Sooo. I currently own two and have a third on the way. Imo it is the best custom for the price on the market. Is it as good as the big three? I dunno. These are very similar to a Marrucci.
Wilson vs 44 Pro signature
Leather: Wilson has it beat on thickness and it’s a more buttery feel where 44 is a much dryer leather. Both the A200 and A2K are better.
Weight: Wilson is substantially lighter or better balanced on your hand
Pattern/shape: Wilson is better out of the box. The 44 with the stiffer dryer leather does take shape well but still can’t quite get to where the Wilson is straight from the factory. I’m sure that goes to show the amount of R&D/player feedback that Wilson has based their models off of.
Details (such as stitching): Equal...both logos and embroidered names were flawless. A couple of stitches on the binding were out of place on the 44 but nothing major.
Lace: 44 Pro is far superior
Inserts: 44 Pro are much stiffer
Mizuno vs 44 Pro
Leather: Mizunos feel incredible imo. It’s almost like putting your hand in a va jay jay. I would place the 44 between the Pro Select and Pro of this years line up. Just a touch aboveboard the Global Elite from last years line up.
Pattern/shape: Again out of the box Mizuno. But the the shapes haven’t held up on my Mizunos where the 44 has. Every Mizuno I’ve had has become floppy early on (with the exception of the pro limited) where the 44 is a stiffer glove and retains the shape you mold it to.
Weight: Mizuno wins. The 44 is a heavier glove and it seems like there is too much weight out at the finger tips of the 44.
Details: Mizuno takes the cake here.
Lacing: 44 wins. All of the Mizunos I’ve had, the lacing stretches quite easily and I find myself having to tighten the glove often.
Inserts: Draw
Rawlings vs 44 Pro
Leather: Rawlings wins as long as it’s a PP or a standard HOH. If it’s a Dual Core then 44 wins.
Pattern/shape: Rawlings has a better shape and the best shape retention I have seen out of all the manufacturers.
Weight: Rawlings wins unless it is a oil injected dual core or something similar then 44 is the lighter glove.
Details: Rawlings
Lacing: Rawlings is the only one with better lacing than 44.
Inserts: 44 takes the cake with the stiffer inserts
This is only based off my experiences. I have owned many high end gloves from each of these manufacturers. A couple of side notes.
The positives for 44 is you do get that wider softball pocket that you see in the 1799 or some of the slowpitch models from Wilson.
They will work with you to get through many little custom nuances. And for the money imo there’s nothing better. This is for the signiture series only. I’ll be honest I have not heard one good thing about the lower end customs but have not owned or seen one.
I respect your opinions because:
- They're based on actual experience.
- You've supplied some detail on which you've based your rationales.
Ask Joker for this kind of detail & all you'll get back is crickets chirping & white noise..........
I will ask you, what series 44 Pro do you own? Classic or Signature? Knowing will help me contextualize your opinions.
I personally don't own any 44 Pro but have been able to examine a couple. Both were from the Classic Series. My opinion of them were that they were well-made gloves that loosened up fairly quickly & offered very good value at their price point & level of customization. They were perhaps on the level of a Mizuno Global Elite or Classic Pro Soft. Maybe a touch below an A2000 or HOH but I remember thinking at the time, "From a practical point of view, there'd be little to differentiate once all three were broken in & on the field". They also reminded me very much of a Vinci PC Series glove (white leather). I did think that the Vinci 22 Series (black leather) was superior.
The only area where I differ is that I do find some inconsistencies in your opinion as it relates to my own. You rank the 44 Pro as between a Mizuno Pro Select ($250) & a Mizuno Pro ($350). This would leave me to assume that you own the Signature Series. Now I haven't examined the new Mizuno Pro yet but my opinion on the Pro Select is that it is the equal of a stock A2000 or HOH. I mean "flip a coin" equal. Anyway, to each his own.........
Based on their price points, I think that 44 Pro offers very good value. I personally know of one small glove maker who used the same OEM as 44 Pro. I remember him taking one of his kip leather gloves (same as the Signature), beefing up the stays & putting in a stiffer lacing. What resulted a glove that was superior to any A2000/A2K or HOH/Pro Preferred. Even if you don't do the work yourself & send it out to be done, what are we talking about? A $185 glove with $60 to $80 worth of additional work. $245 to $265 outlay........... Far more cost effective than a custom job from the big 3..........