Playing as a catcher is one of the most difficult positions in baseball and softball. This makes it crucial for you to choose the best fastpitch catcher’s mitt.
Catcher’s mitts are quite different from regular fastpitch gloves. Wearing the wrong one will greatly affect your performance.
This article will help you find a catcher’s mitt suitable for you. Also listed are some of the best fastpitch catcher’s mitts to help you narrow down your choices.
Top Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitts for Softball Players in 2023: A Comparison Guide
Catcher’s Mitt | Speciality | Our Ratings | Price |
Wilson A2000 Fastpitch Glove Series | Dual welting technology for extra support | ||
Mizuno Franchise Fastpitch Glove Series | Made from pre-oiled Java Leather for a soft feel | ||
Wilson Aura Fastpitch Softball Glove | Deep pocket for catching balls | ||
Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Glove Series | Lightweight design for easy maneuvering | ||
Wilson A1000 Fastpitch Glove Series | Customizable fit with adjustable wrist strap |
Best Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt
Wilson A2000 Fastpitch Glove Series
Wilson has been one of the leading companies in the sporting goods sector for its best quality goods. They have been in the market for years now and are conquering the market ever since their establishment. Wilson’s best-known gloves are designed by taking innovative ideas from the players in the game for better production of quality products.
The Wilson A2000 Fastpitch softball gloves are from the 2019 glove series designed by the greatest gloves designer of the time, Shigeaki Aso in Japan for the Wilson Company. The Catcher’s Fastpitch Gloves are slightly different than the gloves of infielders, outfielders, and pitchers.
In particular, the catching gloves are measured along the circumference rather than the length of the hand to find the perfect fit for your hands. Likewise, the Fastpitch A2000 glove series have been created using custom fit technology to allow the fastpitch softball female players to have a snug fit no matter how tight they can wear it.
Besides that, the leather used to manufacture the Wilson A2000 fastpitch glove series is the premium quality Pro Stock Leather that uses the Super Skin backing leather material. This leather is twice as strong as regular leather and is also extremely lightweight to offer comfort to fast-pitch players in the game. The Pro Stock leather is certainly the most durable in the market as it runs season after season even after rough use.
The Pro Stock leather also has a dual welting property for a pocket that is quite long-lasting. As a result, it makes it quite easy for players to break in their gloves as it takes less effort. Additionally, the Wilson A2000 has a honeycomb cell padding that allows the fastpitch catcher to have a good catch with a no-sting catch zone.
The gloves come with a Velcro wrist closure which keeps the player comfortable and cuts the effort to achieve the perfect fit for the hands. They also come in fifteen different types of colors in five different styles or sizes. The Wilson A2000 fastpitch catcher’s glove series is undoubtedly the best catching gloves for female athletes.
Mizuno Franchise Fastpitch Glove Series
The Mizuno Franchise has the biggest name in the manufacturing and marketing of Sporting Goods and Accessories. It has been known to produce the most reliable and contended gloves in the market with its precise craftsmanship. Furthermore, they have been manufacturing softball gloves for years now and are getting better with every launch.
The Mizuno Franchise Fastpitch Glove series is specially designed for middle school to high school players who are in the learning process to improve their forms and style. The Mizuno gloves have an easy-to-close design that allows the fastpitch catcher to work on their forms and styles by helping them to easily catch the ball.
The gloves also have an equilibrium that helps the player to hold or catch the ball in a position they want to which also increases the skill level of the player. Besides that, the gloves are heavily padded especially in the palm area to offer a no-sting catch zone. This fastpitch softball glove series is also designed for the small hand athlete to catch the bigger balls with ease.
These gloves also come with pockets in them which are neither too deep for the ball to get stuck nor too shallow for the ball to hit back the glove. With the thumb and pinkie fingers, these gloves are designed to form a wider centered pocket for the gloves. This glove series is specially designed for fast-pitch players in softball from all levels.
The Mizuno Franchise Fastpitch Catcher’s glove series is made up of a pre-oil tumbled Java leather that is 100% game-ready just out of the box and is amazingly durable. The gloves with Ortholite pads on the palm make it easier for the players to prevent stinging while catching the balls. These palm pads can also deaden the ball during an impact which is quite an important feature for learners.
The gloves also come with a power lock wrist closure and sheer fit foam on the back of the fingers. This, enables you to have a more customized fit for your hands. Moreover, the Hilo lacing delivers the flexibility to the gloves by retaining the authenticity of a fully-laced web. These gloves are also extremely light weighing only around 1.33 pounds and are pretty easy to break in.
Wilson Aura Fastpitch Softball Glove
The Wilson has been in the Sporting Goods business for years now and has never failed to impress its customers with its unique and innovative designs mainly focused to deliver comfort to the players. They have also been in the business for forty years now and are known for their fine-quality softball gloves designed by Shaeking Aso.
The Wilson Aura Glove series is specially designed for female athletes who are in the learning and developing process as it offers equilibrium and versatility to these players. These gloves help them to develop their forms and enhance their skill level. These gloves are designed for female fastpitch catchers in softball.
This is a 12-inch model of the Wilson Aura Fastpitch softball glove series for catchers that allow them to upgrade their performance by offering a maximum amount of protection. The Wilson Aura 12” fastpitch softball gloves are surely one of the best gloves available in the market and are suitable for beginners as they are 100% game-ready just out of the box.
Besides that, the Wilson Aura Gloves use the game-ready top-grain leather shell that offers you strength and smoothness wherever you need it. Due to this construction, they are extremely lightweight as they weigh around one pound and offer comfort to the player. The leather used in these gloves offers twice the strength of normal leather but half the weight.
