David Willey is a passionate sports enthusiast and coach. Growing up with basketball and baseball, his love for sports led him across the country, mentoring aspiring athletes. Recognized not only for his athletic skills but also for his expertise in sports equipment testing, David ensures optimal performance for athletes. Read more about him here.
Slowpitch softball is a fun game both for men and women.
However, it can be a challenge for newbies, especially when it comes to the accessories you need to purchase.
Choosing the best slowpitch softball gloves is tricky. Sometimes, you can use whatever you use in fastpitch softball, or even baseball. Otherwise, you need something different.
My first glove was far from the professional standards you can find today, but it worked and got the job done.
These days, you can literally purchase professional softball gloves and use them in your backyard. In my days, you had to spend a fortune to use whatever players were using.
The variety is good, indeed, but at the same time, it can make this whole venture very confusing.
This guide will help you make the right decision, and also introduce you to some of the top-rated gloves on the market.
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Product
Best for
Price
Check The Price
Mizuno MVP Prime SES8
Best for a Perfect Mix of Firmness and Softness
$$$
Louisville Slugger TPS
Best for Value for Money
$$
Miken Pro Series
Best for Quality Materials
$$$
Miken Player Series
Best for Durability
$$
Rawlings Player Preferred
Best for Comfort
$
Mizuno Premier
Best for Beginners
$
Wilson 2021 A360
Best for Weightlessness
$
Table of Contents
I tried pretty much everything out there. I owned a few quality gloves, including some gloves designed for professional use.
As for testing gloves, my hands have been in pretty much everything. Here are some of the top gloves out there and what you can expect from them.
Mizuno has always been a reliable glove brand, but it has never really competed against the top players on the market, Wilson, and Rawlings.
Well, things have changed when it comes to slow pitch softball gloves because the MVP Prime SES8 stands out in the crowd.
The glove is made of professional bio soft leather. Not only will it last for a few good years of daily use, but it is also softer than other types of leather.
Breaking in is a piece of cake. After all, the balance between softness and oil is perfect. You have great control, firmness, and a top-notch feel.
Roll welting is excellent for a clean appearance, but more importantly, it offers a stable feeling around the fingers.
Talking about looks, you will find this glove in a few different color combinations, most of them based on black. It is elegant and stylish.
Believe it or not, even the laces feature the same high-quality standards. They are made with professional standards and often the same experience you can normally get in professional gloves.
Bottom line, you have a professional glove that will not cost you a fortune, what else can you ask for?
Pros
Great feel
Comfortable to wear for hours
Professional standards
Good value for money
Does not require too much breaking in
Cons
Those with small wrists may need to punch more holes for wrist adjustability
Louisville Slugger has always been the underdog when competing against high-quality glove manufacturers, but at the same time, it has always been on top too.
This glove, just like many others from Louisville Slugger, stands out in the crowd with its value for money.
The glove is available in a few color combinations. Size 13.5 is probably the most popular one. In terms of quality, you have a top-notch leather design.
It does require breaking in, but the process is relatively straightforward and quick, so you should be able to use it within a week or so.
Quality laces add to its stability, too, not to mention the pocket. Again, pocket creation takes a while, but playing catch daily for a week will get the job done.
Shape and pocket retention will not disappoint you either, this glove is built to last in both recreational and competitive softball.
Finally, there is little to no maintenance required. Just look after the glove after each game and store it accordingly.
Give it a clean every now and then if it gets messy, and this is pretty much it. It offers nearly professional features at an affordable rate, so it feels like a perfect deal.
Pros
Great value for money
Durable leather build
Pocket lasts for ages
Little to no maintenance required
Adjustable wrist fit
Cons
Breaking in timings varies from one user to another and may take weeks sometimes
The official description of the Miken Pro Series surprised me a little. It is aimed at both competitive and recreational players.
Put this glove on, play a few times, and you will soon realize that it is made with the highest professional standards in mind. It is great for all skill levels.
The glove is made of full-grain leather, one of the leading types of leather in terms of gloves. Normally, it is super stiff and requires plenty of breaking in.
This glove requires 30% breaking in only, as most of the job is factory done. To lots of people, it will feel great out of the box.
The full-grain leather build is likely to retain its shape for years, while durability will not disappoint.
Chances are you will wear this glove for many years, even if you use it in official competitions. Maintenance is minimal.
Moving on, the fit is great because it goes around your wrist and adjusts. You have a quick release mechanism, as well as a pull strap system. It takes a couple of seconds to adjust it.
Finally, it is worth mentioning the Poron XRD palm, as well as the padding around the fingers.
I know exactly the two aspects that will draw your attention regarding this glove. First, you have the brand, which is known for its high-quality standards.
Second, you have a beautiful glove with an excellent color combination. What about the performance then?
Miken raises to the expectations. This glove is suitable for newbies, advanced users, recreational softball, or official competitions.
Up to 90% of the breaking in process is performed by the manufacturer, so you only have the last bit to worry about, which is only a matter of days.
You have the full-grain leather build too, which will not disappoint. It is incredibly durable, probably the most important thing you will notice after a few years of using it.
Moreover, full-grain leather is also known for its shape retention.
The fit is just as good, but not unusual if you have used Miken gloves before. You have the quick release system, which seems a bit different, but you will get used to it.
The best part about it? It fits the wrist perfectly, so there should be no issues there.
Pros
Durable construction
Full grain leather
Adjustable wrist fit
Good looking design
Durable palm padding
Cons
There are reports of super stiff gloves, despite the factory break in process
Rawlings is one of the most popular names on the market when it comes to gloves, so it is no surprise that its products also count among the best slowpitch softball gloves.
