Rawlings Liberty Advanced Softball Glove Review

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Are you in search of some quality softball gloves? Has the Rawlings liberty advanced softball glove made it to your shortlist yet? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here we’re breaking down everything you need to know regarding the Rawlings liberty advanced softball glove. 

When it’s time to upgrade to a high-quality, professional-level softball glove, the buying process becomes more complicated, not less. Suddenly, you’re faced with the actual potential of squandering hundreds of dollars on a glove that neither you nor your athlete can use. At its top levels, softball is not a game of almost and close enough. The expectation is that a player will always make the correct decision.

A $30 glove will usually be adequate when a player is very young. If the fitment is a problem, you may easily change it. Those days, however,  end once a player reaches high school. The Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove from Rawlings is designed specifically for such players. To create a softball glove capable of supporting elite female softball players, this series uses premium leather and high, professional-quality stitching. High school, Division 1 and select travel-ball fields all welcome these gloves. So, do you think the Liberty Advanced series is a good fit for you?

Rawlings Liberty Advanced Series Custom Fastpitch Glove/Mitt, Women's

Continuing to push the boundaries of performance and protection, the Rawlings® Liberty® Advanced Series Fastpitch Gloves are developed with time-tested materials and revolutionary ...
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$319.99

Rawlings 12.5'' Liberty Advanced Series Fastpitch Glove 2022, Women's

SERIES OVERVIEW: Quality full-grain leather provides superior durability New Dynamic Pattern Technology: Features an all-new hand opening and finger back adjustments that ...
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$199.99

Rawlings Liberty Advanced Softball Glove Series, 34

Last update was on: March 28, 2024 4:33 pm
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Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove, 13 inch, Left Hand Throw, White/Black

Last update was on: March 28, 2024 4:33 pm
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Well, before we get into the pros and cons of the glove, let’s discuss what makes a glove a good fit for you. 

How to Determine the Best Softball Glove

There are a lot of questions that come to mind when looking for the best softball glove or mitt. Is there a distinction to be made between fastpitch and slowpitch gloves? How do softball gloves differ by position? What are the advantages of various web styles? All of those questions, and more, will be answered in this Pro Tips softball glove purchase guide.

A SOFTBALL GLOVE’S PARTS

Every component of a softball glove has a specific function. Knowing the anatomy of a glove can help you satisfy your needs on the field. Examine the components of a softball glove in further detail.

  • Webbing: Your glove’s web design is crucial for ball control.The webbing comes in two variants, open and closed. Your decision will be based on your viewpoint and preferences. Pitchers prefer a closed web to hide their pitches, while fielders prefer an open web.
  • Pockets, like the web, assist in ball control on impact by connecting the fingers and thumb. Outfielders like a deep pocket, while infielders prefer a shallow pocket.
  • The back of your hand is where you put your index finger. Both open and closed designs are available. Open backs allow for additional flexibility in the hands and wrists. A closed back, on the other hand, has a smaller opening for enhanced stability.
  • Finger stalls: The apertures on a glove for your fingers are known as finger stalls.
  • Padding beneath the leather on the palm of your glove provides impact protection.
  • The heel is the lower section of the glove that protects your hand’s bottom.
  • Wrist adjustment: A wrist adjustment is a feature that allows you to get the best fit possible. Lace adjustments, D-ring fasteners, buckle systems, and hook-and-loop fasteners are among the styles available.

MATERIALS

The material of your glove has an impact on how it feels and how long it lasts. The following are examples of common materials:

  • Synthetic: A lightweight choice that is popular among young athletes. Synthetic gloves are simple to close right out of the box. 
  • Pigskin and cowhide are common leathers that range in weight from mild to heavy. They are good for younger players because they break in faster than premium leathers.
  • Kip leather is a kind of light cowhide. This material is popular among young players because it provides for a wide range of motion and agility.
  • Hide leather with the entire grain: The Pro Series gloves are made of full-grain leather. They take longer to break in but provide better performance and durability.
  • Steerhide leather is the heaviest type of leather used in softball gloves. These gloves are sturdy and durable, despite being among the most difficult to break in.

Features

Rawlings | Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove | 12" | 1 Piece Solid Web | Right Hand Throw

Last update was on: March 28, 2024 4:33 pm
out of stock

Rawlings | Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove | 12.5" | Modified Trap-eze Web | Left Hand Throw

Last update was on: March 28, 2024 4:33 pm
out of stock
  • Full-grain, oil-treated shell leather
  • The finger shift design makes it easy to close the glove.
  • Extra-protective Poron XRD palm and index finger pads
  • The glove’s shape is maintained by the durable all-leather lacing.
  • 70 percent factory/30 percent player break-in rating
  • Size: 12.5″ x 12.5″ x 12.5″ x 12.5″ x 12.5″ x 12.5″ x 12.5″
  • Looped Modified Trap is a web pattern.
  • Back closure: Adjustable pull strap
  • Ages 11 and up are recommended (however this may vary based on the size of the player).

