How to Buy a Catcher's Mitt

Baseball and softball catchers need a special, heavily padded glove known as a mitt. Catcher's mitts are used only by catchers and never for any of the other baseball positions. Larger than standard baseball gloves, catcher's mitts contain a large pocket for catching pitches and receiving throws to get a batter out. Follow these steps to buy a catcher's mitt right for you.

Instructions

1. Figure out the best size catcher's mitt for you. The circumference measures catcher's mitts with 32 to 33 inches being an average. The mitt should adjust to your hand and fit snug.

2. Look at the quality of the catcher's mitt. Catcher's mitts, like other gloves, come in a variety of materials with full-grain leather the best. Find sturdy leather that lasts. Sometimes softer leathers wear out faster.

3. Understand the features that come with catcher's mitts. Mitts feature thick padding in the palm, finger area and circumference to catch fastballs. Softball mitts come with less padding, but a larger pocket for the larger ball. Some models tout different technologies designed to protect your hand and improve catching.

4. Check the feel of a catcher's mitt. You want a comfortable mitt that "fits like a glove." Make certain the padding doesn't interfere with your catching ability.

5. Decide how much you want to spend. As a specialized glove, catcher's mitts run higher than regular gloves. Other factors include the quality of the materials. If you're buying a catcher's mitt for a player who is still growing or who might change positions, chances are you don't want to spend too much money.

6. Locate sporting good retailers or online retailers for catching mitts. Retail stores have the advantage of allowing you to try on a mitt.