Baseball Glove Web Types | A Complete Breakdown (2024)

The hunt for the perfect baseball glove is always challenging. Whether you are a veteran player with many good seasons under his belt or starting your journey in the sport as a rookie, you need to make sure you have the perfect glove in your hand to help you out.

Now, you might be wondering – what’s the big deal? Picking out a glove shouldn’t be too difficult, right? Wrong! Only rookies make this mistake.

In hindsight, it might seem like there’s not much to look at when picking out a new baseball glove as long as it fits your hands. But there are a lot of small details that you need to look out for. Web design, for example, is a major deciding factor when you want to buy a new baseball glove.

There are 6 different baseball glove web types that you can find, and the one you go with depends both on your personal preference and your playing position.

I will break down all the different glove types that you need to choose from and help you understand how they impact your gameplay. So, let’s get started.

Types of Baseball Glove Webbing

As I already said, there are six major web designs that manufacturers use in their baseball gloves. I hope you don’t assume that one design is better than the other, though. Each glove webbing has its place and the one you end up going with depends mostly on your personal preference.

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So, here’s a quick rundown of the different types of baseball glove webs to give you a better idea of each of the designs.

1. Closed/ Basket Web

Most of the infielder’s and pitcher’s gloves in the market come with closed/basket webbing. As the name implies, a glove with a closed web design is meant to conceal the ball. This is what makes this design such a prime choice for most top pitcher gloves.

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Because of the closed-off design of the web, the pitcher can hide his pitching stance from the hitter. Typically, gloves with this webbing have a shallower pocket, but the pocket is pretty strong. Apart from the pitchers, middle infielders also favor this web design most of the time.

2. I-Web

If the middle infielder is not using a glove with a closed/basket web, there’s a good chance that he is going with an I-web glove. It is extremely popular among middle infielders because of how easy it makes it to scoop out the ball and also block off the glare from the sun while catching a fly ball.

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This design features two horizontal leather strips with one vertical leather strip connecting them in the center. The web design looks similar to the letter I and hence the name. Because of the openness of the web design, players can relay the ball easily with this glove.

3. H-web

H-web is the webbing of choice for many outfielders and third basem*n. Also referred to as dual post web, the H-web design in the glove gives you amazing flexibility without compromising the sturdiness of the structure. It also has an open design allowing you to block out the glare while catching those high flyballs.

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The design is pretty similar to the I-web design. In this design, there are two vertical leather strips with a single horizontal strip connecting them together. This makes the gloves much better for outfielders as it creates a deeper pocket letting you catch the ball much easier.

4. Two-Piece Closed Web

Similar to basket/closed webbing, two-piece closed webs are also designed to help conceal the pitch from the hitters. However, there is one key difference between the two-piece closed web and the regular basket web baseball gloves – the weight.

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2-piece closed webbing causes the glove to become considerably heavier than normal basket webbing. As a result, these are favored by older, more experienced players who want a bit of weight in their gloves. While it is mostly used by pitchers, some infielders also like using baseball gloves with two-pieced closed webbing baseball gloves.

5. Trapeze Web and Modified Trap Web

Trapeze web is the webbing of choice for many outfielders because of its deep pocket, making it easier to catch any ball. Its design also allows the player to shield their eyes as they follow those high flyballs.

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Modified trapeze web has a similar design with one big difference. In the modified trap webbing, there’s an additional strip of leather on top of the web to increase the stability of the glove. While the trapeze web is used almost exclusively by outfielders, the modified trap web’s design makes it suitable for infielders and pitchers also.

6. Single-Post Web

The single-post web is only ever used by first basem*n. This type of webbing gives you a consistent pocket that lets you receive the ball easily. However, the deeper pocket in the glove means transferring the ball to your throwing hand is a bit more hectic.

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That is why this webbing is only suitable only for positions that do not need to throw the ball very often, namely the first basem*n.

Why Do Baseball Gloves Have Different Webbing?

The reason gloves have different webbing is to give players the option to choose one that fits their playing position and preference. I’m sure you’ve already noticed how different web designs have a different impact on the utility of the glove.

For example, a pitcher with a closed web design in their glove can hide his next pitch and try to catch the hitter off-guard. On a similar note, the ability to shield your eyes from the glare of the sun that a trapeze web provides is extremely useful as an outfielder.

If you are a beginner or a casual player, it might not matter much to you. Any glove, as long as it is decent and helps you catch the ball, will suffice. But in a competitive environment, players will play for every bit of advantage that they can get. Having different web options when choosing their gloves gives a bit more control over the hands of the players.

Which Web is Best for Baseball Gloves?

