Softball glove care is simple: keep a deeper, more open pocket than a baseball glove, use a light leather conditioner (not oil) a few times a season, wipe dirt and infield mix off after games, store it dry with a ball in the pocket, and relace when the lace stretches or snaps. Fastpitch infielders want a quicker, controlled close; outfield and slowpitch want more depth. Same shop prices as baseball: break-in $65, clean $55, full restore $95.
The softball pocket is the whole point
A softball is larger. If you break a 12.5" fastpitch glove in like an 11.5" baseball infield glove, the ball pops out. Care starts with pocket depth:
- Fastpitch infield — deep enough to hold the ball, still quick to get it out. Don’t let the lace slacken into a laundry bag.
- Fastpitch outfield / utility — more depth, a little more give in the web.
- Slowpitch — larger patterns, deeper pocket. The lace has more run to stretch; check it mid-season.
- Catcher’s and first base mitts — their own hinge. Same no-oil rule; see our softball glove repair page if the mitt is stiff or shot.
Sizing by age and position lives on the glove size chart (softball ranges included).
Conditioner, not oil
Softball leather fails the same way baseball leather does: people drown it in neatsfoot, mink, or olive oil because the glove “feels stiff.” Stiff is often dry or new — not a request for a grease bath. Use a light leather cream (we use Ball Player’s Balm in the shop). A dime-sized amount, two or three times a season. Full product list: best baseball glove conditioner.
If it’s already heavy and floppy from oil, skip more product. That’s a clean and condition ($55) or a full restore if the lace went with it.
After the game
- Knock off dirt and mix. Don’t grind it into the lace with a wet rag.
- Wipe with a barely damp cloth if needed. Air dry — no trunk, no hair dryer, no sunbake.
- Ball in the pocket, glove loosely closed. Not crushed at the bottom of a wet bag.
Tournament weekends in the heat (or fog) are hard on hide. Dry heat sucks moisture out; damp bags grow mold. Same storage rules as how to store a glove.
Laces on softball gloves
More lace, longer runs, a bigger web. Tension still needs to be even: tight enough to hold the softball, loose enough to close. When the lace is frayed, shiny-smooth, or the pocket won’t stay, it’s time for baseball glove relacing — we do softball on the same $95 restore, pocket shaped for the bigger ball.
When to ship it in
- New glove, season starts soon — break-in $65, tell us fastpitch vs slowpitch and position.
- Offseason dirt and dry leather, laces OK — clean $55.
- Shot lace, floppy pocket, or a mitt that won’t close — restore $95.
Mail-in from anywhere. Packing checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How do you take care of a softball glove?
Keep the pocket deep enough for a softball, condition lightly a few times a season (no oil), wipe dirt off after games, store it dry with a ball in the pocket, and relace when the lace stretches or snaps.
Is softball glove care different from baseball?
The leather rules are the same — no oil, no heat, light conditioner. The pocket is different: a softball is larger, so the glove needs more depth and a more open close than a baseball glove.
Do you repair softball gloves?
Yes. Blank Bros breaks in, cleans, conditions, relaces, and restores fastpitch and slowpitch gloves at the same flat prices as baseball: $65 / $55 / $95.
What size softball glove should I use?
Most adult fastpitch infield gloves run about 11.5–12.5 inches; outfield and slowpitch often 12.5–14 inches. Catcher’s and first base mitts are their own patterns. See our size chart for the full breakdown.