The Complete Guide to Batting GlovesPRO-Shopping | Order PRO-Kit | PRO-Kit Cricket | Gloves | The Complete Guide to Batting Gloves Baffled by batting gloves? Flummoxed by finger protection? Confused by cuff fastenings? Then look no further - a complete guide to everything you ever wanted to know about batting gloves is only a click away.
Our guide to batting gloves gives chapter and verse on such matters as:
Glove sizing
What to look for when buying gloves
How to care for your gloves
 Size GuideTake a rap on the hands on a sporty pitch - even against a spinner - and you will very quickly come to appreciate the value of a good pair of batting gloves. But the best pair of in terms of protection can be rendered second rate, or seriously affect the batter's ability to play correctly, if they are not the correct size.
Glove sizing is one of the trickier areas, so please treat the following as a rough guide only. For gloves, the critical measurement is the straight line distance from the start of the wrist - there are usually one or more pronounced lines on the wrist so use the one furthest from the palm - to the tip of the middle finger, as shown left. The resulting measurement should correspond to glove sizes as follows:
| Glove Size | Measurement
(Wrist to Fingertip) | | Small Boys | 6" to 6.5"
15.5cm to 16.5cm | | Boys | 6.5" to 7"
16.5cm to 17.5cm | | Youths | 7" to 7.5"
17.5cm to 19cm | | Adult | 7.5" and Over
19cm and Over |
Wearing overly large gloves runs the risk of compromising the additional protection offered in key areas - for example, if the bottom thumb does not extend properly into the thumb stall serious injury can result. Overly large gloves can also make it difficult to grip the bat properly, not least of all because they will allow the hands to move to an excessive degree inside the glove.
Gloves that are too small present their own problems - discomfort as sensitive finger ends are rammed hard up into the ends of the fingers of the gloves being just one of them. Gloves that are too small can also affect the grip partly because of the discomfort factor and partly because it can be difficult to close the grip properly, leading to grip fatigue.
|  Buyer's GuideA finger injury may seem trivial but it is debilitating and can take a cricketer out of the game for four to six weeks and sometimes longer. Choosing the right glove is therefore extremely important and an area that is sometimes curiously neglected by otherwise highly conscientious cricketers.
At PRO-Kit we take pains to stress the importance of this basic item of equipment and have put significant effort into producing glove ranges that pick up on all of the key features that set a good pair of gloves apart from a merely average pair:
Protection - if the ball hits an inadequately protected pair of hands, it will hurt and possibly damage them, affecting confidence and technique. PRO-Kit gloves are made from the very best modern materials and offer excellent protection, allowing batters to focus on the important elements of batsmanship rather than worrying about pain and injury. Protection levels are especially good on the bottom hand - that's the right hand for right handed batters and the left hand for left handers - as it is this hand that tends to bear the brunt of blows. This applies particularly to the thumb of the bottom hand, but our gloves also feature extra protection around the equally vulnerable first and second fingers
Flexibility - the shape and design of the glove is also very important. Looking good isn't everything and a good pair of gloves will be designed to protect above all else. PRO-Kit gloves have been carefully jointed and shaped to maximise protection in the key areas across both hands without sacrificing flexibility and grip. Grip fatigue can be a real issue, especially for young cricketers over longer innings - don't forget that the hands are continually gripping and releasing the bat between deliveries. Stiff gloves can weaken the grip over time and can even cause the onset of cramp
Right Hand/Left Hand - Gloves are designed differently for right handers and left handers, the bottom hand - and therefore the glove needing the additional protective elements - varying between each type of batter. Make sure you order the correct type as this relatively small difference is absolutely crucial in helping to avoid painful and unnecessary injuries
Weight - fatigue is fatigue and even the relatively small weight of a pair of batting gloves can contribute to a process that can result in the batter making an innings-ending error. Batters often overlook glove weight as a factor in batting, but you can be sure that is - if nothing else the weight of a pair of gloves will affect the pick-up of the bat. For that reason we recommend that batters wear their gloves when trying out bats for weight and balance. The PRO-Kit glove ranges are constructed from the best modern materials, offering superb protection whilst remaining astonishingly light
Fit - the best and lightest gloves in the world could end up working against the batter if they do not fit well. Gloves that are overly large can allow the hands to move inside the glove and affect the grip at impact, whilst gloves that are too small will increase the risk of painful blows and even injuries. Check our Glove Size Guide above for full details
Grip - grip is vital to the batter in providing power and control in the shot. If the bat moves in the hands, the ball is at best likely to go somewhere other than intended and at worst it could go in the air to a fielder. All of the PRO-Kit glove ranges feature leather palms which provide a naturally good grip
|  Care GuideUnlike bats, batting gloves can be used straight out of the packaging and and do not require any preparatory work or knocking in - although as with a new pair of shoes, the fit and level of comfort will improve with wear.
PRO-Kit gloves are made from a combination of leather and the finest PU to ensure that they are both comfortable and hard wearing. The palms are 100% leather, which can be dried out and damaged by the range of salts and other chemicals contained in human sweat. In addition, sweat and dampness encourage the growth of various fungi and mildews whose activities will further weaken key areas of the glove, including stitching.
Prolonging the life of your gloves - and increasing the surety of your grip while batting - is easy and can be achieved in a number of ways:
Take good care of your gloves - ensure they are dried out slowly and naturally after each use
This is particularly important at the end of a season prior to storage for the Winter
Invest in a second pair of gloves and change them at appropriate junctures during the course of your innings
Invest in one or more pairs of inners - thin gloves worn inside the batting glove
Do not underestimate the detrimental effect that damp, slippery gloves can have on your batting - anything that allows the bat to move in the grip will reduce power and control, and increase the likelihood of the batter being dismissed. Keeping your grip secure will help your batting...and also help to protect your gloves.
It is rare that gloves get so dirty that you would want to clean them, but if they do, you should avoid all forms of liquid cleanser - a soft bristled brish should remove most surface dirt. There are a range of leather conditioners on the market which can be used to clean and protect the leather. Read the labels carefully to ensure that you select the best product for the job - it should go without saying that grease-based conditioners such as dubbin should not be used!
The velcro wrist straps, if not treated with reasonable care, can deteriorate over time, becoming clogged with dirt and odd bits of fabric from clothing. For best results, always store the gloves with the velco straps fastened.
| Damage & WarrantyAssuming normal use and reasonable care you should expect to get at least one year's worth of use from your new gloves and growth spurts notwithstanding, the reality is that they should last several years.
In the unlikely event of 'abnormal' damage or defective workmanship, the PRO-Kit warranty covers you for twelve months from date of purchase. Please refer to our 'Damage & Warranty' section for details on how best to address the matter.
|
PRO-Shopping | Order PRO-Kit | PRO-Kit Cricket | Gloves | The Complete Guide to Batting Gloves Site Designed by ClubPay Ltd (www.clubpay.co.uk) |
