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Sorting through the countless options of fastpitch catchers mitts can be exhausting.
It's a goal of ours to make your research easier, so this post highlights three of our picks for the best fastpitch catchers mitt currently on the market.
Our top pick is a high quality catchers mitt made by a leading brand. Keep reading to learn more about this and other options...
Best Fastpitch Catchers Mitt
Catcher's mitts are, for many catchers, their most cherished piece of equipment and a point of pride when playing behind the plate.
In short, it is the most important tool that a catcher has. You can't play your position without one!
It goes without saying then that having a durable and high quality mitt is critically important for catchers of all ages.
Therefore, our goal with this review is to highlight what we believe to be the best Fastpitch catchers mitt across three different categories, and to clearly explain why they are worth your consideration if you are currently shopping for a new one.
Difference Between Catcher's Mitts for Baseball and Fastpitch Softball
Do you know why Fastpitch Softball and Baseball catcher's mitts are different?
The main reason why mitts for Baseball and Fastpitch Softball are different has to do with the size of the ball being caught.
Most Fastpitch softballs measure three to four inches bigger in diameter than baseballs. This explains why Fastpitch Softball catcher's mitts have a larger pocket than Baseball catcher's mitts, since the pocket obviously needs to hold a larger ball.
Many catcher's mitts for Fastpitch Softball also have open webbing as opposed to their Baseball counterparts. Since Fastpitch Softball mitts are bigger, the open webbing can help you a lot with visibility as you focus on receiving the pitch.
Lastly, many Fastpitch Softball catcher's mitts have velcro based straps at the base of the mitt that can help improve wrist stability. Baseball versions generally do not have velcro straps over the wrist, though some do.
What Size Mitt Do I Need?
Please note that catcher's mitts are actually measured by their circumference, not length.
For younger catchers, we would suggest looking for mitts sized at, or around, 32 inches. If you are over age 12, then a catcher's mitt around 34 inches should work well for you.
However, you can always choose a mitt that is a little bit bigger or a bit smaller based on what you feel most comfortable wearing. For example, our picks feature mitts that are both 33 and 34 inches.
Keep in mind that your comfort - as opposed to any particular guideline - should be the most important consideration when picking a new Softball catchers glove.
What is the Best Fastpitch Catchers Mitt?
Our view is that the best catcher's mitt for Fastpitch Softball players is the Wilson A2000 (AM1 GM). It is built with a combination of leather and Wilson's proprietary "Super Skin" material, and it was designed with padding and sting reduction features. These are just a few of the reasons why this catcher's mitt stands out in our eyes.
The complete list of our top picks for best Fastpitch catchers mitts are the following.
- Wilson A2000, FPCM (top overall pick)
- Rawlings Liberty Advanced (runner up)
- Easton Elite Series by Jen Schroeder (top pick for affordability)
Continue reading to see our reviews with more details on our picks for the best Fastpitch catcher's mitts, including our top pick for those on a budget.
Our pick for the best Fastpitch catcher's mitt for those on a budget is the Jen Schroeder Fastpitch Catchers Glove, by Easton (Elite Series,33 inches). Though it is relatively cheap, it is still an excellent quality mitt that will work well for a large number of fastpitch softball catchers.
The Elite Series mitt was made specifically for the female catcher's hand, so it should fit as well (or even better) than many comparable Softball catcher's gloves.
It is constructed as a closed web fastpitch mitt, and it contains real rawhide laces and top shelf steerhide leather.
This mitt has a durable - yet soft - "tumbled leather" shell. It comes in a good looking ivory colored leather with white lacing, and includes the stitched Easton name and its "E" logo in silver and the phrase "HAVE NO DOUBT" above the pinkie stall.
We also like that the enclosure over the wrist can be tightened or loosened based on what feels best, and we like the snakeskin leather pattern on a portion of the top of the mitt.
In short, the Jen Schroeder "Elite Series" catcher's mitt a really solid pick for the money.
Pros
Affordable fastpitch catcher's mitt
This mitt contains good quality leather for being so low cost
It fits well on the hand of most fastpitch softball catchers
Has an adjustable wrist strap
The white and silver color scheme looks great
Cons
It is not available for left hand throwers
