Glove Web
The web, which is the portion of the glove that connects the thumb to the fingers, can be designed to have different patterns.
Not only does patterning add to the style of the glove, but it can also help with functionality. Here a few different web types that you should know about:
- Basket: This pattern favors pitchers who are trying to conceal the ball. The basket weave design allows for greater flexibility and therefore makes it easier to close the glove.
- Trapeze: This style creates a deeper pocket which is optimal for catching fly balls, and thus it is typically featured on outfielder gloves. It has a leather strap with interlaced lacing on each side.
- Modified Trap: This design is similar to the trapeze pattern except that there is a leather strip on top of the web for greater stability and support. Gloves with this web pattern are usually worn by infielders and outfielders.
- H-Web: The H-Web is named for the ‘H’ pattern that is formed when the leather posts are sewn together. This pattern creates an open web which allows any dirt that gets into the glove to fall through. Despite this, the glove is quite sturdy. This web type is commonly used by both outfielders and infielders, with third basemen particularly favoring it.
- I-Web: Similar to the H-Web, the I-Web instead has the letter ‘I’ formed when its leather posts are sewn together. Again, similar to the H-Web, this pattern also allows for dirt to not be trapped as it can easily fall out of the glove, while allowing for easy retrieval and transfers of the ball. Hence it is typically used by infielders.
- Single Post: This design is also known as a ‘Cross Web’ and contains a single post pattern, which confers greater flexibility and visibility. This web style consists of a long vertical leather strip along with two horizontal bars.
- Two-Piece: Similar to the basket web, two-piece web types are ideal as they can effectively hide the ball. It has two leather patches which can make the glove heavier.
Glove Material
Baseball gloves have traditionally been made out of leather but they now come in a wide variety of materials.
Leather has typically been the ideal choice of material owing to its durability and comfort.
Nevertheless, gloves can be made out of synthetic leather, mesh and treated leather.
The advantages of some of these materials is that they often require less ‘breaking in’ than gloves made out of leather do.