A good softball glove has five key components: the pocket, heel, finger stalls, palm, and webbing.
- The ball is caught in the pocket, while the heel protects the hand.
- Finger stalls provide openings for your fingers, and the palm has padding to absorb impact.
- The webbing, closing the gap between the thumb and index finger, plays a crucial role in controlling the ball.
There are two types of webbing: open and closed, each designed for different positions. For example, open webbing is ideal for infielders, while closed webbing is recommended for pitchers to conceal their grip.
Open webbing includes I Web, H Web, and Single-Post Web. Closed webbing includes Basket Web, Modified Trap Web (Trapeze) and Two-Piece Closed.