There’s no definitive answer to which web design is best for a baseball glove. Each design has different effects, which can give you an edge depending on your role in the game.

If you are an outfielder, I would recommend going with a trap or modified trap web design. As an infielder, a closed/basket web might be a better choice. On the other hand, if you are a seasoned pitcher, you might like the overall feel of a two-piece closed web more.

So, it ultimately comes down to two things – your position of play and your personal choice. If you are a beginner, though, I would suggest not giving much thought to this. Just buy a glove that you are happy with and enjoy the game.

With All That Said

There are a lot of things to watch out for when you are buying a new, top-shelf baseball glove. While things like padding or size are important, you should also think a bit about the web design in the glove, especially if you are playing competitive baseball professionally.

I hope my breakdown of the different types of webs for baseball gloves could help you understand the key differences between them and help you make the right choice. Good luck!

Baseball Glove Web Types | A Complete Breakdown (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between trapeze web and modified trapeze web? ›

The modified trapeze web is a versatile design that can be used by outfielders, infielders, and pitchers. It's differentiated from the standard trapeze design by the strip of leather on the top of the web, which adds stability.

What kind of web do infielders use? ›

Closed/Basket Web

Closed webbing features a woven design that creates a closed pocket for the ball. The basket-like construction of the webbing is great for infielders, as it provides a secure grip on the ball and helps prevent it from slipping out of the glove.

What web style do pitchers use? ›

The Basket Web is the all-time favorite for pitchers. The basket web is a closed web which is perfect for a pitcher to hide the ball.

What is a webbed glove? ›

The webbing on a baseball glove is the area between the thumb and forefinger, which is used to catch the ball. There are different types of web types, including open webs, closed webs, and modified webs.

What is a modified trapeze web? ›

The modified trap web is used by pitchers and infielders. It's similar to the traditional trap web, except the modified trap has a section of leather along the top to add stability to the baseball glove.

What webs do outfielders use? ›

H-Web Outfield Gloves

The reason behind this design is to create openings in the web that offer more visibility when catching pop flys. Popular brands that create gloves with an H-web include: Rawlings H-Web Gloves. Wilson H-Web Gloves.

What glove did Derek Jeter use? ›

Jeter swung a Louisville Slugger P72 Ash bat, eventually becoming the first bat model to ever be retired (now the DJ2). In the field, Derek Jeter's glove was unique, a Rawlings PRODJ2 in a clean black in tan with the rare basket web.

Why did Derek Jeter use a basket web? ›

Its an 11.5″ glove and Jeter's unique touch is the old school basket web. The benefit of a basket web is that your fingers will never get caught in the holes, a possibility on quick transfers with an I-Web or H-Web.

What is illegal for pitchers to use? ›

As a reminder, pitchers can use rosin or other league-approved substances to help them grip the baseballs, but they cannot go beyond that to substances such as spider tack, pine tar or a now-notorious mixture of sunscreen with sweat and other readily available things during the course of a game.

What does a slider look like to a hitter? ›

A slider is thrown with a regular arm motion, just like a fastball, and, ideally, the slider's velocity is only slightly lower than the pitcher's fastball. Thus, an effective slider can initially look like a fastball to the hitter.

What is a lobster glove? ›

Lobster-claw gloves are the spork of cold-weather apparel: hybrid gear that accomplishes none of its tasks as capably as the standalone equivalent. A spork is a leaky spoon with tines too short to spear anything; the lobster claw is—take your pick—a chilly mitten or a glove with lousy dexterity.

What do you call gloves without finger holes? ›

Fingerless gloves or "glovelettes" are garments worn on the hands which resemble regular gloves in most ways, except that the finger columns are half-length and opened, allowing the top-half of the wearer's fingers to be shown.

What is a fleece glove? ›

The fleece lining in these gloves acts as an insulation layer, trapping heat and preventing cold air from reaching your skin. This property makes fleece-lined gloves the perfect gear to protect against cold weather.

What kind of pocket does an infield want? ›

Shallow pockets are built for middle infielders. This allows them to retrieve the ball quicker, and complete plays in a faster manner. Deeper pockets help outfielders secure fly balls with more consistency. Softball players will need a bigger pocket due to the larger size balls used.

Do infielders flare their gloves? ›

Should You Flare Your Glove? There are two ways to answer this question… For an infielder (2B, SS & 3B), YES, you should flare the thumb and pinky on your glove if you wish to help channel the baseball into the pocket of the glove.

How do MLB infielders wear their gloves? ›

One Finger Outside The Glove:

Why do baseball players keep one finger out of their glove? Infielders and catchers often do this because they're constantly taking heat, and getting that finger out of the pocket gives them an extra layer of padding/protection.

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