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Features

  • 32.50 Inch Pattern

  • Stress Wedge Technology for Added Thumb Protection

  • Double Flexhinge for Easier Closure

  • Triple Hammock Web

  • Open Back

  • Medium-Deep Pocket

  • Praying Mantis Design - Allows Fingers to Fit More Comfortably

  • Double-Sided Slim Padding Absorbs Shock and Creates a Larger Pocket

  • Free Shipping!

  • FREE AKADEMA SUNGLASSES WITH ORDER

Description

Akadema is the most exciting baseball and softball company in the world. Akadema's ownership attributes an increasing market share to their innovative quality professional product line in contrast to mass-produced products that have little to do with quality, feel, or design that raise the level of play. Much like in the insect world where the Praying Mantis is known to devour its competition, Akadema's new catchers mitt will do the same to conventional catchers mitts. The Akadema patent Praying Mantis is the most innovative catchers mitt ever to hit the market, with many unique features setting it apart from the competition. With new patented Stress Wedge technology, located between the index finger and thumb, the Praying Mantis offers shock-absorbing protection for the hand against injury and sting when receiving the ball. The Praying Mantis (APM42 Catcher's Mitt) also offers two additional Finger Hammocks allowing the fingers to be firmly positioned and more secure in the glove. Additional features include the Double-sided Slim Padding allowing for increased pocket size and easier ball retention. Uniquely designed shape allows the throwing hand easier access in the pocket, resulting in a quicker glove to hand transfer and faster times to second base. Akadema: Bring Your "A" Game! Free Shipping!

Reviews

Average Ratings Based on 18 Customer Reviews

4.166666666666667 Stars:Overall Rating
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5 Stars: Overall Rating
zd29

Pros: great glove, deep pocket for size of glove, good leather, finger hood is nice, good padding, lasts long

Cons: hard to break in

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
Z-MAN

Pros: Can custom fit the mitt with the additional finger hammocks. Deep pocket keeps the ball from popping out...

Cons: Only one color choice.

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4 Stars: Overall Rating
Boss19

Pros: A great looking glove. A very innovative design and nice fit. Love the built in padding that protects the bones at the base of ur index and middle finger thats aches after catching chedder for 9.

Cons: The back of the glove is made up of a single layer of leather. Not sure it will last the test of time.

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2 Stars: Overall Rating
catchthis

Pros: A well made glove. Will last long.

Cons: Pocket a little too deep, makes quick transfers difficult. Have had for 18 months and still not broken in. Ran over it with a truck, tried everything. Too stiff.

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
shades

Pros: It will last a long time and it has a great pocket for quick exchange.

Cons: Only comes in one color.

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4 Stars: Overall Rating
Cheryl

Pros: Bought for a Christmas gift. Impressed with the ordering/shipping process. Received in a very timely manner,invoice is correct and now if my nephew says the quality is there, what more could a person ask for

Cons:

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
Tyler P

Pros: Good quality,unbeleivable pop scares our batters into thinking pitcher is throwing 120 mph.90-95 mph i barely feel.easy transfer for throw.white on outside edge of pad gives a bigger target look than the full colored pads,soaked in water over night still needs a little work to break in completly but still using it with no problem with the faster pitchers.no bubble or sponge feeling in pocket.pro looking glove.snug fit no wobble.

Cons: First try with Akadema glove time will tell if it holds up,all gloves break down at some point so time will tell.

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
Joe

Pros: Really stiff, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. it gives you plenty of time to break it in to your hand, not how the factory wants it. Anyway, great pop, deep pocket, smells great. The glove feels weird at first because the fingers all have straps, but it feels nice and snug before too long

Cons: Thought it was going to be white , but it turned out more grey. still awesome

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
Mean Joe 75

Pros: Glove is just AWESOME!!! the gray and black look great... finger hammocks take a little getting used to but they really can give a custom fit... Glove is very well made and should hold up nicely... deep pocket for a 32.5 inch glove...

Cons: Is a bear to break in but all good catchers mitts are... It was no harder to break in than my A2000 or my nokona...

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4 Stars: Overall Rating
zop

Pros: good glove deep pocket happy to have one

Cons: hard to break in

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
sportsman

Pros: the glove is amazing it is very light and has an amzing pop.

Cons: the glove takes a little to work in but its worth it.

