Best Baseball Training Gloves
Reviews: Training Pancake / Paddle Gloves and Mitts.
When we were looking to cut our baseball training gloves list down to just 5 gloves, we quickly came across a problem – there are actually a good selection of training gloves on the market.
So, while we could sit here and list the numerous training gloves available (just like every other baseball site) – we decided to change it up a little.
If you’ve been a reader of Mindfuse Baseball for any length of time, you’ll know while we give high-level advanced tips to improve your baseball game, we firmly believe in nurturing youth players too. So, instead of just giving a lowdown on every single good glove out there we decided to choose specific gloves depending on the playing ability of the player you’re purchasing your glove for.
Below you’ll be able to find a selection of gloves that not only accomodate older more advanced players, but we’ve also chosen a couple of gloves to help younger players in their development too.
Again, we are fully aware that there are more gloves that could make this list, and over time, based on our own experience and our readers feedback, we’ll look update this list.
Why Choose a Training Glove?
Game or normal gloves are different to training gloves – and depending on your position and the skills you’re looking to develop you’ll need a different type of glove.
That said, in general you should expect to:
- Develop hand-to-throw transitioning
- Build solid fielding mechanics
- Help younger players deal with ground balls
- Aid with framing training
- And just all-round a brilliant addition to your fielding drills
MacGregor Infield Training Glove
Helping develop a quick ‘glove to throw’ transition
In the Infield Training Glove, MacGregor have developed a pancake shaped glove suitable for significantly improving the user’s technique.
The glove is manufactured with a robust leather with high quality stitching making it a long lasting product which will resist the test of time and will stand up against continued use against ground balls indoors and outside.
The pancake design is specially designed to help develop a fast and solid glove-to-throw transition and improve two handed techniques.
The adjustable Velcro strap on the glove’s exterior gives an adaptable fit making it a great option for adults and children alike and it will suit all ability levels.
The padding on the glove minimises the risk of painful catches but is not too thick and doesn’t impede the wearer’s sensitivity towards the ball providing players with both confidence and comfort.
All in all, this is a quality glove for a great price and it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve their infield game and catching and throwing speed and technique.
[su_service title=”Pros” icon=”icon: thumbs-up” icon_color=”#008000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Pancake design for infield training development
- Helps develop seamless trasitioning from ‘glove to throw’
- Velcro straps to varying sizes
- Minimize injury chances
[su_service title=”Cons” icon=”icon: thumbs-down” icon_color=”#FF0000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Right-hand throw only
Akadema Pancake Glove
Great glove if you’re willing to take a little risk…
The Akadema Pancake Glove is a great training aid for anyone looking to improve their infield skills and techniques.
The glove is made of a supple and pliable leather so it fits comfortably and works with the shape and size of the user’s hand.
The glove is designed to reinforce infield fundamentals and improve ground ball catches and develop soft hands.
As a training tool, the Akadema Pancake Glove is perfect for encouraging two-handed play and fast ball transition making it a quality choice for technical improvement.
The 30-inch circumference makes the glove ideal for small and larger hands and its durable leather makes it a great glove for developing good fielding mechanics over a long period of time.
The glove is reasonably priced when taking into consideration the quality of materials and comfort and it’s generally a great product for improving younger players’ technique and preparing them for higher intensity play in the future.
[su_service title=”Pros” icon=”icon: thumbs-up” icon_color=”#008000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Designed for infield training
- Comfortable fit
- Helps develop ground ball catches
- Good for both small and larger hands
- Great value for money
[su_service title=”Cons” icon=”icon: thumbs-down” icon_color=”#FF0000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- There seems to be a little mix up when ordering left / right hand. Great glove not so great customer service
Mizuno Baseball Training Paddle Review
The glove recommended in its competitors reviews – yeah, it’s that good!
This paddle is fantastic for developing fielding fundamentals and fast hands.
For youngsters looking to improve their infield technique, get better and faster with two hands and comfortably deal with grounders, it’s a great option.
The Mizuno GXT3A Training Paddle has been carefully designed to give it the look and feel of a leather glove, making it the perfect option for younger players making the transition from foam paddles to leather gloves.
The materials are of a high end with great durability meaning that the user won’t lose any sensitivity towards the ball when catching or scooping up bouncing or rolling ground balls.
The hand slot is big enough for adults and is still comfortable for younger users making it a great all-round trainer for a variety of ages to aid their development and increase soft hand confidence.
The glove is well manufactured and will last a few seasons without significant damage and, with it’s superb ergonomic design, you’re guaranteed to see marked improvement in your infield game within a few uses.
Overall, it’s an excellent training mitt and great value for money.
[su_service title=”Pros” icon=”icon: thumbs-up” icon_color=”#008000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- One of the most popular and recommended paddle/ pancake gloves on the market
- Great realistic game-like feel and experience
- High durability factor
- Great for young and older players
- Superb value value for money
[su_service title=”Cons” icon=”icon: thumbs-down” icon_color=”#FF0000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Generally more expensive than other training mitts on the market – but by far the most popular too – so well worth the additional few dollars on top.
SKLZ Softhands Review
Perfect training glove for younger players
As a training aid for all abilities, the SKLZ Softhands is brilliant – but esspecially useful for younger players to use in their fielding drills.
It’s designed to encourage a swift transition from glove hand to throwing hand and it’s specially made to improve two-handed techniques and soft receiving skills.
The smart finger straps on the back of the SKLZ Softhands glove make it not only comfortable but also incredibly easy to get on and off and it’s compatible with right and left handed fielders.
The SKLZ Softhands is manufactured from a lightweight foam making it a great choice for players who aren’t quite ready for a full leather mitt.
However, it still reinforces crucial and valuable infield techniques, so when the day comes to step up to a golden glove, your young players will be well prepared.
Overall, this product is fantastic for training younger players to use two hands and improve the speed of their transition and delivery.
Using the SKLZ Softhands can help improve confidence when dealing with ground balls and it works very well with a variety of infield training drills.
[su_service title=”Pros” icon=”icon: thumbs-up” icon_color=”#008000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Great introduction for younger players
- Great alternative to expensive leather training gloves
- Value for money
[su_service title=”Cons” icon=”icon: thumbs-down” icon_color=”#FF0000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Again, better for younger age groups to help them with the their core fundamentals
Rawlings Two-Hands Foam Fielding Trainer
Can be worn on either hand – no mix up here…!
Designed to improve the abilities of players of all levels from beginners up to professionals, the 2HANDS is a fantastic choice for a foam fielding training aid.
Now while it can certainly be used with older more experienced players – younger player will probably benefit most.
The trainer is the perfect tool for developing hand-eye coordination and encourages the wearer to approach the ball and play it rather than wait for it to arrive.
The soft foam construction is light but highly durable making it a great option for all manner of fielding training drills and it will actively improve two handed techniques.
The elastic finger straps making wearing this training aid easy and comfortable and it can be worn on either hand to aid everyone.
The Rawlings 2HANDS is a great tool for coaches who want to teach and develop correct infield techniques and is a must-have for most teams as it will last a long time and withstand continued useage.
[su_service title=”Pros” icon=”icon: thumbs-up” icon_color=”#008000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Alternative to SKLZ Softhands
- Great for coaches to help develop their players skill development
- Can be used on both hands – great cost saving benefit for teams and coaches
[su_service title=”Cons” icon=”icon: thumbs-down” icon_color=”#FF0000″ size=”32″ class=””]
- Again, while can be used for more experienced players to bring their game back to the basics – we’d generally recommend it for younger less experienced players.
