So Jeremy, what’s the best baseball glove for kids and beginners?
I want a good glove, but I don’t want to pay a lot of money for a glove that my kid will probably only use for a couple of seasons.
Howdy friends and welcome back to BaseballXGear!
This was a question we received recently from a visitor looking for their kids first glove.
I decided to put this quick post together to help as many people as possible who may find themselves in a similar situation of trying to find a good glove at a fair price.
In this post we will talk a little bit about my top entry level baseball glove that is perfect for kids and beginners.
Let’s get going!
What’s The Best Baseball Glove For Kids And Beginners?
As a baseball Dad and coach myself, my kids and I have had the opportunity to use many different gloves.
Some have been great, while some…Not so much.
I completely understand the feeling of wanting your kids to have the best, while keeping in mind that when they are first starting out, they will most likely need a new glove every year or two.
This is perfectly understandable.
You don’t want to send your kid out on the field with a piece of plastic that couldn’t catch a sticky piece of rolled up tape. On the other hand, you don’t want to drop a couple hundred bucks on the latest and greatest glove that will soon find itself sitting in the back of the closet.
Luckily, I have just the glove in mind that can help make this decision a little easier.
What I Need In A Beginners Baseball Glove
Here are some factors that we considered when determining what glove to recommend to people who are looking for their kids first glove.
- Flexible
- Light weight
- Quality
- Price
Flexibility
One of the worst things I see from most entry level gloves is stiffness.
In a beginners glove, I want the glove to be as flexible as possible. A young kid is going to have a hard time closing a glove to catch a ball as it is.
I want the material to be as flexible as possible, right out of the box.
Light Weight
Having a glove that is heavy and bulky is not going to help a young kid or beginner learn how to catch a baseball.
This is something I see often in the first few practices of the year.
A kid just starting out is probably not going to have a lot of arm strength, and having a heavy glove is going to add to the frustration of learning how to catch.
Quality
Just because it’s their first glove, it does not mean that you should not demand a certain level of quality.
I want the leather and other materials used in the glove to be able to stand up to the rigors that a season or two of baseball is going to present.
The last thing I want to see is a glove that starts to fall apart after a few practices!
Price
Last, but certainly not least is price.
As I said earlier, when a kid is just starting out, they will most likely need a new glove every season or two.
I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg for a glove that will need to be replaced each year.
The flip side to that thought is this:
If your kid has siblings that are coming up behind them who intend to play ball also, then spending a little extra and passing the glove down is an awesome idea.
The Best Baseball Glove For Kids And Beginners?
Rawlings Players Glove Series | T-Ball & Youth Baseball Gloves
The Rawlings Players Glove comes in three different sizes. It comes in a 9” for kids ages 3 to 5, a 10” for children ages 5 to 7, and 11.5” for ages 7 to 9.
As you can tell, it is obviously a children’s and youth baseball glove. Keep in mind that it does of course come in both left handed and right handed models.
The Rawlings Players Glove is an all purpose beginners glove. It is designed to work in any field position. It’s all about allowing kids and beginners to learn how to play baseball and to catch a ball.
This particular baseball glove is made out of very high quality vinyl. No, it’s not real leather, but vinyl is still very durable. Moreover, it’s also quite soft and pliable, very much so in fact. Therefore, kids should not have a problem making quick catches. It doesn’t require much breaking in at all.
This glove is designed to be both durable and lightweight. It definitely won’t weigh those small arms down too much. It comes complete with a basket web pattern that makes it easy to scoop up grounders and catch fly balls.
Rawlings Remix Glove Series
Here we have a nice baseball glove that comes in colors that are ideal for both young girls and boys. The pink one definitely stands out. Keep in mind that it does come in both left and right handed models.
In terms of the size, here there are two sizes available. These include a 9” model for ages 3 to 5, and a 10.5” model for ages 6 to 9.
This does make for an ideal infield glove. However, technically speaking, it is designed as a utility glove that works well for all positions. It’s more about learning the mechanics of baseball rather than being 100% performance oriented.
The basket web pattern makes it easy to catch fly balls and to scoop up grounders. Moreover, the Rawlings Remix is made out of vinyl. Vinyl is a good option for beginner gloves as it is very durable and doesn’t require much maintenance.
At the same time, this material is also very soft and pliable. This means that those small hands can still use this glove without having to use too much force. It also doesn’t require a long break in period.
No, it’s not as durable or good looking as real leather, but vinyl works just fine for children’s and beginner’s gloves. On a side note, the interior of this glove is designed to be quite soft and plush.
Kicbertin Baseball Glove
Kids and beginners alike will appreciate how this baseball glove comes in eight different colors to choose from. Now, what does need to be said is that this glove is left handed only.
In other words, it is worn on the left hand and designed for right handed throwers. Unfortunately, it does not come in left handed throw models.
However, what is beneficial is that it comes in four different sizes. Here, you can choose from a 9.5”, 10.5”, 11.5”, and 12.5” model. Therefore, this glove can be used by youth and teenagers too. The 12.5” model may even fit adults with relatively small hands.
What is worth noting is that the Kicbertin Baseball Glove is made out of synthetic PU cowhide. It looks like real leather, it performs like it, and it’s just as durable as real leather too.
Unlike real leather however, this synthetic material doesn’t require nearly as much maintenance or upkeep. What is cool is that the cord here is however made out of real leather. What we can say is that this glove features a durable and high quality build. It can easily handle big impacts from flying balls.
Moreover, this synthetic material is also designed to be very soft and pliable. This is a glove that does not require much of a break in period. Furthermore, this synthetic material is also fairly lightweight, so it won’t weigh those arms down too much.
This baseball glove also comes with a spongia stereoscopic design in the rear of the wrist. This helps to provide a good deal of cushioning to the wrist for ultimate comfort.
Wilson A2K Baseball Glove Series
Ok, so this is a very high quality baseball glove, certainly not a cheap one. That said, if a beginner is dedicated to playing baseball, then there is no reason to not go for a high quality model right from the get go.
This glove is an 11.5” model, so it should fit teenagers and adults alike (smaller adults). Moreover, it does also come in both left handed and right handed models.
Now, what is really cool is that you can choose position specific gloves here. You can choose from pitcher, infield, outfield, and first base glove models. Keep in mind that this glove features an H-web basket design.
What also stands out is that this glove is made out of real pro stock select leather. Only the best of leather is used when making these gloves. It certainly looks awesome, it is very durable, and it performs really well too.
The interior of this glove features a ProLux leather liner that is very soft, comfortable, and pliable. It also helps to wick moisture away from the skin.
This glove features a double palm construction with a special liner. It helps make the outer shell more durable and stable, while also reducing glove rebound for easier catches. This glove also features flat finger binding for players who like having a ginger outside of the glove.
What’s The Best Baseball Glove For Kids And Beginners? – That’s A Wrap!
Buying your kids first baseball glove should be an exciting and enjoyable experience.
The Louisville Slugger Genesis baseball glove line was designed with this in mind, offering the best quality for the best price.
My kids loved these gloves and I still keep a few in the bag for practices when inevitably a kid shows up to practice who forgot their glove.
These are very durable gloves that will help your kid enjoy their journey into the awesome world of baseball.
I hope you enjoyed the article and that we helped answer the question, what’s the best baseball glove for kids and beginners?
If you have any questions about this glove or anything else, please leave a comment below and I will get back with you as soon as possible.
I truly think you and your kid will love this baseball glove!
Thanks for stopping by ~Jeremy
P.S. After you get that new glove, don’t forget to Check Out The Best Way To Break In A New Glove
If your kid has moved past the beginners stage and you are looking to move up, check out the link below.