Best Softball Glove for High School (2026): 8 Picks by Position for 14 to 18 Year Olds

The best softball glove for a high school player is an adult leather fastpitch glove sized to her position: 11.5 to 12 inches at shortstop and second base, 12 to 12.5 inches at third, 12 to 12.5 inches with a closed web in a dark color for pitchers, and 12.5 to 13 inches in the outfield. Our #1 pick is the Wilson A1000 IF12 12" (about $150), a high-grade leather infield glove that covers the most positions. Varsity players who want pro-grade leather should look at the Rawlings Heart of the Hide 12" (about $200).

By high school, hands are adult size and most players have a primary position, so the glove decision is really a position decision. This guide goes position by position with eight verified fastpitch gloves, from a JV-friendly ~$100 Wilson A700 to the Wilson A2000, plus the full softball glove size chart by age and position, fastpitch vs slowpitch vs baseball, the pitcher glove color rule that trips up high school pitchers, and how to buy and break in a glove that will last through graduation. Prices come from live listings and move often, so treat them as approximate.

High school players (ages 14 to 18) use adult fastpitch glove sizes, chosen by position. Glove size is measured from the heel to the top of the index finger, following the pocket. Here is the position-by-position answer:

A freshman who is still growing may be more comfortable at the small end of each range. For the full ladder by age, see our glove size chart.

Most leagues use the 12" ball from 12U up, so high school sizes are an extension of 14U, with players specializing more by position:

Shortstop and second base: the smallest gloves on the field, 11.5" to 11.75" (some shortstops go 12"), with an open I or H web and a shallow pocket so the ball comes out fast on double plays. Pick: Easton Ghost NX 11.75" H-web.

Third base: 12" to 12.5" for reaction plays on hard-hit balls, often with a closed or I web and a deeper pocket that holds short hops. Picks: Wilson A1000 IF12 12" or the Easton Ghost NX 12" basket.

Pitcher: 12" to 12.5" with a closed web to hide the grip, in a dark color to stay within pitcher glove rules. Pitchers also field comebackers, so a slightly bigger pocket helps. Pick: SSK FP5 12.5" black basket.

Outfield: 12.5" to 13" for reach, with an H, basket or trapeze web that holds the ball on a dead run and shades the sun. Pick: Mizuno MVP Prime 13". More options in our fastpitch outfield gloves guide.

First base: a first base mitt, not a glove. Its long, padded scoop picks throws in the dirt and has no finger stalls. See our best fastpitch first base mitts.

Catcher: a fastpitch catcher's mitt, measured around the outside (about 33" to 34.5" for high school players), with the padding to catch high school pitching all game. See our best fastpitch catcher's mitts.

High school softball is fastpitch, so buy a fastpitch glove. The differences:

• Fastpitch gloves have a deep pocket for the 12" ball and a narrower hand opening and finger stalls patterned for fastpitch players, most of them women. Every glove on this page is fastpitch.
• Slowpitch gloves are built for adult rec leagues: 12.5" to 15", wide hand openings, oversized pockets for high-arc balls. Too big and too slow for fastpitch infield reactions, and usually too loose on a high school player's hand.
• Baseball gloves have a shallower pocket shaped for a 9" ball. A 12" softball does not seat properly, and baseball hand openings are cut wider.

When shopping, look for "fastpitch" in the listing title. A "softball glove" at 13.5" or more without a fastpitch label is almost certainly slowpitch.

High school (NFHS) rules, like USA Softball and many other rulebooks, restrict what a pitcher's glove can look like, most importantly barring gloves in the ball's colors (white, gray and optic yellow are the usual problem). An umpire can require a pitcher to change gloves before she pitches. The exact wording and exceptions change from time to time and state associations can adopt their own guidance, so check your current rulebook or ask your coach before buying.

In practice: many popular fastpitch gloves, including several fielder's gloves on this page, come in white or grey colorways. Those are fine for fielders. A pitcher should buy a dark glove with a closed web, like the black SSK FP5.

1. Start with her primary position, then pick the size from the table above.
2. Choose the leather grade by level. Freshman and JV: Wilson A700 (about $100). Varsity: Wilson A1000, Easton Ghost NX, Mizuno MVP Prime, SSK FP5 ($120 to $150). Varsity starters and college-bound: Rawlings Heart of the Hide or Wilson A2000 ($200+).
3. Buy in the off-season. High-grade leather needs weeks of catch to break in. A glove bought the week before tryouts will not be ready. Our glove break-in guide covers the honest process.
4. Plan for care. Condition leather once or twice a season with a glove care kit and never leave it wet in a hot car.
5. Confirm the throwing hand. RHT is worn on the left hand; LHT on the right.

No. Once hands stop growing (for most players somewhere in high school), a well-cared-for leather glove can last many seasons. The reasons to buy a new one are a position change (infield to outfield, or starting to pitch), a move up in level where better leather matters, or a glove that has lost its shape. If your player is coming from 14U with a good 12" glove, see what she has before buying; our 14U softball glove guide covers the gloves many players carry into high school.

• Buying a flagship glove the week before tryouts. A new A2000 or Heart of the Hide is stiff. Buy it months early.
• A white or grey pitcher's glove. See the color rule above.
• The wrong size for the position. A 13" outfield glove at shortstop, or an 11.5" glove in center field, costs plays.
• A slowpitch glove. Adult "softball" gloves in big sizes are usually slowpitch.
• Using a fielding glove at first or catcher. Both positions need mitts built for the job.
• No care routine. Leather that dries out cracks. Condition it and store it with a ball in the pocket.

For high school pitchers and catchers, the other big change is how pitches get called. If your program is exploring electronic calls, our softball pitch-calling systems guide compares the options, and check your state association's rules first.