Catchers Mitt

Today’s catchers mitt has advanced to cushion the delivery of a fast ball arriving at nearly 100 miles per hour. The construction must have the shape and styling to enable a catcher to locate the ball once received. It does no good to have all this padding, to cushion the blow if the catcher can’t easily grab the ball and make a play.

Some designs are using a checkered leather in the palm, which provides traction once the ball is in the palm. This patented innovation also helps stop the rotation of the ball making it easier for the player to grip it. Dealing with speed and impact has been done before as manufactures make minor adjustments, but not at all planning to redesign their catchers mitt line.

Extra webbing, gel pockets, synthetic cushions are all aspects of past gloves. None of these have endured time and use though. Leather seems to be the mainstay. Leather and lots of it-four gloves are manufactured per cow hide.

getting the pocket depth right is a major concern with the manufacturers. Quality construction allows a player to get at the ball quickly and effectively and at the same time cushion a fastball. These basic catching considerations may not be of concern the the youthful beginner, but are critically important to the intermediate catcher who will be required to catch up to sixty pitches per game and often throw to the bases efficiently.

One of the favorite designs in catchers gloves was the molded palm glove. The webbing between the thumb and fingers was very small, allowing for the fast retrieval catchers want. Deep pockets have proved too difficult in rescuing the baseball and more manufacturers have long ago gone back to the hinged web developed in the mid 1900′s.

What does all this mean to you if you are shopping for a mitt? Like with all of baseball, one size does not fit everybody. You have to be able to try the glove on your hand. Do you have small hands? if so, the size of the circumference of the glove will be important. Measured around the perimeter, you will be concerned with your ability to close the hinge, snap the ball closed and open quickly for throwing. If your fingers aren’t long enough to close the mitt, you will have problems with the ball popping out.

Practicing retrieving the ball with the glove on your hand. Is the webbing such that the ball gets lost once you catch it? Will you have to dig to locate the ball? If so, this is certainly going to inhibit your ability to throw runners out.