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Best Batting Gloves

Updated February 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Franklin Sports CFX Pro Adult Series Batting Glove
Franklin Sports
CFX Pro Adult Series Batting Glove
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Most Comprehensive
Bottom Line

Durable and versatile design. Authenticated by MLB, these look great and amplify both feel and performance.

Pros

Durable, high-quality leather material. Intuitive construction ensures an ergonomic fit. Flexible palms. Features Franklin and authenticated MLB brand patches. Recognized by Major League Baseball. Great for both youth and adult players. Available in several colors and patterns that match team uniforms and individual preferences.

Cons

Thumb may fit more tightly than fingers and take time to break in.

Best Bang for the Buck
Louisville Slugger Genuine Adult Batting Gloves
Louisville Slugger
Genuine Adult Batting Gloves
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Adjustable to user size, they resist wear and tear throughout all seasons.

Pros

Good grip and feel for homerun performance. Single patch palm resists rips and tears from normal wear and tear. A durable wrist strap adjusts tightness. Expendable. Comfortable and adjustable fit. Understated Louisville Slugger brand logo. Available in black or white.

Cons

Less padding does not defend hands from shock in cold weather.

Franklin Sports MLB Shok-Sorb Neo Batting Gloves
Franklin Sports
MLB Shok-Sorb Neo Batting Gloves
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Cold Weather Option
Bottom Line

Cold weather pair is designed to reduce the impact of bat reverberations.

Pros

Extra padding absorbs impact and reduces sting from both foul balls and pitches that ride in on hands, especially in cold weather. Flexible padding allows hands to react easily. Soft and comfortable interior padding. Available in 6 different color combinations and 9 sizes.

Cons

Padding may wear down during long seasons, especially fall ball seasons.

Easton Gametime Batting Glove Series
Easton
Gametime Batting Glove Series
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

Durable, stylish, and flexible with extra protection for players of all ages.

Pros

Made with durable leather and flexible synthetic material. Extra protection on hands and palms. Increased flexibility in fingers. Comfortable, adjustable cuff maintains preferred tightness. Versatile size options for both youth and adult players. Available in several color combinations, including blue/white and red/white.

Cons

Exterior colors may fade from sweat or inside washers.

Rawlings Adult Workhorse 950 Series Batting Gloves
Rawlings
Adult Workhorse 950 Series Batting Gloves
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Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

Performance-enhancing adult baseball gloves improve feel and protection at the plate and accommodate lefty and righty batters.

Pros

Improved grip from tacky leather palm and fingers. Extra padding on fingers and hands defends against wild pitches. A thick, adjustable wrist strap conforms to user tightness preferences and provides additional protection on wrists. Available in several color combinations, including blue, black, and the American flag.

Cons

Sizes may run smaller than other models, which may create stability issues.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for best batting gloves

When it comes to improving baseball skills, hitting is a top priority for many players, but if you’re trying to perfect your stance and swing, sometimes you need some help to get an advantage.

Batting gloves are lightweight gloves designed to be worn at the plate. They offer a more effective grip on the bat, so your hands don’t slide around when you swing. They can also provide protection from blisters, absorb vibration, wick away sweat, and keep your hands warm when you’re playing in cold weather.

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Batting gloves aren’t just for game day — they can also protect your hands when you’re in the batting cage or taking live batting practice.

Key considerations

Sizing

Getting the size right for a pair of batting gloves is extremely important. If the gloves are too large, they can move around when you’re batting and affect your grip. If your gloves are too tight, they can limit the movement of your hands when you swing the bat.

To determine what size gloves you need, measure the length from the bottom of your palm to the tip of the middle finger of your dominant hand. You should always check a specific manufacturer’s sizing chart, but here are general sizing guidelines based on your hand length:

  • 6 to 6 1/4 inches: Youth small

  • 6 1/4 to 6 1/2 inches: Youth medium or women’s extra-small

  • 6 1/2 to 6 3/4 inches: Youth large, women’s small, or men’s extra-small

  • 6 3/4 to 7 inches: Youth extra-large, women’s medium, or men’s small

  • 7 to 7 1/4 inches: Women’s large or men’s medium

  • 7 1/4 to 7 3/4 inches: Women’s extra-large or men’s large

  • 7 3/4 to 8 inches: Men’s extra-large

Materials

Batting gloves are typically made of either leather or synthetic materials.

  • Leather batting gloves usually offer a better grip and are more durable. They are also generally more expensive, however.

  • Synthetic batting gloves are typically more flexible, so many players find them the most comfortable option. They’re also easier to clean than leather gloves.

You can also find batting gloves that feature a leather palm and synthetic fingers, so you can get the benefits of both materials.

