Any baseball guru's out there?

[Neesy228]

I somehow ended up with a very sports oriented child - which is hilarious considering I have spend most of my life avoiding anything involving organized sports. His wish list this year is ALL sports equipment. I've got a handle on everything else, but he's asking for a catchers mitt for baseball....

I need help! I know it's different than a regular mitt, but how to do I pick one and which hand should he wear it on? He's a righty for throwing, so left? He's 8 years old, so I'm assuming there are youth sizes like there are in everything else? Oh man....HELP! I'm lost!

 

[TEK224]

Hi Neesy,

If he throws with his right-hand, then yes, he'll want a glove to wear on his left hand.

The mitt will have a little more padding in it than a regular fielder's glove.

I would go to websites (Sports Authority, Modell's, etc.) of stores near you and look at the photos of the different mitts. There are youth sizes.

 

[Neesy228]

Thanks

Do you happen to know which youth size would work for an 8 year old? Looks like they have 31 and 33 inches...and I'm assuming that when it says "right handed throw" that means it's a glove for the left hand?

Hi Neesy,

If he throws with his right-hand, then yes, he'll want a glove to wear on his left hand.

The mitt will have a little more padding in it than a regular fielder's glove.

I would go to websites (Sports Authority, Modell's, etc.) of stores near you and look at the photos of the different mitts. There are youth sizes.

 

[eduk8r26]

Rather than look at pictures, take him to a sporting goods store and let the guys in there help you fit him. He doesn't have to know it's for Christmas. Just tell him you want to know what size in case he plays Little League or something.

 

[footballmouse]

When you are looking at the back/top of the glove, if the webbing is closer to the right then it's for the left hand. If he throws right handed then this is what you'll want.

If he's smaller in size then you might want the smaller hand size but if he's an average sized 8 yr old then I'd go w/the bigger one.

Can you take him to a sporting goods store to just browse. He'll probably want to go over & check them out and this would give you the chance to have him try them on. Secretly remember which one he liked and look at the size, try to write it down quickly. Tell him this is something that will have to go on his Xmas list. I do this all the time w/my kids. I did this last winter & was able to get my ds his glove & bat for his birthday.

You could also get him a gift card to the sporting goods store & just put on a card that this is to be used at a later date for a catcher's mitt. That way he can try it out & pick out the exact one he wants then use his Xmas gift card. My boys love getting the gift cards.

 

[David 1980]

Mom take him to a sporting good store and have him try them on. I have a son who started catching at 8 and loves it and now wants to be a hockey goalie.Mom make sure you get a mitt that is large enough for him as he will be growing and they are not cheap for a good one. I am thrilled at 8 your son wants to be a catcher,it is a position that not to many want to play. Good luck.

 

[dawson5]

I have a ball player (catcher also) and this site has helped some:

http://www.justballgloves.com

Look on the bottom for the "glove coach." You fill in the information and it will give you a good idea on sizing.

I have not bought anything from this site, but I have from it's sister site (justbats.com). My son isn't in need of a new glove yet, so I haven't researched the prices. I know the bat site, the prices were great. I would think it would be the same.

ETA: when we bought the bat, we went to the B&M stores to figure out which bat we wanted. We ordered online. Sporting equipment is not cheap I've found, at least not for quality.

 

[mommy2twingles]

Another vote for going to the store. My son is asking for new equipment as well. We went to several stores till we found everything he wanted. I then went back without him later to purchase the items. I can tell you we tried on about 50 different gloves between regular fielding ones to catchers mitts till he found the two that he really liked.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

As others have posted...please take your son to a sport's store and have him try them on. Do some research ahead of time...because some of the box stores do not always have the best information. We find that our local sport's stores are way more knowledgeable about glove sizes, bat sizes, etc...

My kid plays travel baseball and is extremely particular about his equipment. This includes bats, gloves and catching gear. Also...each player is different with what feels the best on...

I hope that your son continues to enjoy baseball! It's a great sport to play!

Crystal

 

[Mom_Rides]

How about a gift card to Dicks or another sporting goods store in your area so that he can go and pick out his own mitt? You could go check out the price ranges and find whats comfortable for you and get a gift card for that price range. I would have no idea what to get if one of my boys asked for that (or any other sporting equipment for that matter ).