A the best softball glove for a short stop is...

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444

Nov 5, 2021
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Just throwing this out there...

Might this be the best glove ever, just for your daughter? I do fully believe in the fact some gloves are better than others, but is this best for all SS?
I recently reached out to one of the best to do it (paid her for her time), and she provided a lot of guidance for the kid.. but one of the questions we asked was.. what does someone who does it so well use? wish i got to her a few years earlier.





Like i said.. this post is for someone like me searching for info.. i can say i spent a lot of money to figure out what wasn't good.
we "found", the same glove she used at the college and pro level.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
I recently reached out to one of the best to do it (paid her for her time), and she provided a lot of guidance for the kid.. but one of the questions we asked was.. what does someone who does it so well use? wish i got to her a few years earlier.





Like i said.. this post is for someone like me searching for info.. i can say i spent a lot of money to figure out what wasn't good.
we "found", the same glove she used at the college and pro level.

Not that it isn't a great glove but UW is a Wilson school and she currently has a Wilson endorsement deal so....
 

444

Nov 5, 2021
29
3
Not that it isn't a great glove but UW is a Wilson school and she currently has a Wilson endorsement deal so....
you are right.. but she was using the same glove from her Firecracker Rico days. (you'll find old pics) and even though shes on the wilson player board, and yes she tried to sell the softball gloves.. she still uses the trusty 87 when its time to ball.

 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
you are right.. but she was using the same glove from her Firecracker Rico days. (you'll find old pics) and even though shes on the wilson player board, and yes she tried to sell the softball gloves.. she still uses the trusty 87 when its time to ball.


Good to hear. Glad you found a good glove for your DD.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
I recently reached out to one of the best to do it (paid her for her time), and she provided a lot of guidance for the kid.. but one of the questions we asked was.. what does someone who does it so well use? wish i got to her a few years earlier.





Like i said.. this post is for someone like me searching for info.. i can say i spent a lot of money to figure out what wasn't good.
we "found", the same glove she used at the college and pro level.



Excellent.

I certainly appreciate the advice and you sharing your learnings. If I was buying a SS glove, I'd start with this one and work from there.
 
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Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
you are right.. but she was using the same glove from her Firecracker Rico days. (you'll find old pics) and even though shes on the wilson player board, and yes she tried to sell the softball gloves.. she still uses the trusty 87 when its time to ball.


The cool thing about gloves…and glove guys, more times than not it’s a generational thing.

I’d bet you a cheeseburger that her Dad was a Wilson guy so naturally that’s what he put on her hand from the start.

Of course I’m 100% guessing, I don’t know Sis or her Dad! 😉
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
you. my only concern with those.. the leather is soo smooth is hurts like a b**** when you have someone with a gun fires at you.
Not quite following you on the smooth leather thing? The Pro1000 exclusives don’t have a palm pad if that’s what you’re referring to?

If you catch the ball where it’s supposed to be caught, no problem! And the Pro1000 used to be a pro-issue model, for advanced players / pros, so there’s definitely not going to be a palm pad. At least I’ve never seen one with a palm pad?
 

LEsoftballdad

DFP Vendor
Jun 29, 2021
2,838
113
NY
It's hard to argue with the DP model of the A2000. I've sold more of those to baseball players in the last few years than any other glove. What I can say is neither of my daughters liked the A2000. They said it felt like plastic. I let mine choose what brand they wanted by trying them on. They both went with Rawlings for their custom glove and mitt. One chose the Pro Preferred, and the other went with a Heart of The Hide.

The best glove is always the best glove for your player. Regardless of endorsement by athletes, you have to like it. As you can see by my avatar, I am a drummer. I grew up listening to Neil Peart (RIP), Nicko McBrain, Charlie Benante, and a whole slew of other drummers. I was convinced Sonor and Paiste was the best combination one could use because Nicko used them. How could anyone argue that Iron Maiden's drummer didn't use the best? Then I realized it was all personal preference. There was no best. The story's moral is to go with what works best for your daughter.
 
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444

Nov 5, 2021
29
3
I’d bet you a cheeseburger that her Dad was a Wilson guy so naturally that’s what he put on her hand from the start.

very good point. I should be completely clear about my history.
I hate softball and baseball. I hate watching it, etc... I never played it. In all the sports i've ever been around i've never spent so much money. Bats 350-500??? Yearly/Every other year! :sick: Gloves, cleats, bags, expensive tournaments, etc.. what a scam.

If i could do it again.... Soccer / Basketball / Track.. This way they have sports to play for life with high cardio levels.

but thats not important now. This is my long winded way of saying i had no bias. I thought i wanted the kids to rock Rawlings, because its what i saw MLBers use. So the first several gloves were heart of the hides. Then they started practicing in the rain? got the "cheaper" 44 gloves with the synthetic so they wouldn't ruin their leather. .. and tried Wilson probably because of Annas dad or someone else on this forum.

I said this earlier.. but if we were to be a fly on the wall when Rawlings and Wilson designed gloves, i bet it went like this.

Rawlings: Lets make a glove that feels like the extension of your hand and takes the pain away of catching this ball. Put your hand straight down flat on this leather and lets cut a pattern.

Wilson: Rawlings has been doing this for years.. They are the glove that the MLB uses.. How do get into this business with an innovation they aren't doing? Well Rawlings gloves are designed like a straight extension of your fingers.. but when you are balling, the field-transfer-fire has to be quick to get more outs at first, why don't you hold your glove hand up like you are doing a transfer, we'll bring the leather to your hand and cut it at the point your going to make a transfer.

Below are image examples of what i'm talking about.. Your Rawlings softball gloves extend straight and create a U pocket. The baseball glove is slightly better even if you flair it with the 11.75".. but your Wilson gloves create a J funnel. So if i flip the gloves over and am doing a transfer, the rawling softball glove has less precise drop since its a wider U. Thats why some players have to dig in their gloves. The wilson pattern creates a J channel where the ball drops in a smaller tolerance. Small difference, but much quicker.. its catch-find-fire, vs catch-drop-fire. Watch this next time your out. You'll see girls with the bigger pocket gloves looking at their glove when doing the transfer, vs the girls with the wilson baseball gloves are looking at the first base. You know were the ball will be.. It could be because of the smaller size + pattern.. i don't know. Its a great combo whatever it is.

At SS the one tick delay is the difference between out at first, and safe.

You'll also see this if you had tan gloves. Our Rawlings gloves have palm stains right in the middle of the palm. The Wilson gloves, you see the palm stains are higher into the pocket. (Shallower pocket)


IMG_0805.jpgIMG_0806.jpgIMG_0809.jpg


TLDR:
Glove rankings for softball SS.
1) Wilson Baseball Glove
2) See above
3) See above
4) See above
5) Rawlings Baseball Glove

pass on the softball gloves if you play MIF.

Sincerely,
Strongly Opinionated Fool who wasted a lot of money.
 
Last edited:

444

Nov 5, 2021
29
3
Not quite following you on the smooth leather thing? The Pro1000 exclusives don’t have a palm pad if that’s what you’re referring to?

If you catch the ball where it’s supposed to be caught, no problem! And the Pro1000 used to be a pro-issue model, for advanced players / pros, so there’s definitely not going to be a palm pad. At least I’ve never seen one with a palm pad?
the leather feels so supple, than when the kids throw hard at me it really stings my hands. I am not/never been an advanced player. but to your point, i am just catching to not get hit, rather than focusing on where the ball hits.
 

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