Whether you're gearing up your little slugger for their first season or navigating the myriad of options for your growing MVP, selecting the right glove shouldn't just involve picking one off the shelf. It should be about finding the perfect fit that matches your kid's needs and your wallet's limits.

Glove Talk 101: Sizes & Types

There's a difference between a baseball mitt and a glove.

As a rule of thumb (no pun intended), gloves have fingers, and mitts don't. Easy, right?

Well OK… there's a bit more to unpack when we're diving into the differences between baseball gloves and mitts, especially when considering the use of batting gloves:

• Baseball gloves are versatile and can be used in almost any position, making them ideal for players, especially the younger crowd ages 5-12, who are still playing all over the place, trying out different infield and outfield positions and learning the game’s fundamentals. They're designed to offer flexibility and control, which is important for developing players.
• Mitts are specialized, only first basemen and catchers use them. They're designed to handle those tricky scoops while providing extra hand protection. Mitts are designed to maximize the area for catching and provide extra padding to protect the hand, which is critical given the force and frequency of catches in these roles.
• Batting gloves are a separate piece of gear, but they're still relevant to bring up here. Batting gloves provide a few key benefits to batters:
• Grip Improvement - They help players maintain a better grip on the bat, which can translate to improved control and power when hitting.
• Shock Absorption - Batting gloves help reduce the sting from hitting the ball, especially in colder weather or when a ball is hit off the end of the bat or near the handle.
• Moisture Control -They absorb sweat, keeping the hands drier and more comfortable during the game, which also helps with maintaining a good grip on the bat.

Note that a lot of players wear batting gloves under their baseball gloves. Batting gloves provide a soft layer that can help prevent those nasty blisters and calluses.

Plus, they can help cushion the hand against those hard throws—which, when you think about it, is pretty clutch.

Pro Tip: When it comes to custom baseball gloves, it's important to remember that wearing batting gloves underneath can influence the fit and feel of fielding gloves. Players might benefit from a slightly larger glove size if they consistently wear batting gloves underneath, to accommodate the extra layer without affecting comfort or mobility. This is something to consider when measuring for a new glove, so make sure to measure with the batting glove on if your young player prefers to wear one while fielding.

Sizing & Measurement

Choosing a smaller glove for your youngster rather than one with extra room to grow might feel a bit like you’re planning for them to outgrow it by next Tuesday. But trust me, there's a method to this madness.

While buying them a smaller glove might seem counterintuitive, it actually makes it easier for their smaller hands to manage and whip the ball out when making plays. A glove that’s too big for them can end up being a floppy mess on their hand, more of a hindrance than anything else.

How to Measure

Grab a flexible tape measure (no rulers, please—they're too stiff for this gig).

• Length - Have your child extend their dominant hand with the fingers straight and together. Take a flexible tape measure and run it from the tip of their middle finger down to the base of the palm. This measures the length of the hand, which correlates to the size of the glove.
• Circumference - Next, measure around the widest part of the hand, excluding the thumb. This is usually just under the knuckles. This measurement helps determine the glove's width and how snugly it will fit around the hand.

Baseball glove manufacturers typically provide size charts that correlate hand measurements to glove sizes. These charts can be a lifesaver when shopping for a glove, especially online.

Consider their Age and Position

• Youth Sizes - For kids, gloves range from 9 inches (toddler sized) to about 12 inchesfor older children. The size increments reflect the growth and development of their hands as well as their control needs.
• Position Specifics - If your child is already specializing in a position like catcher or first base, mitt sizes can differ and are often designed with more padding and a different structure.

Pro Tip: If your child wears batting gloves while fielding, you might want to consider how that affects the fit. Batting gloves add extra layers, and this might mean choosing a fielding glove that’s slightly larger to accommodate that additional bulk.

Final Fit Check

• The Fit -The glove should fit snugly on the hand but not be too tight. It should allow enough room to feel comfortable even during extended play, without slipping off or shifting.
• Room to Grow -A little bit of growing room is okay, as long as it doesn’t compromise the glove’s effectiveness in catching and controlling the ball.

Pricing: What You (Really) Need to Know

You definitely don’t need to break the bank for decent youth baseball gloves. Seriously, there are even some awesome affordable custom gloves out there that will do the job when it comes to kitting out your budding baseball star.

Sure, you can always shell out more dough for the more hyped-up brands, but for a young player? They’ll probably outgrow it before it wears out. Yes, they're flashy. Yes, they're touted by influencers who get paid to tout. But they might not be the best investment for a kid. Kids grow. Fast. And that fancy glove might just be collecting dust by the time next season rolls around because it doesn’t fit anymore.

Stick to a high quality custom glove maker within your budget and you'll be golden.

Now, when I say "custom," you might start seeing dollar signs. But there are smaller American glove makers like Relentless Sports that create custom gloves that aren't priced out of reach. They can also be sized to fit your young player's hand perfectly, which can boost their confidence and performance. The best part is, they come with price tags that are surprisingly reasonable. You're getting a bespoke baseball glove, without the bespoke price.

Buying your kid a personalized glove also means thinking about longevity. A well-made custom glove can last through several seasons if cared for properly.

So teach your kid to treat their glove right—clean it after games, store it properly, and condition the leather occasionally. This extends the life of the glove while teaching them responsibility and respect for their equipment.

Pro Tip: Most youth gloves these days are pretty much ready to go right out of the box. No need for those old-school break-in rituals. Just play catch a few times, and that glove will start fitting like a glove (OK, that pun actually was intended). If it feels a bit stiff, work the leather a bit, or play some catch—the glove will soften up naturally with casual play.

The Final Inning

Choosing a custom baseball glove doesn't have to be as complicated as a ninth-inning grand slam. Keep it simple: good quality leather, right size, right price. Do that, and your kid will be scooping up grounders and catching fly balls like a major leaguer in no time. Play ball!