Is It Worth Buying An Expensive Glove For My Child?

”Is it worth buying an expensive glove for my child?”. It is truly unbelievable how often I have this conversation with people. The answer is truly different for everyone who asks, because it depends on a wide variety things. Such as the player’s age, level of play, and if they have specialized at a certain position. I personally believe that a good glove is a lifetime investment. However it might not be the right thing for everyone.

Player Age

One of the first questions I ask someone is how old their child is. If they are below the age of 9 or 10, then I don’t typically recommend investing in an expensive glove. This is because if your child losses interest in baseball then all of a sudden you are down a few hundred dollars. This is why I recommend waiting until the player is a little older, just so you can be sure that they want to stick with it.

Level of Play

Another important factor when deciding whether to invest in a glove is your child’s level of play. If they are just playing in their local little league, then it really isn’t necessary to invest in an expensive glove. However if they play for their school, or a travel baseball team then I would 100% recommend investing in a good glove. Cheaper gloves are fine for players that don’t play at a competitive level, but the amount of reps that players take on a regular basis in a travel program will destroy cheaper gloves.

Position Specialization

If your player has specialized at a certain position, then I would absolutely recommend that you invest in a good glove. If you plan to be playing only one position, then purchasing a good glove is absolutely essential.

Why Invest In A Good Glove?

A good glove normally becomes an extension of a player. Good gloves feature higher quality materials, and more attention to detail. They also last for much longer periods of time. So investing in a good glove can save you money in the long run. It is important to note that not all expensive gloves are of high quality. Some brands I would recommend are Wilson, Rawlings, and Nokona.

• Wilson A2k
• Wilson A2000
• Rawlings Pro Preferred
• Rawlings Heart of The Hide
• Nokona X-2 Series of gloves

Final Considerations

So, “Is it worth buying an expensive glove for my child?”. The answer to that question depends on their age, level of play, and position specialization. If what I have said previously applies to your child, then I would absolutely recommend investing in a good glove.

If you are a new parent who is confused about choosing the right type of glove for your child then you should check out, Does it matter whether I buy an Infield or Outfield glove for my Child