In the classic baseball film Bull Durham, it is said that “sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains…”
And when it rains, you can always go indoors and train! If you’re stuck in an indoor facility during a rainstorm, during the winter months -or- if you just want to gain an edge on your fielding prowess during the season…consider getting a pancake glove to help you sharpen some of the finer aspects of fielding a baseball or softball!
But you may be asking:
- What even is a pancake glove?
- What are the benefits of training with a pancake glove?
- What is the best way to go about fielding with a pancake glove?
- Is there an alternative pancake mitt?
- What are some pancake gloves to consider for purchase?
If you’ve found yourself asking any of those questions, please keep reading and we’ll get you the answers you’re looking for!
What is a pancake glove for baseball?
A pancake glove or mitt is designed for use by an infielder while training.
The catching surface of the glove is made to be flat and circular (just like its namesake, a pancake). Because of this, there will be no finger stalls visible on the catching surface of the glove.
Opposed to the catching surface of the mitt, the backing of most pancake models will more similarly resemble a traditional baseball glove or mitt due to the presence of a hand slot.
Take a look below to see both sides of a pancake mitt:
As well, a traditional pancake glove cannot be squeezed to trap a baseball or softball inside.
Due to the constraints that it creates for a fielder during a practice session, a pancake mitt is not recommended for use during an actual baseball or softball game.
What are the benefits of a pancake glove?
There are two main benefits to using a pancake glove:
- It helps develop soft hands for infielders when they use it to field ground balls. The glove cannot be squeezed so the player must "absorb" the impact of the ball as it arrives on the glove's catching surface.
- The pancake model reinforces the use of two hands while fielding. These gloves cannot be squeezed around a baseball or softball. Therefore, the throwing hand must be present at the moment the ball impacts the catching surface.
Some may be asking: "Why do we need to use two hands when fielding?"
The question is worth bringing up. Game model gloves are advanced these days and is it necessary for an extra hand to be right next to the glove when fielding a ball?
To get our answer, let's think about the best infielders in professional baseball and softball. When a routine ground ball comes to them, they typically always field the ball with two hands. When making a play that requires little lateral movement, a player is not hindering their ability to field and throw by putting their throwing hand next to the glove. And overall, it should be more advantageous to field routine balls in this manner. By having a throwing hand present to assist in the fielding process, a ball will have less of a chance of bouncing out of a player’s grasp and it will also promote a faster transfer (from glove to throwing hand).
Because of this, JustGloves believes that all infielders will benefit from intermittently practicing with a pancake glove!
(The exception to using two hands is going to occur on plays when a player has to make extreme moves laterally, forward or backward. On plays like these, using one hand to field the will be best as it will improve the player's reach. Plays involving extreme moves typically cannot be practiced with a pancake glove).
How do you use a pancake mitt?
There really isn’t any secret to how a pancake mitt should be used.
For shortstops, second base and third base; they will want to take the mitt and field the ball hit to them just as they would field any routine ground ball. To help though, we highlight five main steps to consider when beginning a training session with a pancake:
- Get your rear-end low to the ground
- Put your pancake mitt and throwing hand in position to field the baseball or softball
- Field the ball with the throwing hand trapping the ball against the catching surface
- Funnel the ball into your body
- Transfer the ball into your throwing hand
Below you'll see steps 2-4 shown in photographs for you:
Is there an alternative pancake glove?
As we’ve detailed the intricacies of the pancake mitt, you’ve probably noticed that it is only designed to help train for balls that are hit directly at you.
You may be asking, “What about plays that force me to use one hand?” For example, the backhand or forehand play that forces you to make extreme movements laterally before reaching the ball.
If you have found yourself wondering about this, then please know that we like where your head is going and you’ll be glad to know that there is a glove company thinking like you!
The Valle Glove Company has created their Eagle Flat Training Glove (also known as the KK model). Unlike the traditional pancake glove, this Eagle Flat Trainer can be squeezed in half.
Because of the design, this glove can serve multiple purposes:
- It can be used just like a traditional pancake trainer for routine balls hit directly to the infielder. However, the surface area is much smaller than a normal pancake glove. Thus, additional focus will be needed when trying to field balls with this glove.
- This trainer can be used for teaching an infielder to differentiate between two-handed plays or one-handed plays. For example, the infielder can learn whether they can move their whole body to get completely in front of a ball hit to their right -or- if they need to employ a backhand in order to field it.
Check out professional infield coach Kai Correa discuss the benefits of this rare trainer below:
(Due to the mitt having a lightly padded design, it is mostly recommended for use on low-velocity drills)
Three Pancake Gloves To Consider!
1) Wilson Pancake Training Baseball Glove: WBW100997275
Wilson builds this glove with what measures to be a 27.5 inch circumference. As well, it is made with Wilson’s full grain leather that should be able to last for many years of training use.
2) All Star Flapjack Training Mitt: FG200TM
When it comes to training implements for defenders, All Star is up there as one of the best companies in the industry. This pancake mitt will get the job done for defenders with its 29 inch circumference. As well, the depressed "Pocket" helps promote targeting & pocket awareness.
3) Valle Eagle Pancake Ambidextrous Training Glove: SWITCH
This model of Valle pancake glove is quite unique as it is made with an ambidextrous design that will fit on both the left and right hand. Therefore, if you have a left hand thrower at first base who might also need to work on developing soft hands, this trainer will work for that player plus your other infielders!
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Well, there's your deep dive on pancake gloves! If you still have questions then please reach out tomour team of Glove Experts! You can call them at 866-321-4568, email them at experts@justgloves.com or you can LIVE CHAT them by clicking the link!
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