As these gloves are specially designed for fastpitch players, the designer uses a specific fastpitch pattern that helps them to be the best in the field. Likewise, the gloves are made of full leather shells and laces that offer additional comfort and protection to the players on the field. The glove also comes with a wrist closure for the perfect and comfortable fit for the hands of the girl athletes.
The Wilson Aura Fastpitch Softball glove series comes with a two-piece weave web to deliver the best grip for the catchers with a dual welting pocket that is highly durable. Additionally, these gloves are pretty easy to break in as they are made up of soft leather and are the finest choice by a dad for their daughter’s first catching glove.
Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove Series
The Rawlings is the United States-based American Sporting Goods Company known for its manufacturing and marketing of high-quality and reliable sporting goods since 1887. They have also been designing the best catcher’s mitt for fastpitch softball. They have been developing softball gloves for all the players from beginners to the pro league ones.
The Rawling’s Liberty Advanced Glove series is specially designed for female catchers in the game to deliver an ultimate level of comfort and control to the size of their hands. These gloves are developed to develop the skills and performance of a catcher in the game by offering them an upgraded version of protection while playing.
The Liberty Advanced glove series is suitable for those avid players from professionals to beginners who have towards learning and progressing in the game. These gloves are a leap forward version of the Rawling glove series in which they have introduced an advanced vibrant new pattern technology that upgrades the level and performance of a fastpitch player in the game.
Aside from these, the Liberty Advanced fastpitch softball glove series is developed by using full-grain leather that offers twice the strength of normal leather with half the weight which is perfect for beginner female catchers. This leather is quite durable in nature and can work season after season even with vigorous use.
Likewise, the leather used to manufacture these gloves offers stability to the hands of players that allows them to have a better catch by determining the position of the ball in their hands. The gloves also come with a full-grain leather lace that extends the life of the glove. The hand openings provided in the catching gloves come with finger-back adjustments to smoothly accommodate the hands of the player.
The palm openings in the gloves offer a delicate feel to the hands of the player while putting on or taking off the gloves even if you have back-to-back games to play. The Gloves also feature a Poron XD palm padding along with finger padding to offer the players an additional layer of protection and comfort in the game.
The Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Glove series also features a pull strap closure to offer the players a secure and comfortable fit without struggling for adjustments. These youth-catching gloves only weigh around 1.38 pounds and are extremely lightweight that allows the player to keep control of their hands. Moreover, they are easy to break in like 70% of work is already done by the company and only 30% of work is to be done by you.
The Rawling’s Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Glove Series comes in three different colors and is the best catcher’s glove for Softball.
Wilson A1000 Fastpitch Glove Series
Wilson has been in the Sporting Goods business for forty years now and has always astonished its customers with its new and innovative ideas in the manufacturing of softball gloves. They have been designing the Softball glove series for years now for the eminent players in the game to beginners.
The Wilson A1000 Fastpitch Glove series is designed by the king of gloves, Shigeaki Aso who himself is a baseball and softball enthusiast. This glove series has been preferred by all levels of players as it offers ultimate comfort with a steadiness of hand without any hand movement limitations. The Wilson A1000 glove series is manufactured using pro-stock leather that is similar to the A2000 glove series.
The Pro Stock leather offers the players an increased amount of strength and comfort with a decreased weight than usual leather. However, the Wilson A1000 glove series do not feature full Pro Stock leather as in the Wilson A2000 series which leads to a decrement in the price range of these gloves.
Besides that, the leather construction delivers the players with the ultimate comfort, strength, and smoothness. The Pro Stock leather is quite reliable and extremely soft thus is easy to break in. They have moisture-wicking properties that keep the hands of the player dry and warm during the entire game.
The Pro Stock leather is quite durable in nature and can be used season after season. The Wilson A1000 glove series is designed especially for the catchers in the game in a color combination of black and white with a dual post web design to offer the finest grip to the catchers.
The A1000 glove series also features a custom-fit back wrist lacing that allows the player to have a customized fit to their hands. The Wilson A1000 fastpitch catcher’s gloves are the top-rated youth fastpitch catcher’s mitt in 2020.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt
Size and Style
Catcher’s mitts come in different sizes, and it’s crucial to choose a mitt that fits the player’s hand. The right size should allow the player to control the ball easily while providing ample protection. Additionally, consider the style of the mitt, whether it’s an open or closed-back design.
Webbing
Fastpitch catcher’s mitts come with different types of webbing, including H-web, dual post web, and single post web. Each webbing has its benefits, such as improved visibility or a deeper pocket, so it’s essential to consider which webbing best suits the player’s needs.
Materials
Fastpitch catcher’s mitts can be made from leather, synthetic materials, or a combination of both. Leather is durable and has a good feel, but it requires regular maintenance. Synthetic materials are less expensive and low maintenance, but they may not last as long as leather.
Durability
A catcher’s mitt is an investment, so it’s important to choose a mitt that is built to last. Consider the quality of materials used and look for reinforced areas where the mitt is likely to wear out faster.
Break-In Time
A catcher’s mitt requires a break-in period to allow for optimal performance. Leather mitts generally take longer to break in than synthetic ones. Consider the time available to break in the mitt before the season starts.
By considering these factors, softball players and coaches can make an informed decision when choosing a fastpitch catcher’s mitt that meets their needs and budget.
Final Words
Before, you seek your catcher’s mitt or glove always remember to work through your needs and requirements in the field to upgrade your performance by advancing your skills.
We hope this article helps you understand your weaknesses and strengths to receive the catcher’s glove of your choice.
