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Step 1
Decide what kind of glove is needed for the player. There are catcher's mitts, fielder's gloves and first base gloves. Each of these are made differently to enhance the performance of the softball player.
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Step 2
Find a fielder's glove. Fielder's gloves are used by pitchers and field players except the first baseman. Look at the palm padding in the glove. Some gloves have soft thick padding, while others have thinner padding. Companies like Louisville Slugger and All-Star are known for softer palm padding. Check the webbing between the thumb and the first finger. This is the pocket the ball falls into. The style of web you choose depends on the fit you are comfortable with. The most popular webbings are closed, open and single crossbar.
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Step 3
Purchase a catcher's mitt. Catcher's mitts are specifically designed to withstand the amount of play the mitt sees. Inspect the amount of padding around the edges and palm of the mitt. Rawlings, Miken and Spalding are the most popular brands that provide extra padding. The high stress the catcher's glove deals with requires thick leather such as cow or deer. Many major league players use Easton and Rawlings mitts because of the strength of the leather.
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Step 4
Shop for first base gloves. First base gloves are designed to quickly reach and grasp softballs. The closed back design is the most widely used design for a first baseman's mitt. The design has no holes or gaps. Professional players most commonly use Spalding, Reebok, Rawlings, Louisville slugger and Akadema styles for this feature. Look for the cupped pocket feature which is a small pocket between the thumb and the forefinger. This pocket makes catching the softball easier for the player.
