Trouble With Ball Popping Out Of Glove

[JackB1]

I play SS in my mens league and I have been having trouble with the ball popping out of the glove on grounders that aren't hit hard. At first I thought it was me, but now I am starting to think it may be the glove. I bought the glove new last season, but maybe it's still not broken in enough? It's a 12.5" Rawlings infielders glove. On hard hit grounders or line drives, the ball stays in the glove fine. But on not so hard grounders or throws....I sometimes have trouble keeping the ball in the glove and it pops out of the pocket.

Is the problem my fielding "technique" or should I try and break the glove in more? Should I try another larger glove with a deeper pocker? Any tips would be appreciated.

[Jake Patterson]

I play SS in my mens league and I have been having trouble with the ball popping out of the glove on grounders that aren't hit hard. At first I thought it was me, but now I am starting to think it may be the glove. I bought the glove new last season, but maybe it's still not broken in enough? It's a 12.5" Rawlings infielders glove. On hard hit grounders or line drives, the ball stays in the glove fine. But on not so hard grounders or throws....I sometimes have trouble keeping the ball in the glove and it pops out of the pocket.

Is the problem my fielding "technique" or should I try and break the glove in more? Should I try another larger glove with a deeper pocker? Any tips would be appreciated.

I see this with gloves that are newish... sometime its a problem with the thumb and small finger areas not being completly broken in.

[ipitch]

Yeah, it just might not be broken in enough. Try playing catch whenever you can, and if you can't find anyone to play catch, play catch with yourself (take a ball and throw it into the glove).

[BallCoach06]

Just curious, are these balls backhand and/or forehand plays?

The reason I ask is that balls right at you should be more of a quick deflection into the throwing hand rather than actually catching the ball and then transferring. Backhands and forehands would use more of a catching the ball technique as those are one handed plays.

This is why many MI's use very small gloves and like them shaped wide and flat.

[FEVB]

I see that no one said anything about the glove maybe being a bit to big. It was my understanding that SS usually had gloves between 11.25-11.75 inches. 12.5 just seems to big. Its only .25 inches smaller than my outfield glove! Just my thoughts.


Cheers,
FEVB

[Hartattack52]

Go Yanks

A 12.5 is definetly to big for an infielder. I play third base and use a 11 3/4. It is flater and has a good deep pocket needed for an infielder.

[StraightGrain11]

Practice fielding [groundballs] with one hand. Many pros practice this way. I was taught this by ex-minor leaguer. It will teach you to USE your GLOVE(since that's what you're using to "field" the ball with)hand better.
The 2nd photo is a still frame off Youtube (as you can see) so I KNOW it is groundball and NOT a "linedrive being caught" (as you might argue w/ the Ripken photo - which IS a groundball).

But I agree, 12.5" is WAY TOO BIG for any middle infielder. The largest glove a SS should EVER where is 12.25" (these are usually worn by 3B). The avg SS glove is between 11.5"-12"(but used more oftenly in the 11.75"-12" range).

[Chris O'Leary]

I see that no one said anything about the glove maybe being a bit to big. It was my understanding that SS usually had gloves between 11.25-11.75 inches. 12.5 just seems to big. Its only .25 inches smaller than my outfield glove! Just my thoughts.

2B's use the smallest gloves. 11.25 to 11.5.

SS's and 3B tend to use slightly larger gloves. 12 or so.

12.5 is a big glove for an IF.

[BallCoach06]

Practice fielding [groundballs] with one hand. Many pros practice this way. I was taught this by ex-minor leaguer. It will teach you to USE your GLOVE(since that's what you're using to "field" the ball with)hand better.
The 2nd photo is a still frame off Youtube (as you can see) so I KNOW it is groundball and NOT a "linedrive being caught" (as you might argue w/ the Ripken photo - which IS a groundball).

But I agree, 12.5" is WAY TOO BIG for any middle infielder. The largest glove a SS should EVER where is 12.25" (these are usually worn by 3B). The avg SS glove is between 11.5"-12"(but used more oftenly in the 11.75"-12" range).

