Know your gear
Buy it right the first time.
Sizing, webs, leather, break-in and care — explained the way we'd explain it standing next to you at the field. If a cheaper or smaller option is the right call for your player, these guides will tell you that.
Behind the plate
Catcher education hub
Straight answers on catcher’s mitt sizing, youth and high school fit, pocket depth, break-in, throwing hand and custom choices.
Catcher fit
Catcher’s mitt size guide
Start with age, level and sport, then confirm that the catcher can control and close the mitt comfortably.
4 min read
Parents
Youth catcher’s mitt guide
For a young catcher, control matters more than buying extra size to grow into.
4 min read
Catcher fit
High school catcher’s mitt guide
High school catchers should choose by hand control, pocket preference and workload—not age alone.
4 min read
Position
How to choose a catcher's mitt
Catcher's mitts are measured around, not along. Start with size, pocket depth, break-in and control.
4 min read
Catcher pattern
Catcher’s mitt pocket depth
Pocket depth changes how the ball settles, how the mitt closes and how quickly the catcher can reach the ball.
3 min read
Break-in
Catcher’s mitt break-in guide
Build the pocket with repeated catches and controlled hinge work; avoid heat, soaking and heavy oil.
4 min read
Throwing hand
Right-hand throw vs left-hand throw catcher’s mitts
Order the mitt for the hand that catches, which is opposite the player’s throwing hand.
2 min read
Custom mitts
Custom catcher’s mitt options
Start with position, size and throwing hand, then choose from the options currently shown in the BLB builder.
4 min read
Catcher fit
How age and hand size affect catcher’s mitt fit
Age gives you a starting range; the catcher’s actual hand control determines whether the mitt fits.
3 min read
Quick fit answer
What size catcher’s mitt do I need?
Use sport and age for the starting number, then confirm closure, wrist fit and pocket control.
3 min read
Catcher comparison
Baseball vs softball catcher’s mitts: fit beyond size
Baseball and fastpitch catcher’s mitts can share a listed circumference while having different pockets. Choose for the game ball, closure and the catcher’s hand.
4 min read
Across the diamond
More gear guides
Fit
Choosing your glove size
Glove size is measured from the top of the index finger down to the heel. Position and age drive the number more than anything else.
4 min read
Pattern
Choosing a web
The web is the laced section between thumb and index finger. It changes how the ball settles, how fast you transfer, and whether your grip is hidden.
3 min read
Materials
Understanding glove leather
Leather decides weight, break-in time and how long the glove holds its shape. There is no single best leather — there is the right leather for the player.
4 min read
Break-in
Breaking in your glove
Catching balls is the break-in method. Everything else is a shortcut, and most shortcuts cost you the life of the glove.
3 min read
Care
Glove care and repair
A glove that gets dried properly, conditioned lightly and stored correctly lasts years longer than one that lives in the bottom of a bag.
3 min read
Fit
Batting glove sizing
A batting glove should fit like skin — snug across the palm, no loose fabric at the fingertips, no pinching when you close your grip.
3 min read
Fit
Youth vs adult sizing
Youth gear isn't just smaller — the finger stalls, wrist openings and hinge stiffness are built for smaller, weaker hands.
3 min read
Sport comparison
Baseball vs softball gloves: what changes?
Compare pocket shape, hand fit and position before choosing a baseball or softball glove. The same listed length does not mean the same fit.
4 min read
Position comparison
Infield vs outfield gloves: choosing the right pattern
Infield gloves generally favor access to the ball; outfield gloves favor reach and pocket depth. Choose for your main position and hand control.
4 min read
Position comparison
First base mitt vs fielding glove: which do you need?
A first base mitt has a receiving-focused shape; a fielding glove is more versatile for players moving around the field. Start with role, fit and league rules.
4 min read
Sizing
Baseball glove size by position
Every position has a size range and a reason behind it. Here's the range for each spot on the field, and what changes if you move.
4 min read
Sizing
Softball glove size guide
Softball gloves run larger than baseball gloves at the same position because the ball is bigger. Here's the size to start with, by position and age.
4 min read
Position
Choosing a shortstop glove
Shortstop is about range and a clean exchange. That means a shorter pattern, a shallow pocket and an open web that dumps dirt.
3 min read
Position
Choosing a third base glove
Third base gets the hardest-hit balls with the least reaction time. You want more glove than a middle infielder and more structure than an outfielder.
3 min read
Position
Choosing an outfield glove
Outfield is length, depth and forgiveness. You're catching on the run, over your shoulder, and in the sun — the glove has to hold what it gets.
3 min read
Position
How to choose a first base mitt
A first base mitt has no fingers and a long, curved shape for one reason: to scoop bad throws out of the dirt and hold stretched catches.
3 min read
Parents
Youth baseball glove guide
The right youth glove is one the player can actually close. Here's the size by age, what to skip, and when to move up.
4 min read
Parents
Youth softball glove guide
Youth softball gloves run bigger than baseball at the same age, because the ball is bigger — but the player still has to be able to close it.
3 min read
Still not sure?
Send us the player's age, position, level and throwing hand. Emails are answered by a real person, usually within one business day.