Features

Grip

The main benefit of batting gloves is that they allow you to get a better grip on your bat, so you’re able to have more control when you swing. The gloves should have a slightly tacky surface across the palm, which helps give you a more secure hold on the bat. Leather batting gloves offer a particularly good grip, so even if you opt for a pair with synthetic fingers, you may want to hold out for a leather palm material. Some gloves may even feature silicone coating across the palm and fingers to help improve your grip.

Padding and protection

Your batting gloves can help protect your hands from injury if they include some type of padding. Some pairs have added cushioning in the palms, which can offer shock absorption to reduce any sting you might feel when the bat connects with the ball. Others include custom-molded plastic shields that fit over the back of your hand to protect it from balls that come too far inside.

Articulated fingers

Some batting gloves feature articulated fingers, which means that the fingers are cut separately from the rest of the glove material. That prevents the material from bunching up beneath your knuckles and makes it easier to move your fingers. Some pairs only feature an articulated thumb, while others offer an articulated design for the fingers as well.

Wrist style

The type of wrist design that batting gloves feature can affect their performance. Most pairs have a hook-and-loop wrist closure, so you’re able to adjust how tight they are around your wrists. However, some gloves have a longer cuff that provides some compression to mimic taping your wrist for added support, while others have a low-profile wrist design that allows for a full range of motion for your hands. It’s really a matter of personal preference, so choose the style that best suits your needs as a hitter.

Style

While batting gloves serve a practical purpose, that doesn’t mean they can’t look good too. Batting gloves are available in a wide range of colors and designs, so it’s easy to find an option you like. Many players like to match their batting gloves to their uniform colors, while others prefer basic white, gray, or black gloves.

Accessories

You can’t practice your hitting with some quality balls to hit. It helps to have have plenty on hand to perfect your swing with, which is why  this bucket of 24 balls is a good option

Baseball isn’t a contact sport, but safety is still key. Invest in a good baseball helmet to protect your head from any errant baseballs while you’re working on your hitting. The Easton Z5 is one of the best choices available. Strong and protective, it adheres to NOCSAE standards for any level of play, and it’s available in a range of colors.

Batting glove prices

Batting gloves vary in price based on their size and material, but most pairs range from $10 to $120.

The most affordable batting gloves are made of synthetic materials. They usually don’t have many special features and cost between $10 and $30.

Mid-range batting gloves usually feature a combination of synthetic materials and leather. They may have some special features like extra padding and articulated fingers. These cost between $30 and $70.

The most expensive batting gloves are usually made of 100% genuine leather. They may have some special features like extra padding and articulated fingers. The best batting gloves typically cost between $70 and $120.

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Did you know?
Players who don’t wear batting gloves often use pine tar to get a good grip on their bat, but it’s extremely sticky and messy.
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Tips

  • When you’re done playing or taking batting practice, take off your batting gloves and smack them against one another several times to knock off any loose dirt.

  • If you have leather batting gloves, you can use a dry leather brush to clean them further — but be sure to use the brush carefully. Use light, gentle strokes to avoid weakening the leather.

  • If your batting gloves need more intensive cleaning, never soak them in water. Instead, mix a few drops of mild dish soap with water and use a soft rag to gently rub down the gloves to remove dirt and grime. Wipe the solution off of the gloves with a dry cloth, and allow them to dry at room temperature for about a week.

  • Batting gloves that are made of leather can be cleaned with a specialized leather cleaner. However, you should take note of any recommendations from the manufacturer.

  • Never clean batting gloves that contain leather in the washing machine. Many synthetic-only pairs are machine-washable, however.

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Ken Harrelson of the Kansas City Athletics was the first Major League Baseball player to wear gloves while hitting during a game. He repurposed a pair of golf gloves to help protect his blistered hand during a game in 1964.

FAQ

Q. Do players need batting gloves if they’re just learning to play baseball or softball?

A. While batting gloves are generally thought of as tools for more seasoned players, they can certainly benefit new players too. When you’re just learning to play baseball or softball, the gloves can help you maintain a firm grip on the bat and provide protection from the sting that often occurs when your bat connects with the ball.

Q. Is it necessary to use batting gloves if you’re hitting with an aluminum bat?

A. Some aluminum bats are designed with a grip area on the bat itself that can make batting gloves unnecessary. But aluminum bats tend to vibrate more than wooden models when the bat makes contact with the ball, so a good pair of batting gloves can reduce that sensation and prevent an injury to your hands.

Q. What type of weather are batting gloves good for?

A. Batting gloves can actually be helpful in all types of weather. In warm weather, your hands may start to sweat, so the gloves can help you maintain a good grip on the bat no matter how much you might be sweating. In cold weather, though, batting gloves can help keep your hands warm and reduce the vibration from the bat that might sting your hands, which is often more painful when it’s chilly.

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