I agree. When I work with infielders, I teach them to be "athletic". To do this, the only time we field a groundball with two hands is a ball right at us. Otherwise, I teach to field with one hand with a major emphasis on footwork. I also got this from a minor league player. I helped him this winter get ready for spring training and when I tapped into what his instructors teach him at the pro level, it really changed how I teach now.

There is too much to explain on how I teach infielders, but it is much like hitting. Take a look at MLB fielders (watch video and slow it down) and try to do what they do. You will see a difference from the way it is done at the HS and college levels. I really like watching Reyes and Tulo. As the minor league player told me (who also played at a major college program), he said the way college coaches teach fielding is the "cookie cutter way".

As far a gloves, I put this in another post a few days ago:

What I recommend for glove sizes:

2B - 11" - 11 1/4"
SS - 11 1/4" - 11 1/2"
3B - 11 1/2" - 11 3/4"

Those are the sizes I recommend to the players I work with. Obviously, like a bat, it is personal perference. A 2B could go with a 11 1/2" if he is comfortable with it, etc.

As a guideline, here are some sizes MLB players are using:

Jose Reyes 11 1/4"
Rafael Furcal 11 1/4"
Freddy Sanchez 11 1/2"
Michael Young 11 1/2"
David Wright 12"
Jack Wilson 11 1/2"
Derek Jeter 11 1/2"
Dan Uggla 11 1/2"
JJ Hardy 11 1/2"
Chase Utley 11 1/2"
Miguel Tejada 11 1/2"
Chipper Jones 11 3/4"

[FEVB]

I believe A-Rod would be a an odd exception. Doesn't he use a 12.5?


Cheers
FEVB

[BallCoach06]

I believe A-Rod would be a an odd exception. Doesn't he use a 12.5?


Cheers
FEVB

Haven't checked this year, but A-Rod wore an 11 1/2" Rawlings HOH last year.

[StraightGrain11]

I believe A-Rod would be a an odd exception. Doesn't he use a 12.5?


Cheers
FEVB

No. The tan "Fastback" glove he used to use was a Rawlings PRO6HF 12" single-post web (I actually have this glove), Ripken's old model (as Ripken was his idol growing up). The glove he uses now is a black open/conventional back 12" single-post web - but it is COMPLETELY CUSTOM. You will not be able to find this model or style ANYWHERE. The "post" of the glove is widened and "hinged" and this is only done for professional players. Joe Crede has a similar design.

And that 11.5" Rawlings I-web is NOT a glove A-rod has EVER used, it is only a glove he helped to DESIGN. He did use a dual-post H-web style in his early Seattle career, though.

Here's a couple pictures of him with his old and new gloves. (The "shiny" patch you see on his glove in the 2nd photo is placed on there by the Rawlings company to indicate which players were winners of their Gold Glove Award the previous season)

[JackB1]

I see that no one said anything about the glove maybe being a bit to big. It was my understanding that SS usually had gloves between 11.25-11.75 inches. 12.5 just seems to big. Its only .25 inches smaller than my outfield glove! Just my thoughts.


Cheers,
FEVB

sorry...the glove is actually 12"....not 12.5. I have a large hand and
even the 12" glove feels a bit small for me.

[BallCoach06]

No. The tan "Fastback" glove he used to use was a Rawlings PRO6HF 12" single-post web (I actually have this glove), Ripken's old model (as Ripken was his idol growing up). The glove he uses now is a black open/conventional back 12" single-post web - but it is COMPLETELY CUSTOM. You will not be able to find this model or style ANYWHERE. The "post" of the glove is widened and "hinged" and this is only done for professional players. Joe Crede has a similar design.

And that 11.5" Rawlings I-web is NOT a glove A-rod has EVER used, it is only a glove he helped to DESIGN. He did use a dual-post H-web style in his early Seattle career, though.

Here's a couple pictures of him with his old and new gloves. (The "shiny" patch you see on his glove in the 2nd photo is placed on there by the Rawlings company to indicate which players were winners of their Gold Glove Award the previous season)

Good catch. I guess I never really paid that much attention. In the Rawlings catalogs is lists the AR3 model as his model and I saw him wearing a black glove, so I just thought that was it. Never really noticed it wasn't the I -Web.