need opinions on a new kids' catcher's mitt

[Megunticook]

Have been thinking about getting a catcher's mitt for my 11 y.o (small) to use and then pass on to his 6 y.o. brother. Have always been partial to Rawlings, their best mitt is on sale for $75 (Gold Glove taper), wondered if anyone has this mitt:



http://www.rawlingsgear.com/baseball...s/ggcmptg.html

On the one hand it seems kind of silly to spend a lot of money on a mitt when neither boy is a dedicated catcher at this point, on the other hand I'd like them to try out the position (they've both expressed interest) and it always helps to have a decent, well-fitting mitt to make the experience better. We already have a set of protective gear (except need new shin guards for the older boy), so this would be the final piece of the puzzle.

Opinions?

[DerekD]

On the one hand it seems kind of silly to spend a lot of money on a mitt when neither boy is a dedicated catcher at this point, on the other hand I'd like them to try out the position (they've both expressed interest) and it always helps to have a decent, well-fitting mitt to make the experience better. We already have a set of protective gear (except need new shin guards for the older boy), so this would be the final piece of the puzzle.

I don't know that glove but I'd go ahead and get it. If you have two kids that will get some use out of it, I think it's money well spent.

[tcvander]

I bought this glove for you 9yo this year, it has a palm guard built in and is 31.5 inches so its a little easier to handle. He loves it, so much so that when the team is warming up before practice he warms up with his catchers mitt.

http://www.justballgloves.com/product/rawlings-renegade-series--rcmyb-youth-catchers-mitt/12388/

[shake-n-bake]

Also you can use it if you dont already have one to catch for your boys.

I and my son got a lot of use out of an inexpensove champro glove. Like you i got it so he could experiment with playing catcher. I offered to gey him another one when it turned out that he was playing the position a lot. He liked the champro and dodnt want another glove.

[Megunticook]

Also you can use it if you dont already have one to catch for your boys.

Actually, the Rawlings Pro Taper series is sized for kids--it's a 32 inch mitt but the hand opening and finger stalls are scaled down for children. My meathook would even begin to fit in there. I picked up a 34 inch Rawlings Heart of the Hide mitt that was way marked down to use myself, as my old Mizuno glove from 1980 is pretty worn and the 10 year old's pitches are hard enough to really hurt my hand now.

I think $75 is probably a good investment if both kids use it--I suspect after the youngest outgrows it in 7 or 8 years I can sell it for $25 or so, or donate it to the local LL to use.

Last season the older boy tried catching with me at home a few times with a mitt that was in his LL team's equipment bag, he had a hard time with it and got kind of discouraged. I think a nice mitt that he can shape to his hand and break in himself will make all the difference.

[shake-n-bake]

I'm in a similar situation, but for an older kid. My son wants to try to play some catcher next year (HS Soph.) He didn't have much interest last year because he pitches and thought that might be a problem. His class is loaded with pitching though. I also need a need a new catcher's glove to catch for him. Thinking about an All Star sub $100 model.

Might have to pick up a second job to pay for his gloves this year. His fielding glove is shot. It's so worn out (wouldn't recommend a TPX Omaha) that it's probably not even serviceable for another year on the mound. I think he's going to end up using my glove (reconditioned circa 1979 Wilson) to pitch with.

He needs a glove to play 3B. Projecting a little bit after last year though, I think there's a pretty fair chance that he may end up at 1B. He'd prefer to play 3B or C (and pitch), so I'm not sure what to do about a 1B glove. Like to find a stop gap solution before spending a bunch of cash on a glove that another kid may be borrowing most of the time.

I'm pretty sure he won't have much trouble guessing some of what he's getting for Christmas.

[Megunticook]

Went ahead and bought the mitt. Just arrived yesterday, and it looks like a quality product. Will be curious how it breaks in--it's not too stiff right out of the box, so it should break in quick. Put a ball in the pocket and stashed it out of sight in my closet so the kids don't see it yet, probably use it as a Christmas or birthday gift. . .