r8dr_rider
Well-Known Member
I’ve been playing some IF, recently and my 14” Rawlings is way too big. I’ve looked at 12” but they feel too small. Anyone used 12.5 or 12 3/4 in IF without transfer issues?
What size are you using for IF?
- Thread starter r8dr_rider
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sleepin4matty
Management Material
I use 12.5 with no issues. 12.75 feels too big but have a teammate with a 15.....
David the Gnome
The Veteran
I've been using a 12" PRO1000, but it plays a lot bigger than any of my other 12" gloves. I also have a 12.5" A2000 1799 that I've used at every position at one time or another. I guess it just depends on my mood and how many gloves I feel like dragging to the field. I play baseball mostly, so I only have those two gloves I've designated as softball gloves plus a DCT for playing first.
HabanaSugarKings
Member
I used to do it with an 11.75 ( I know right?), I was reluctant to go anything bigger than 12 because I had the same transfer concerns. A couple of seasons ago I was finally convinced and went up to 12.5 and now I wish I would've done it sooner!
Hiltz
Built for comfort
I used to have the same concern regarding transfers at 2b and I also toyed with 11.75" and 12" gloves. Then I realized that I was missing maybe 10 balls for every DP turn I made that I wouldn't have with a bigger glove.
Anybody who claims you should use a tiny glove because baseball infielders do needs to actually hold a baseball in a glove. An 11.5" glove swallows a baseball about as much as a 13" glove swallows a softball.
r8dr_rider
Well-Known Member
Picked up a 12.75 Rawlings Premier series. Feels semi game ready. I’ll break it in and game it in league in a week. If not ready I still have back ups
Onehitwinsit08
Manager
12.25 KB17. Perfect size for me. I can't say I've yet had a play where I've needed anything bigger.
r8dr_rider
Well-Known Member
Ok, so I ended up gaming the Rawlings Premier during league tonight Felt really good during warm up. Played catcher and 3b. And guess what? Not one ball hit my way and only caught like 2 balls at catcher. Other team swung at everything and kicked our ass. I was pissed cuz our starting 3b had many grounders and liners go past him, so I swapped us. And after that they never hit my way. At least the glove smells nice
Most in my leagues seem to use a 12.5 (no 12"ers and a few 13") that 12.5" size seems to evoke softball and the pockets accommodate well. I use two gloves: a 12.75 3039 and a 12.5 SPX125 in that order. There probably will always be a play you wish your glove was a bit bigger/longer or smaller, but I found these sizes were a good compromise and work well in the air and on the ground.
MaverickAH
Well-Known Member
When I played both IF/OF, I used 12.5. Once I started playing IF predominately, I went smaller especially for modified & fastpitch. The smallest was 11.85". Once I started playing slowpitch again, I went back up to 12.5". I actually still feel more comfortable playing with sub 12.5" gloves. I prefer wide, bowl-shaped patterns.
mpk
Extra Hitter
Ditto this exactly. KB17 is perfect for softball IF.
I used a 12" Pro1000 last year and it was fine but the 12.25" KB17 is just a better - big enough pocket without slowing transfers.
ANNASDAD
The Veteran
For fastpitch infield, 12" gloves (Pro206 & Pro1000) have been the sweet spot for us, although some girls do use smaller. And still some girls who don't know any better are still using their dad's 13" glove at 2B 
. Just kidding, we're way past that point now.
With girls now running a 2.6 second time home to first, this game is SO much faster than men's SP softball, there's absolutely no time to be fooling around trying to get a ball out of your glove!
For several years while playing SS on an open league team, our 3B used a 15" glove, it was massive, he wouldn't think of using a smaller glove!
. Just kidding, we're way past that point now.With girls now running a 2.6 second time home to first, this game is SO much faster than men's SP softball, there's absolutely no time to be fooling around trying to get a ball out of your glove!
For several years while playing SS on an open league team, our 3B used a 15" glove, it was massive, he wouldn't think of using a smaller glove!
clementeunknown
Addicted to Softballfans
I went from high school baseball to softball using my 11.5 HOH. After that I used my PP 11.75 up until I turned 35 that was 4 years ago. Now I use a 13.5 Super Z. As I've slowed down some, the bigger glove let's me keep up.
ShortYellowBus
Well-Known Member
Depends on the pattern and the depth of the pocket.
Shallow pockets play long and deep pockets are “smaller”. Everyone know they measure the glove leather before they assemble it.
Middle infield for me, NP7 12.25”. I’ll try the 12.5” 504 next.
Shallow pockets play long and deep pockets are “smaller”. Everyone know they measure the glove leather before they assemble it.
Middle infield for me, NP7 12.25”. I’ll try the 12.5” 504 next.
ANNASDAD
The Veteran
As SYB just said, it depends on the pattern in question, take Anna's 12" Pro206 and her 12" DM Pro1000, those two gloves are identical in their dimensions and pocket depth! Now compare those two gloves side by side to my 12.25" KB17 = (Pro207), even though all three gloves are "Pro200" patterns, that KB17 that's 0.25 larger will swallow those other two gloves.......not really but there's a very noticeable difference in length, width, and pocket depth. The 1/4" difference is not just in the length.
mpk
Extra Hitter
I can 2nd this having had the same gloves. The KB17 is bigger than the extra 1/4" would leave you to believe. That extra 1/4" DOES make a difference in how it plays. I haven't heard this officially but I'm guessing that the dies that cut them are expanded in more dimensions than just finger length. Based on how the 12" pro1000 and 12.25" KB17 feel side by side, I think that all the leather pieces are probably some percentage larger in all dimensions. Any of the glove gurus have thoughts on that?
Hiltz
Built for comfort
The length measurement is taken on the palm from heel to tip of index finger when it's fresh out of the cutting die. Any small variance here is practically unnoticeable. But add a little bit of leather on every stamped piece of leather and it adds up. And some leather stretches out more with use.
Imagine making your car 2" longer, you'd never be able to tell. Now add 2" to the wheelbase, height, rims, ground clearance, etc.
Btw, never take the stamped size on a glove as gospel. I have a 12.75" Gloveworks and a 12.25" Easton small batch that are practically identical in every dimension. The Gloveworks has 2 seasons of heavy use whereas the Easton is brand new, so by rights the GW should be stretched out even bigger.
Imagine making your car 2" longer, you'd never be able to tell. Now add 2" to the wheelbase, height, rims, ground clearance, etc.
Btw, never take the stamped size on a glove as gospel. I have a 12.75" Gloveworks and a 12.25" Easton small batch that are practically identical in every dimension. The Gloveworks has 2 seasons of heavy use whereas the Easton is brand new, so by rights the GW should be stretched out even bigger.