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
Joseph

Pros: I've had this glove for about a year now and it has treated me quite nicely. About to enter my junior season in highschool, this glove has provided excellent protection from our fastest pitchere (85 - 92mph) It was stiff at first WHICH IS GOOD and has broken in nicely. Has held it's shape well and I highly doubt I will consider buying a different glove for the rest of my highschool career.

Cons: Odd feel at first, but stick with it and it will mold to your hand in no time.

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4 Stars: Overall Rating
Mark

Pros: This mitt was purchased for my son as a sixth grader for the sole purpose of protecting his catcher's thumb. He is a freshman now, and has caught with it ever since. The wedge inside has done just what it is supposed to...protected his hand and thumb joint from the constant pops...even from high school pitch speeds hovering in the upper eighties. The pocket has allowed for outstanding pop times and the leather inside has held up remarkably. The only maintenance I have done on it is relacing the web area, mainly from the tip of the glove dragging the dirt during block ups. Do not let the 32.5" size scare you away...the size of the glove has been perfect and made him depend on increased skill to catch tough pitches, not on the size of the leather. Break in time was a bit longer than others we have used; however, it would not keep me from buying another Akedema mitt (which I am shopping for now). Just be patient, catch lots of BP or batting machines, and it will come around.

Cons:

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
Great Glove Carter player

Pros: Great glove has very good pading! It is very high quility and the glove comes out more grey than white and it looks better in person!

Cons: Long break in time. But still a great glove

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5 Stars: Overall Rating
Glove Cook90

Pros: Finger hammocks provide outstanding comfort. Great break in. Very durable. I've been catching for a very long time, used mostly Rawlings and Mizuno catchers mitts and this is the best mitt I've ever used. I have small hands and the finger hammocks provide great support. This glove will last forever with reasonable care (No broken laces in over five years of use).

Cons: None.

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2 Stars: Overall Rating
10u Hitmen Baseball Hitmen Baseball coach

Pros: Good design for older players.

Cons: The glove is not easy to break in. It's not a good option for younger kids.

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1 Stars: Overall Rating
Eli

Pros: Really good quality mitt

Cons: i purchased this mitt and my hand was too big to fit so make sure if you purchase this you have a smaller hand

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4 Stars: Overall Rating
greg14721

Pros: good for thumb (young catcher),break in fast ,and good weight for child.

Cons: stitching unravels all of glove.

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Questions and Answers

Have a question about the Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt? Ask our team of experts and they will respond within 24 hours.