The Player Preferred edition comes in a bunch of different colors and styles, with size 13 being the main one.
The glove is suitable for both recreational and competitive softball, but it also works well for other sports, such as baseball.
It comes with a versatile H web designed with quality standards in mind, meaning it is even better for outfield positions. It only requires 20% breaking in, the rest is factory done.
The full-grain leather build guarantees durability and excellent pocket formation and retention. This glove will last for years if well looked after.
Furthermore, you have plenty of palm padding, the so-called zero shock padding technology, which minimizes the impact when catching balls.
Just like you might have guessed already, the wrist strap is adjustable. You can customize it for maximum comfort.
In fact, comfort is what defines this glove once you manage the breaking in process. It literally feels like an extension of your arm.
Pros
Comfortable to wear for hours
Versatile H webbing
Zero shock palm padding
Requires little breaking in
Suitable for more sports
Cons
Sizing might be a little odd for those with tiny hands
Mizuno can successfully deliver at all levels. This is one of the first gloves I have ever used at a more professional level and one of my most common recommendations for newbies.
It feels like a professional glove, but it is less likely to handle too many professional games.
Therefore, I find it handy for newbies, as well as recreational slow pitch softball with friends or even high school competitions.
The glove does come with a bunch of features that will make it stand out, especially in this price range.
It is not based on leather, but a similar fabric, which feels like fake leather. It requires no breaking in, but it feels soft and ready to use out of the box, which is great for a beginner.
It has a super soft palm liner based on PU leather, which is super comfy.
There is a bit of full-grain leather used in the design, though, mostly around the palm and back. These parts are quite exposed, so the full-grain leather will add to the durability.
As for the fit, it is quite secure due to the power lock strap.
The 13-inch alternative from Wilson is not to be overlooked either. After all, Wilson is known for its high-quality standards and professional gloves, but it also provides options for less professional uses.
This glove is great for beginners, high school competitions, and recreational softball.
In terms of features and extras, the glove comes with a closed V laced web, as well as the so-called CarbonLite shell. The shell design adds to its durability, but it also reduces its weight.
This is why I mostly recommend this as one of the best slowpitch softball gloves for newbies.
Despite the price, the glove is based on high-quality leather. It does require a bit of breaking in, but the effort is totally worth the result.
You will have a snug fit and an excellent pocket. Plus, it retains its shape without too much hassle.
Available in a few different color combinations, the glove also comes with a velcro design. Adjustments are fairly simple, even while in a game.
It takes a second to make it tighter or looser. With these features in mind, the glove offers excellent value for money too.
Pros
Leather design
Good value for money
Lightweight profile
Durable profile
Good looking design
Cons
Takes a bit of effort to break in
Choosing the Best Slowpitch Softball Gloves – Our Buying Guide
Now, what do you look for when choosing the top slowpitch softball gloves? Let me break it down for you.
Material
This is one of the top considerations. Synthetic gloves are great for beginners and even recreational softball. They require no breaking in and feel quite comfortable.
Cowhide and pigskin are durable and break in without too much hassle, but they are not as solid and qualitative as kip leather, which is basically lightweight cowhide.
More professional players will go for full-grain hide leather, which is standard in top competitions. Breaking in is difficult and requires effort, but the result is worth it.
Finally, steer hide leather is the ultimate material. It is tough and solid, but it will also last for years without too much maintenance.
Position
There are quite a few differences in softball gloves based on the position you play. Obviously, you can also find gloves suitable for more positions, mostly aimed at beginners or youth players.
The position will affect the web type, size, and even pocket formation. For instance, pitchers need deep pockets, while catchers require perfect control.
Infielders need shallow pockets for quick release moves. Meanwhile, an outfielder must catch flying balls, so a deep pocket is a must.
First baseman’s gloves are larger than average and come with shallow pockets.
Web Type
Again, the web type depends on the position, but each position has a few different recommendations in terms of webbing.
Fielders will most likely do with basket, H, I, two-piece, trapeze, and modified trap webbing types. Cross webs are also quite common.
First basemen have fewer options. The single post web is probably the most popular one, but it is worth considering the modified H and dual bar webbing types too.
If you prefer being a catcher, opt for half moon or one-piece web types.
Fit
The fit must be snug, tight enough to prevent the glove from slipping away, but also comfortable. The good news is that leather gloves tend to break in and can adjust to the shape of your hand.
However, I still believe you should try out more gloves in person before making a decision.
Try out a few gloves from your best friends or other players, and see how they feel like.
You can also go to a local sports or softball store and try out different gloves, feel them and see them in person. Sure, it will be difficult to tell how they fit if they require breaking in, but still…
You can try out gloves in person, then go back home and order online for better deals.
Best Slowpitch Softball Gloves – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How big should a slowpitch softball glove be?
It depends on your position. Infielders will normally go for 11 to 12.5 inches, while youth players will usually do with 12-inch gloves. Outfielders can use gloves as big as 14 inches. Players over 13 and adults should go for 12.5 or 13 inches.
How do you know if a softball glove is too big?
Measure your hand before deciding on the size. Start at the tip of the index finger and go all the way to where your wrist begins. The measurement in inches is your size.
Do you need a glove for slowpitch softball?
While speeds are clearly much slower in slowpitch softball, a glove is still needed for protection and comfort, but also for more effectiveness on the field.
The Verdict
Browsing the best slowpitch softball gloves will give you quite a few good options. Which one is the best? Hard to tell, as what works for some people will not work for everyone else.
Mizuno MVP Prime SES8 is the best and most qualitative glove, in my opinion, and will last for years. However, I believe Louisville Slugger TPS will do the trick if you shop on a budget.
