What should I check before buying a used glove?

Size it as the fit does

The fit sizes a glove by your player’s age and position: Rawlings’ chart below, and where JustBallGloves’ bands give a size too, the sizes the two share. A catcher’s mitt goes by its circumference, from JustBallGloves’ bands.

At 12 and under, or for a player who has trouble closing a glove, choose one that closes easily: a soft youth build in a pattern of 11.5 in or smaller, never a stiff kip or steerhide pro glove for a first glove.

Glove size

Measured from the heel to the top of the index finger. Infielders use smaller gloves (10.25 to 11.75 in) for quick transfers; outfielders larger (12 to 12.75 in); first base and catcher's mitts are measured differently.

Bigger is not better for a young infielder. A glove they can close beats a glove that looks like a pro's.

Clubbie advice Who’s behind it?

Check the hand. A glove for a right-handed thrower goes on the left hand, and listings often call it RHT; a left-handed thrower needs an LHT glove, worn on the right.

Look at the laces at the web, the fingertips and the heel: frayed laces can be replaced, but count that in the price. The leather should feel supple, not dry or cracked, and the palm padding shouldn’t be worn flat.

Have your player put it on and close it around a ball. A glove someone else broke in may close differently, and a young player has to be able to close it.

The size is usually printed on the thumb or the heel. If it has worn off, measure from the heel to the top of the index finger.