. While being ready to pay the price for a good quality ball, you must also ensure that it is durable enough to serve you throughout the desired time period.
So, this was all about buying the right baseball glove and ball. Consider the steps stated above while you go for buying the gloves and the ball. Also, keep the purpose of buying in mind and set a budget before you start choosing the one for yourself.
Please do not hesitate to express your opinions in the matter in the comments section below. Also, share the content with your fellow players or guardians to help them find the right variants. Have a great time playing using your baseball glove and ball!
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