The hunt for the perfect baseball glove is always challenging. Whether you are a veteran player with many good seasons under his belt or starting your journey in the sport as a rookie, you need to make sure you have the perfect glove in your hand to help you out.
Now, you might be wondering – what’s the big deal? Picking out a glove shouldn’t be too difficult, right? Wrong! Only rookies make this mistake.
In hindsight, it might seem like there’s not much to look at when picking out a new baseball glove as long as it fits your hands. But there are a lot of small details that you need to look out for. Web design, for example, is a major deciding factor when you want to buy a new baseball glove.
There are 6 different baseball glove web types that you can find, and the one you go with depends both on your personal preference and your playing position.
I will break down all the different glove types that you need to choose from and help you understand how they impact your gameplay. So, let’s get started.
Types of Baseball Glove Webbing
As I already said, there are six major web designs that manufacturers use in their baseball gloves. I hope you don’t assume that one design is better than the other, though. Each glove webbing has its place and the one you end up going with depends mostly on your personal preference.
So, here’s a quick rundown of the different types of baseball glove webs to give you a better idea of each of the designs.
1. Closed/ Basket Web
Most of the infielder’s and pitcher’s gloves in the market come with closed/basket webbing. As the name implies, a glove with a closed web design is meant to conceal the ball. This is what makes this design such a prime choice for most top pitcher gloves.
Because of the closed-off design of the web, the pitcher can hide his pitching stance from the hitter. Typically, gloves with this webbing have a shallower pocket, but the pocket is pretty strong. Apart from the pitchers, middle infielders also favor this web design most of the time.
2. I-Web
If the middle infielder is not using a glove with a closed/basket web, there’s a good chance that he is going with an I-web glove. It is extremely popular among middle infielders because of how easy it makes it to scoop out the ball and also block off the glare from the sun while catching a fly ball.
This design features two horizontal leather strips with one vertical leather strip connecting them in the center. The web design looks similar to the letter I and hence the name. Because of the openness of the web design, players can relay the ball easily with this glove.
3. H-web
H-web is the webbing of choice for many outfielders and third basemen. Also referred to as dual post web, the H-web design in the glove gives you amazing flexibility without compromising the sturdiness of the structure. It also has an open design allowing you to block out the glare while catching those high flyballs.
The design is pretty similar to the I-web design. In this design, there are two vertical leather strips with a single horizontal strip connecting them together. This makes the gloves much better for outfielders as it creates a deeper pocket letting you catch the ball much easier.
4. Two-Piece Closed Web
Similar to basket/closed webbing, two-piece closed webs are also designed to help conceal the pitch from the hitters. However, there is one key difference between the two-piece closed web and the regular basket web baseball gloves – the weight.
2-piece closed webbing causes the glove to become considerably heavier than normal basket webbing. As a result, these are favored by older, more experienced players who want a bit of weight in their gloves. While it is mostly used by pitchers, some infielders also like using baseball gloves with two-pieced closed webbing baseball gloves.
5. Trapeze Web and Modified Trap Web
Trapeze web is the webbing of choice for many outfielders because of its deep pocket, making it easier to catch any ball. Its design also allows the player to shield their eyes as they follow those high flyballs.
Modified trapeze web has a similar design with one big difference. In the modified trap webbing, there’s an additional strip of leather on top of the web to increase the stability of the glove. While the trapeze web is used almost exclusively by outfielders, the modified trap web’s design makes it suitable for infielders and pitchers also.
6. Single-Post Web
The single-post web is only ever used by first basemen. This type of webbing gives you a consistent pocket that lets you receive the ball easily. However, the deeper pocket in the glove means transferring the ball to your throwing hand is a bit more hectic.
That is why this webbing is only suitable only for positions that do not need to throw the ball very often, namely the first basemen.
Why Do Baseball Gloves Have Different Webbing?
The reason gloves have different webbing is to give players the option to choose one that fits their playing position and preference. I’m sure you’ve already noticed how different web designs have a different impact on the utility of the glove.
For example, a pitcher with a closed web design in their glove can hide his next pitch and try to catch the hitter off-guard. On a similar note, the ability to shield your eyes from the glare of the sun that a trapeze web provides is extremely useful as an outfielder.
If you are a beginner or a casual player, it might not matter much to you. Any glove, as long as it is decent and helps you catch the ball, will suffice. But in a competitive environment, players will play for every bit of advantage that they can get. Having different web options when choosing their gloves gives a bit more control over the hands of the players.
Which Web is Best for Baseball Gloves?
There’s no definitive answer to which web design is best for a baseball glove. Each design has different effects, which can give you an edge depending on your role in the game.
If you are an outfielder, I would recommend going with a trap or modified trap web design. As an infielder, a closed/basket web might be a better choice. On the other hand, if you are a seasoned pitcher, you might like the overall feel of a two-piece closed web more.
So, it ultimately comes down to two things – your position of play and your personal choice. If you are a beginner, though, I would suggest not giving much thought to this. Just buy a glove that you are happy with and enjoy the game.
With All That Said
There are a lot of things to watch out for when you are buying a new, top-shelf baseball glove. While things like padding or size are important, you should also think a bit about the web design in the glove, especially if you are playing competitive baseball professionally.
I hope my breakdown of the different types of webs for baseball gloves could help you understand the key differences between them and help you make the right choice. Good luck!
