Hello! This is Sato from Syuspo!
In this blog, the baseball-loving staff at Syuspo will be sharing information related to baseball.
For those who have been playing baseball for a long time, it might feel like "I used to be curious about that," but this time, I'm going to deliberately go with this theme.
■ Should you stick your index finger out or not?
There's no right or wrong answer, but depending on the glove's specifications and how you use it, some ways are more suitable than others, so I'd like to explain that.
① Gloves where you should stick your index finger out
Gloves designed for one pinky finger in
② Gloves where you don't need to stick your index finger out
Gloves designed for two pinky fingers in
③ Gloves where you can either stick your index finger out or not
Gloves designed for two pinky fingers in
Roughly speaking, they can be categorized in this way.
Now, I'll explain each one in my own way!
You absolutely must use gloves with one pinky finger in with your index finger out!
And why is that?
Because your hand movement gets locked, and your handling becomes poor.
There's no particular hindrance when you field the ball at your own rhythm and timing, but the difficulty of baseball is that it doesn't always go well.
When a "bounce is off" or "the batted ball is fast," if your index finger is in, your hand tenses up, and you can't use the glove effectively.
In those situations, you want to use the glove softly and lightly, presenting it squarely to the ball, don't you?
After all, you want to make a difficult play and help out your pitcher, right? (・∀・)ﾆﾔﾆﾔ
Another reason to stick your index finger out is...
It makes it easier to create a deep pocket!
In which of the above photos, ① or ②, is the finger extended?
The correct answer is photo ①.
The key point to look for is the area circled in red.
Photo ② appears to have a more noticeable bulge.
This affects the pocket, making it shallower.
It's fine when you field a ball with both hands while spread wide, but on short hops or intense tag plays, the ball is more likely to drop out of the glove.
Even a small difference can greatly affect the outcome.
I recommend closing the glove between the thumb and middle/ring fingers.
That way, you can field the ball with the natural movement of your hand, and you'll be able to handle it well because it creates a deep pocket.
Also, it hurts a lot when you catch the ball, which is unique to the single-pinky insertion! (lol)
The only good thing is that you won't injure your index finger during a tag play.
Gloves designed for two pinky fingers in can be used without sticking your finger out!
The wrist isn't locked as much as with the single-pinky design, so it can be used without any problems.
By keeping your finger inside, it's easier to tell where the ball is when you catch it.
I also play outfield with a double-pinky glove, and I tried various ways, whether to stick my finger out or not, but eventually, I stopped sticking it out.
It's easier to use if you leave a little room rather than inserting it all the way in!
As I wrote in the previous Wilson feature, I recommend using a double-pinky glove in a "vertical" style, closing it with your thumb and pinky.
This way, you can grab the ball naturally without having to clench your hand!
If you'd like, please also check out ＜the previous Wilson feature＞!!!!
Gloves designed for two pinky fingers can be used either way. }
It's not that one is good and the other is bad...
For this, I recommend whichever feels more comfortable for you.
Almost all professional baseball players who use a double-pinky glove probably have their index finger out.
Imamiya, Genda, Tonosaki, Nagaoka, Kamikawabata...
Wow, all excellent defensive players! (lol)
Of course, they'd use a double-pinky glove with the finger out!
I have an interesting story, would you like to hear it? (・∀・)ﾆﾔﾆﾔ
Seibu Lions player Tonosaki places his index finger in the position shown in photo ① when catching the ball,
and moves it to the position in photo ② when throwing!
The reason for this is that if the ball is caught with the finger in the position of photo ②, it's hard to tell where the ball is, and it interferes with transferring it to throw.
So, he shifts his finger so that the impact of catching the ball hits his index finger!
When I tried this, it certainly made it easier to know where the ball was!
It's a hybrid catching method that combines the benefits of both single-pinky and double-pinky insertions.
～Summary～
I introduced three patterns, but individual preferences vary.
Borrowing a friend's glove to see if it suits you is one option.
On ＜Shunan Sports' official Instagram (@syunansports)＞, we post videos of glove shaping for customers who have purchased gloves, and the content includes their requests.
If you're unsure about what type of shaping you'd like, please feel free to write "I want this glove shape!" in the comments section.
Wataru Sato
The only Syuspo staff member who enjoys amateur baseball.A man who is particular about baseball equipment.
A man who watches baseball games just to see what equipment the players are using.
A man who competed in national tournaments in elementary and high school.