Advantages

All of Rawlings’ Liberty Advanced gloves are made of excellent, full-grained tanned leather. Some use the same leather on the inside and out, while others use soft, deer-tanned leather. However, premium materials are visible throughout these gloves.

The quality extends to the element of the glove that many players overlook while hunting for the ideal fastpitch softball glove: the laces. All of the laces in the Liberty Advanced Series are of professional-grade and are thick and hefty. The leather in these laces should survive for years of misuse, and as they stretch and break-in, the glove will only get better.

RAWLINGS LIBERTY ADVANCED 12-INCH FASTPITCH SOFTBALL GLOVE RLA120-3WG

RAWLINGS LIBERTY ADVANCED 12-INCH FASTPITCH SOFTBALL GLOVE RLA120-3WG   The perfectly-balanced patterns of the updated Liberty® Advanced Series are designed for the hand size of ...
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$179.95

Treated with oil

The Liberty Advanced Series‘ oil treatment ensures that breaking in your glove will be considerably easier than with inexpensive gloves produced with inferior leather. Rawlings states that its Liberty Advanced gloves arrive 80 percent broken in, with the player responsible for the remaining 20%.

This ratio is more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule, and depending on your preferred approach, your break-in period will vary. Regardless, Rawlings’ Liberty Advanced evolves into one of the softest, most comfortable softball gloves on the market — regardless of price — as the quality, full-grain tanned leather gets more malleable.

Rawlings Liberty Advanced RLA120 12" Fastpitch Softball Glove Size 12 in

The perfectly-balanced patterns of the updated Liberty Advanced Series are designed for the hand size of the female athlete to provide an improved level of control and comfort. ...
in stock
$179.99

Rawlings Liberty Advanced RLA120-31WNS 12" Fastpitch Softball Glove - 2022 Model Size 12 in

The 2022 Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Gloves have arrived! Rawlings Liberty Advanced series features quality full-grain leather for enhanced durability. Just like ...
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$199.99

Rawlings Liberty Advanced RLACM34W 34" Fastpitch Softball Catcher's Mitt - 2022 Model Size 34 in

The 2022 Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Gloves have arrived! Rawlings Liberty Advanced series features quality full-grain leather for enhanced durability. Just like ...
in stock
$199.99

Disadvantages

Confusion Over Brands

The Worth name replaces Rawlings on occasion in the Liberty Advanced Series. These gloves are identical to one another. Jarden Team Sports, which owns various brands including Rawlings, bought the Worth brand in 2007. Worth has been a key player in the athletic goods industry for almost a century, therefore either name brand will perform similarly.

When a company with a long history, such as Worth’s, is acquired by a much larger brand conglomerate, a small piece of Americana is gone. The Worth and Rawlings gloves are identical, yet their creators are a mystery that was long unknown. This is not guarantee that clients will be shifted away if there is a problem with the equipment, but it does appear to improve the possibilities.

Designed for Small Hands

The Liberty Advanced Series’ only flaw is that they won’t fit everyone – it is definitely best suited for softball players with smaller hands. These gloves, like many fastpitch softball gloves, have narrower finger stalls to accommodate women’s hands. Of course, much like players, hands exist in a variety of sizes. Rawlings ignores the extremes in his attempt to suit the norm.

This should be a typical occurrence for ladies with larger hands. The smaller finger stalls may even be preferred by some players because to their closer fit. They’re not as small as finger stalls in some other manufacturers’ fastpitch gloves, so unless you have extremely huge or small hands, the Rawlings Liberty Advanced Series is worth considering.

Verdict

The Liberty Advanced Series from Rawlings (or Worth) is well called. With a modern design, they provide players the freedom to fulfil their full potential. The leather in these gloves is comparable to that found in gloves costing twice as much — or more — and they come in a variety of pocket depths and web designs to accommodate any location on the field. These are the gloves that players use for years and finally keep for the rest of their life.

Premium leather demands maintenance, which is why these gloves are only for dedicated softball players who know how to look after their gear. Before it’s suitable for elite-level play, that leather will need to be broken in. When it comes to elite competition, though, the Rawlings Liberty Advanced Series fastpitch gloves are up to the task.

9 Total Score
Premium leather gloves that you will use for years

Rawlings' Liberty Advanced evolves into one of the softest, most comfortable softball gloves on the market, as the quality, full-grain tanned leather gets more malleable, providing players the freedom to fulfill their full potential.

Quality/Durability
10
Appearance
8
Performance
9
PROS
  • Full-grain, oil-treated shell leather
  • The finger shift design makes it easy to close the glove.
  • Extra-protective Poron XRD palm and index finger pads
  • The glove's shape is maintained by the durable all-leather lacing.
  • 70 percent factory/30 percent player break-in rating
  • Looped Modified Trap is a web pattern.
  • Back closure: Adjustable pull strap
CONS
  • Confusion over brands
  • Designed for small hands
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