What kind of leather is it made of? Matty
This glove is made from steerhide leather.
Brett
Is this glove made for long term use and a really good quality glove, because I am looking for a glove that will last me for at least 3 years without becoming floppy. playdo
This is going to be a glove that you will be able to use for multiple years. This is a glove that has been proven to last multiple years and has had nothing but good reviews.
Todd
How long does the glove take to break in? cjr
It shouldn't take to long as long as you work with it on a daily basis.
Bill
Which glove is over higher quality this one, a Heart of Hide, or Wilson A2000? Catcher
The Wilson A2000 and the Rawlings Heart of the Hide are both going to be very similar in quality, but the Akadema Praying Mantis will be the least durable out of the three.
Noah
Does this come in a 33" model? ray
The Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt only comes in the the 32.50" model. The most similar 33.00" model would be the Akadema Precision Series Praying Mantis: APM41 Catcher's Mitt.
Marcus
How large are the finger slots for this model? Too big for a 10u player? Should I go with the Akadema AGC98? I want the best glove for a serious 10u catcher. Which one is it? Holm Team
That will be a matter of preference. The Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42) is an adult model, so if the player has larger hands, this would be a great choice. Based on his age, our Glove Coach recommends a 31.50" mitt. Sizing is preferential though, so if he would like to go with a larger size, that is something to take into consideration as well. The AGC98-12 is a Youth model, so it will feature a smaller wrist opening and a shorter finger stalls with a Youth hand in mind. All our gloves are covered under our 100 Day Guarantee, so if you were to purchase a mitt and it not fit correctly, you are more than welcome to send that back to us for a full refund or exchange.
Tessa
Is this model made with KIP leather? mj
The Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42) will use steer hide leather.
Kelby
What hand measurement would fit the APM42? koolPhil
The Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42 Catcher's Mitt) is an adult-sized model. Adult hand that fall into the 10.50" - 13.00" measurement would fit well within this glove.
Joe
Is this a glove that I could use? I am a 13 year old catcher. THE_BALLplayer
The Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42) should work well for your age and position.
Patrick
Could a JV baseball player use this? CamTheCatcher
The Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42 Catcher's Mitt) is an adult size fit and should work well for a JV baseball player.
Frankie
Is this mitt specifically just for softball, or baseball, or both? catcher_crazy
The Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42) could technically be used for both but would more specifically be intended to be a baseball specific model.
Patrick
Could this glove be used by a college catcher? And would a different Akadema be more suited for college catchers? Ty
Yeah the Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt is a great option for a college catcher. I think this would be the best Akadema option for a college catcher.
Carter
I'm a 14 year old with hands just as big as a fully grown adult. Will this glove be too small for me? Aj R.
The Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt will fit you just fine it is an adult glove.
Carter
Is the APM214 or the Praying Mantis better? Scott
Both gloves are going to be of similar quality. The biggest difference is that the APM241 is a 33" pattern while the APM42 model is a 34" pattern.
Kyle J.
Is there a better glove than this one? Scott
From Akadema, I would say that this Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42 Catcher's Mitt) will be one of the top offerings of catchers mitts along with the Akadema Torino Series Praying Mantis (APM43 Catcher's Mitt).
Ben
Is there a better mitt than this one for a high school catcher? brewers
For a full list of catcher mitts to consider for a high school catcher, besides the Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt, we would recommend reaching out to a customer coach by calling in.
Cameron
Compared to the APM43, which mitt has stiffer, more durable leather and has a longer break-in period? Also, what hand size/opening is this mitt best suited for? Andy
Both the Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt and the Akadema Torino Series Praying Mantis: APM43 Catcher's Mitt feature similar stiffness and durability. Both are designed for adult hands, but the APM43 seems to fit tighter, more suitable for a smaller adult hand.
Logan
Are there any reps in Cedar Hill, TX that I can meet and see if this a good fit for my son before I purchase? bobby pinter
Unfortunately, JustBallGloves does not have any representatives that are located in different regions of the United States that can assist with testing out gloves. However, we do have a 100 day guarantee at JustBallGloves. That guarantee allows a customer to get this Akadema Praying Mantis Series (APM42 Catcher's Mitt) and use the mitt. However, if you decide you do not like the mitt and want to send the glove back to JustBallGloves, you can do so as long as you are under the 100 day guarantee. You would just need to notify JustBallGloves if you wanted to return a mitt under the 100 day guarantee and we would set you up with a free UPS return shipping label.
Ben
Show all 18 Questions and Answers about the Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt

About the Brand

In Akadema's short but remarkable history it has become one of America's hottest baseball and softball equipment company for professional, college, high school, and serious youth players. The Akadema phenomenon started with the Professional Glove Series and continues with the Reptilian®, Praying Mantis®, Pro Soft™ and Prodigy™ Glove Series as well as the Amish Wood™, Tacktion™ and Xtension® Aluminum Bat Series. Akadema's ownership attributes increasing market share to their innovative professional baseball and softball product line in contrast to mass-produced products that have little to do with quality, feel, or design to raise the level of play.

Akadema's products are manufactured for professional players but are now accessible to semi pro, college, high school, and serious youth players. Akadema products are still designed with the professional player in mind but competitively priced for the professional player at heart. So it's your turn to think like a professional, play like a professional, and use Akadema Professional!

Akadema now has both baseball and fastpitch softball advisory staffs that they work with closely to implement new ideas. Members of the baseball advisory staff include Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith and Gary Carter as well as Howard Johnson, Reggie Smith, Luis Polonia, Sandy Martinez and many others. Fastpitch stars that are on the advisory staff include Crystl Bustos and Julie Smith. The input on performance from the advisory staff gives Akadema something they cannot put a price on. Their advisors don’t talk about marketing or places to sell the gloves, they just care about performance.

Glove Properties

Akadema Praying Mantis Series: APM42 Catcher's Mitt
Color White
Feel Stiff
Glove Type Baseball
Position Catcher
Size 32.50
Sub Type Catchers
Vendor Akadema
Web Type Hinge
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4.9 Star Rating, Google Customer Reviews