Every spring, as soon as the flowers bloom and the snow melts, the Glove Experts at JustGloves receive calls, texts, and chats from players asking us if it’s right for them to use baseball gloves in softball games. After all, it is a natural progression to play slowpitch softball once your baseball career has come to an end.
Definitely keep reading if you just hung up your baseball cleats for the final time or are considering using a baseball glove for fastpitch or slowpitch softball, as our glove experts break down the pros and cons of using your baseball glove in softball games.
The PROS
You Already Own A Baseball Glove:
If you just gave up baseball, then you most likely still have your baseball glove with you. Also, chances are you've had the glove for a few seasons, and you're skilled at using it.
You could spend money and buy a new glove for slow pitch softball. But then, in addition to having less cash, you will also have to worry about breaking that new one in. If you just stick with your existing glove, it will already be broken in, and you will be familiar with the glove you are using right from that first underhand pitch.
Ball size is another factor worth considering. A slow pitch softball typically measures around 12 inches in circumference, compared to a baseball's roughly 9-inch circumference, but that difference alone does not automatically rule out using a baseball glove for softball. It really comes down to the position you play and the size of the glove you already have.
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Now, there is a chance that the sizing of your baseball glove could be a bit off depending upon the position that you're playing. But we will cover that a little later!
The Baseball Glove Fits Your Hand Perfectly:
We touched on this a little bit in the above section, but the glove from your hardball days is most likely broken in. And when a glove's leather is softened up, the inside of the glove is most likely formed perfectly to your hand.
The Glove Cowboy from Marucci says that "A glove is the only thing that...the more your hand goes into it, the more the leather responds to you." Basically, the more often that you put on any glove (baseball, fastpitch, or slow pitch), the more the hand slot will shape to the contours of your hand and the way that you close it.
The chances are that your existing glove already knows your hand perfectly. And there may be no need to end that beautiful relationship!
The CON
The Sizing For Slow Pitch Softball:
The main concern that arises with wearing a baseball glove in a softball game is the sizing. Especially on the infield, baseball gloves are designed with shorter lengths (11.5 inches is very common for baseball infielders). The reason baseball infield gloves are made with shorter lengths is that quickly pulling a baseball (9-inch circumference) out of a glove longer than 11.75 inches can be difficult.
For a bit more context, baseball infield gloves generally run between 11 and 11.75 inches, while softball players tend to prefer gloves that start around 11.75 inches and can run as long as 14 inches to help secure the larger ball. In some slow pitch softball leagues, the ball itself can measure anywhere from 11 inches up to 16 inches, so if you play in a specialty league with an oversized ball, that is another factor to weigh before relying on your old baseball glove for softball.
However, a slow pitch ball is very large (12-inch circumference), and it is very hard for that size of ball to get lost in a glove sized 12 inches to 13 inches. Because of that, you'll find slow pitch infielders wearing long softball gloves in many cases. The added benefit of these longer gloves is that players will have an increased amount of range. With a lengthy glove, a younger player will be able to cover more area when diving for a softball, and an older player will not have to bend or crouch as much when extending to field a ground ball.
Wrist fit and comfort differences
Beyond length and pocket depth, wrist fit is another factor that can affect how a baseball glove feels once you take it out onto a softball field. Fastpitch softball gloves often feature adjustable wrist straps designed to accommodate smaller hands and create a tighter, more secure fit. Standard adult baseball gloves typically lack this same adjustable strap, which may leave some players, especially those with smaller or narrower hands, feeling like their glove sits a bit looser than they would prefer. For most slow pitch softball players, this is not a dealbreaker, since comfort tends to matter more than a snug competitive fit in a recreational setting. That said, if your baseball glove for softball feels loose at the wrist, it may be worth exploring a simple lace adjustment or eventually picking up a softball-specific glove.
When a baseball glove works vs. when it doesn’t
If you are still deciding, here is a quick breakdown of when your existing baseball glove is likely to work just fine for softball, and when it might be time to consider a dedicated softball glove instead.
- Works well for: recreational or social slow pitch leagues, most outfield positions, and any baseball glove that already measures between 12.5 and 13 inches with a deep pocket.
- Not recommended for: competitive fastpitch softball, infield positions that require a quick transfer to make a throw, or catching and first base, where a shallow baseball pocket can let a larger softball slip out.
Choosing the right glove for your next softball season
So, can you use a baseball glove for softball? In most cases, yes. But be sure to take a minute to think about the baseball glove you already own and what your defensive role will be on the field.
If you still have a second base, short stop, or third base glove from your days of playing hardball and you can't stand the thought of parting ways with it, by all means, continue using it. Especially if you've already proven to be adept at using it on a softball field.
BUT, you could consider getting a lengthier glove for softball. As we mentioned above, you can get away with a 12-inch to 13-inch glove on the infield of a slow pitch softball diamond. You might as well take advantage of all the glove length that you can get!
And if you played outfield during your baseball days and still have your glove, you should be all set!
That outfield model is most likely somewhere between 12.5 inches and 13 inches and should be able to handle any position on the infield or in the outfield of a slow pitch diamond. You might notice that some slow pitch teammates are using 13.5-inch, 14-inch, and 15-inch gloves in the outfield, but it is not a necessity to have a glove of those extremely long lengths.
FAQs
Is a baseball glove good for softball?
Yes, in many cases a baseball glove works fine for softball, especially for recreational or slow pitch play. The main thing to check is whether the glove's length and pocket depth can comfortably handle the larger softball.
Is there a difference between softball and baseball gloves?
Yes. Softball gloves are typically longer and feature a deeper pocket to accommodate the larger ball, while baseball gloves, especially infield models, tend to run shorter with shallower pockets built for quicker transfers.
Can you use the same glove for softball and baseball?
In many recreational settings, yes. A baseball glove that already measures 12.5 to 13 inches with a deep pocket can typically handle both sports. Competitive fastpitch and infield positions are where a dedicated softball glove tends to make more of a difference.
What size baseball glove works best for slow pitch softball?
A glove in the 12 to 13 inch range with a deep pocket tends to work best for most slow pitch positions, giving you enough length to secure the ball without sacrificing too much control.
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If you still have some more detailed questions about the glove you can use for slow pitch softball, do not hesitate to reach out to the team of Glove Experts that we have assembled to help customers. They can be reached by phone at 866-321-4568, by email at support@justgloves.com, or by LIVE CHAT right here. Don't forget, we'll be here for you from Click To Catch!
