Baseball and softball are similar sports. There’s pitching, hitting, and fielding on both sides. There are bases and foul lines, dugouts and sunflower seeds. But as anyone who plays the game knows, when look closer, you’ll see there are plenty of differences, especially in equipment.
Some of these are more obvious than others (like the size of the fields, and length between bases).In addition, there are plenty of differences between baseball and softball gloves, too.
What Makes Baseball & Softball Gloves Different?
The subtle nuances between them come down to the overall differences in the actual baseball and softball’s composition.
Softballs come in a variety of sizes and materials depending on the athlete’s age and league. An 8U league will typically use a 10-inch softball – that is, a softball that has a circumference of 10 inches. Ages 9 through 12 will use an 11-inch softball. Ages 12 and up will use a 12-inch ball.
While baseballs are going to vary slightly in size depending on age group and league, a typical baseball will come in at about 9 inches – even smaller than the smallest softball.
That brings us to our first major difference in softball and baseball gloves: pocket size. But this difference isn’t as extreme as some might think.
Glove Patterns: Baseball vs. Softball
First off, most softball gloves have a fairly deep pocket to accommodate the larger ball. However, depending on the glove pattern and intended use, baseball gloves won’t seem too different. The Rawlings’ 200-pattern, for instance, offers infielders a deep, round pocket similar to a fastpitch softball glove’s. As a result, some fastpitch players use a slightly longer 200-pattern baseball glove in competitive play. In addition, some baseball players who typically use a similar pattern could game a fastpitch softball glove too – like when Francisco Lindor played a game with Sierra Romero’s signature Heart of the Hide. He also won the Rawlings’ Gold Glove Play of the Month using her glove as well!
Softball gloves will usually have a slightly longer length – you’ll find pro baseball infielders using gloves as small as 11 inches, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a softball player gaming anything smaller than 11.75 inches. Many utility or outfield-style baseball gloves range in length between 12 and 13 inches and mostly feature a deep pocket, which could be great for certain softball athletes as well.
However, baseball gloves’ pockets tend to shallow out in certain infield patterns -- like the NP and TT2. Both of these patterns feature flat pockets that would struggle to accommodate a softball. These are specifically built for middle infielders who need quick transfers of the baseball to toss out runners at first and to turn double plays, too.
The other major difference between softball and baseball glove patterns comes in the two positions that use mitts: catcher and first base. A softball catcher’s mitt will typically be at least 33 inches, and it will also typically feature more width and a deeper pocket. While softball first base mitts are around the same size as baseball first base mitts (12.75 inches or 13 inches), they do come with a wider pocket.
Fit for Comfort: Baseball vs. Softball
Another main difference between these types of gloves is how they’re sized at the wrist. Adult baseball gloves can come in a variety of wrist fits, the smallest of which is the ContoUR fit. The ContoUR fit features slimmer, lowered finger stalls and a smaller hand opening. These are ideal for baseball athletes who have smaller, thinner hands.
A standard Heart of the Hide or Pro Preferred baseball glove can be adjusted between a narrow and standard wrist fit. A quick relacing will change a 6.5-inch or 7-inch narrow fit to a 7-inch or 7.5-inch standard fit.
Designing softball gloves is slightly trickier – women and girls tend to have a wider range of hand and wrist sizes, so adaptability is key. Most Rawlings and Easton softball gloves include pull-strap wrist openings that cater to a wide range of hand and wrist sizes. This allows athletes to get a snug, “custom” fit every time they wear their gamer. Not only will the pull strap help fit and feel, but the quality full-grain leather and quick, easy break-in process helps new gloves break in perfectly in no time flat.
Play Your Way
The 2024 line of Rawlings and Easton gloves feature more options than ever before, so even the pickiest player can find – or create – the glove of their dreams.
You can shop stock gloves across Easton and Rawlings, and if you can’t find your perfect glove, then make your own! Rawlings allows you to customize Pro Preferred and Heart of the Hide gloves for baseball or softball, and Liberty Advanced gloves for softball only. Easton also recently launched a custom glove builder for its ultra-premium Professional Collection softball gloves crafted with top-of-the-line steerhide leather too!
No matter what sport you play, your glove is going to be one of the most important things you bring to the diamond. Make sure it’s perfect for your hand, style, and style of play!
