Infield vs Outfield Gloves for Baseball & Softball: What’s the Difference?

Whether you're a seasoned ballplayer or just stepping onto the diamond for the first time, one of the biggest decisions you'll make is choosing the right glove. For baseball and softball players, the glove they choose greatly affects their performance on the field. Let’s consider the differences between infield and outfield gloves so you can knock it out of the park in every game you play.

Infield gloves are used by softball and baseball players in defensive positions, like first base, second base, shortstop, catcher, pitcher, and third base. They are made for the quick reflexes, precision, and agility required for fielding ground balls, catching line drives, and making close-range throws.

Infield gloves are typically smaller with less padding and have shallower pockets than outfield gloves. This allows infielders to quickly retrieve the ball from the glove and throw it. It provides more control and flexibility, which is important for making accurate throws or turning double plays.

They also have a tighter fit for a more secure grip. This improves the player's ability to control the glove during fielding movements.

Infielders wear gloves with mostly open webbing. This allows them to see the ball when fielding and quickly move it from the glove to their throwing hand. However, this isn’t true for all positions; pitchers and catchers tend to wear gloves with closed webbing to help hide the ball.

Outfield gloves are used by softball and baseball players in defensive positions in the outfield, like left field, center field, and right field. They are made for catching fly balls, tracking down line drives, and making long throws with accuracy.

Outfield gloves are also usually larger than infield gloves to help outfielders cover more ground and easily catch balls hit at greater distances. They have deeper pockets, more padding, and longer fingers than infield gloves to protect the player’s hand and keep the ball from popping out of the glove upon impact or during running catches and dives. Its size also provides a larger target for catching fly balls.

Outfielders can wear gloves with open or closed webbing but tend to prefer closed webbing. This helps keep dirt from getting into the glove and provides more support for catching fast fly balls. For outfielders, webbing isn’t determined by the position, but by preference.

Baseball and softball gloves are made of many different materials. Each material changes the way the glove fits and how it performs. Players can choose the glove material they like, but infielders typically choose softer, more flexible materials, while outfielders typically choose stiffer, more durable materials. The most common glove materials are:

• Cowhide: Known for durability and affordability
• Steerhide: Similar to cowhide, but higher quality and more comfortable
• Synthetic: Known for being affordable, lightweight, and resistant to weather
• Hybrids: Combinations of leather and synthetics to balance performance and price

Other materials, like Japanese kip or exotic animal leather, are considered premium. They are less commonly used and much more expensive. Some professional players prefer these gloves because they are soft, durable, customizable, require minimal break-in, and perform better than other materials.

With so many options to keep in mind, choosing the right glove might feel overwhelming. The following chart, along with webbing and sizing considerations, can help you make the best choice.

Understanding the differences between infield and outfield gloves is important for choosing the type of glove that will help you perform your best. When shopping for baseball or softball gloves, remember: infield gloves are smaller with less padding, and outfield gloves are larger with more padding. If you aren’t sure what size glove you need, check out our article with baseball glove size charts.

Ready to take the field by storm? We have a large selection of baseball and softball gloves available at Academy Sports + Outdoors!