Whether you play baseball or softball, finding the right size glove is essential.
While it’s possible to own more than one glove, and plenty of serious players do, most casual softball players want a single glove that works for both practice and games.
So, how do you size a softball glove? I’ll walk you through it position by position below, plus a few fastpitch vs. slowpitch differences that trip up a lot of first-time buyers.
Why Softball Gloves Need Extra Room
In baseball, the ball measures roughly 9 inches around.
Softball uses a bigger ball. Most fastpitch and adult slowpitch leagues play with a 12-inch softball, though some divisions, mainly certain women’s and coed slowpitch leagues, use an 11-inch ball instead. A few rec leagues even play with a 16-inch “mush ball,” which is traditionally caught barehanded. It comes down to whether your league follows USA Softball or USSSA rules, so it’s worth double-checking your league’s rulebook before you buy.
Either way, that bigger ball is exactly why you want a glove designed specifically for softball rather than a baseball glove pressed into service. If you’re shopping on a budget, I’ve tested a handful of solid picks in my softball gloves under $100 roundup.
A large baseball glove could work in a pinch, but a dedicated softball glove is built with that bigger ball in mind, from the pocket depth to the webbing.
If your glove is too small, the ball won’t seat properly in the pocket. Even when it lands right, it can pop back out before you secure it, especially on a ball hit hard.
With the right glove size and a little practice, you’ll catch the ball cleanly and hang onto it far more consistently.
Infield vs. Outfield: The Two Basic Softball Glove Sizes
Exceptions aside (more on those in a minute), there are two basic categories to think about when picking a softball glove: infield gloves and outfield gloves.
Side by side on a store shelf, they look almost identical. You have to check the size tag or look closely at the pocket depth to tell them apart.
The real difference comes down to size. Infield gloves run a bit smaller than outfield gloves.
For adult fastpitch, infield gloves typically run 11.5 to 12.5 inches, while outfield gloves run closer to 12.5 to 13.5 inches. Slowpitch gloves run bigger across the board: infielders and pitchers usually land in the 12 to 13.5-inch range, and outfielders often go 13 to 15 inches, since slowpitch outfielders are tracking a heavier ball hit on a longer arc.
Youth gloves run smaller across every position, and there’s some wiggle room in all of these numbers since players have their own preferences on size and feel. But these ranges cover most gloves you’ll find on the market today.
Why Infield Gloves Run Smaller Than Outfield Gloves
The size gap between infield and outfield gloves comes down to how each position is actually played.
Infielders usually have to catch the ball and get rid of it fast. A groundball to the shortstop has to be scooped up, pulled out of the glove, and thrown to first, all in a couple of seconds.
A smaller glove makes that transfer quicker. It’s also lighter, so it moves faster, which matters when a ball is hit hard right at you.
Outfielders play a different game. They’ve got more time to react since they’re standing farther from home plate, so a little extra glove weight isn’t a big deal.
That extra length also helps when you’re sprinting to track down a fly ball. Every inch of extra glove surface helps when you’re catching on the run.
Outfielders aren’t under the same pressure to get the ball out of the glove instantly either. They still need to make a quick throw, but usually not as urgently as an infielder turning a double play.
That’s why infield gloves stay smaller and outfield gloves run bigger, across both fastpitch and slowpitch softball.
Fastpitch vs. Slowpitch: Does Sizing Really Change?
Here’s something a lot of general glove sizing advice skips: fastpitch and slowpitch gloves aren’t sized identically, even for the same position.
Fastpitch gloves tend to run a bit smaller and tighter through the fingers and wrist, since quick transfers matter more, and pitchers especially want a closed web to hide their grip from the hitter. If you want the full age-by-position breakdown for fastpitch, including numbers for players as young as 7, I put together a detailed fastpitch softball glove sizing chart that goes position by position.
Slowpitch gloves tend to run a size or two bigger across the board, and most slowpitch leagues don’t bother with a dedicated catcher’s mitt at all. The same infield or outfield glove usually covers catcher and first base too, since the ball is arriving on a slower arc instead of a hard, flat throw. I get into all of that in my breakdown of fastpitch vs. slowpitch softball gloves, and if you’re shopping specifically for a slowpitch glove, I’ve tested a handful in my slowpitch softball glove reviews.
Specialty Gloves: Catchers and First Base
Two positions on the softball field typically use gloves that look nothing like the rest: catcher and first base.
Both positions are catching the ball constantly throughout the game, so they need different performance characteristics than a standard fielding glove.
Let’s start with the catcher. This position is on the receiving end of pitch after pitch, all game long.
Softball catcher’s mitts are bigger and rounder than fielding gloves, and instead of being measured tip-to-heel like an infield or outfield glove, they’re measured by circumference. Most adult fastpitch catcher’s mitts run 32 to 34 inches around, and youth mitts run smaller depending on age, sometimes down around 27 inches for the youngest players. My youth catcher’s mitt guide breaks down sizing by age if you need it. That round shape and extra padding make it easier to receive a wider range of pitches and to block balls in the dirt, not just catch them clean.
If you’re playing fastpitch and need a mitt built for real velocity, my fastpitch catcher’s mitt reviews cover the mitts I’ve actually caught with. As I mentioned above, if you’re playing slowpitch, you likely don’t need a dedicated catcher’s mitt at all.
First base works a bit differently. The mitt isn’t as round as a catcher’s mitt, but it has a wider flange that helps you dig throws out of the dirt on low or wide tosses. Adult first base mitts usually run 12.5 to 13 inches.
It’s possible to play first base with a regular infield or outfield glove, but you’re at a real disadvantage compared to someone using a mitt built for the position.
When you’re shopping for a catcher’s mitt or first base mitt, size matters less than fit and pocket depth. As long as it’s built for softball and designed for the position you’re playing, and you’re roughly within the ranges above for your age group, you should be covered.
How to Measure Your Hand for a Softball Glove
If you want to get more specific than a general size chart, you can measure your hand directly.
Lay a tape measure at the tip of your index finger, run it down along the inside of your palm following the natural curve where the pocket sits, and stop at the base of your wrist, right where your palm meets your hand.
That measurement gets you in the ballpark, but it’s not the whole story. A glove that measures “right” on paper can still feel wrong once you actually close it around a ball. Try the glove on, make a fist inside it, and play catch with it before you commit if you can.
Developing Your Own Personal Preference
The last thing to keep in mind is that personal preference plays a real role here.
Some players like a smaller or larger glove than what’s “standard” for their position, and that’s completely fine. The goal is to optimize your performance and make sure your glove isn’t working against you.
As you get more experience on the field, you’ll figure out exactly what you want your glove to do and how you want it to feel in your hand. Have fun out there!
With 4 years of Division II experience, a .272 career batting average, .410 on-base percentage, and 7 home runs, I’m now in my fifth season. I’ve played baseball since age 3, alongside future MLB Draft picks, and I aim to pursue a career in baseball professionally, be it playing, coaching, or scouting.