How Do Goalkeepers Choose The Right Pair Of Gloves?

There is no doubt that gloves are the most important equipment for goalkeepers. A pair of good gloves can make the goalkeeper more brave and get twice the result with half the effort.

Good gloves not only provide better grip, protect and cushion your fingers and palms, but also help you handle each incoming ball high and securely. Goalkeeper gloves are usually made from a mixture of natural and synthetic latex foams.

Palm of gloves:
The palm of the glove is used to grasp the ball together with the fingers, so good grip is an important evaluation index of goalie gloves. Advanced goalie gloves typically have a strong grip and thick palms made of top quality materials. Glove face types include smooth, concave and textured. Textured or concave palms are more durable and suitable for practice.

Wristband:
The wrist band of a glove is mainly used to hold the glove in place. Goalie gloves usually have elastic adjustable wristbands that can be used to tighten and loosen the gloves, and generally have an air vent that helps keep the hands cool and dry. The wrist band of a glove is much like a medical bandage, with some flexibility to wrap it securely around the wrist. Bandaged wrist straps are also the choice of most goalkeepers.

Fingers:
Fingers are the key to catching and protecting the ball. The cut and size of the glove will determine how well the glove fits. Some goalkeepers prefer to be loose, which gives them more freedom, while others prefer to be tight, which gives them more control and security.

CUTS:
The cut of the glove is crucial for goalkeepers, which affects their comfort and control of the ball when making saves. So far, a variety of cutting methods have been derived from the development of goalkeeper gloves, including flat seam, inseam, tube finger and mixed cutting.
Flat seam: As the most traditional cutting method of goal-keeping gloves, the flat seam cut gloves are composed of the palm and the back of the hand. The two parts are stitched together with the open thread to give you the most traditional wearing experience of goal-keeping gloves.
Inseam: The inseam looks much more advanced than the previous method. The glove is still composed of the palm and the back of the hand, but the stitching interface is all hidden inside the glove. This advantage is to make the finger part of the glove fit better, enhancing the flexibility of the hand and the control of the ball.
Tube finger: Tube finger should be the cut that gives the most direct touch to the hands and the ball. This is a cut that wraps latex around your fingers like a bandage. It gives the glove more contact area and better control of the ball when making saves. At the moment, the glove is probably the most popular goalkeeper.
Blending tailoring: As the name suggests, all three of these tailoring styles are incorporated into a glove. The goal, of course, is to make the glove more comfortable to wear and to improve control of the ball when making a save.

How to choose the size:
Goalie gloves should be slightly wider, usually 1/2 to 1 inch beyond your fingertips. Goalie gloves that fit perfectly without gaps are more likely to burst or have holes around the palms of the fingers. There are several ways to determine the size of gloves (it is more appropriate to reserve a little) :
1. Measure the width from the root of the index finger to the root of the little finger, and then select according to the measurement results. If there is half a size, please select one size larger
2. Measure the straight line distance from wrist to middle finger. The following data is for reference only
No.7 14-400px
No.8 17-450px
No. 9 18-500px
No. 10 20-550px
3. Try it on yourself. This is the safest way to buy it in a store.

Palm surface grip:
Why is there such a big difference in the price of a pair of gloves? The biggest difference is the grip, and in general, the more expensive the glove, the better. Cheaper gloves have better durability and lower cost, but less grip. They are more suitable for teenagers or beginners. The focus of learning at this stage is more basic skills and saves, and the stickiness of gloves is not so important.

Finger protection:
A finger guard is a tool inserted into the back of a goalie's glove to protect the fingers and is preferred in youth and amateur games. There are two main types of finger protectors: rigid and flexible.
Rigid finger guards, which bend forward but not back to prevent excessive bending, are the most common method of finger protection. The flexible finger guard can bend forward and backward, maintaining the flexibility of the finger while providing support and shock absorption. I still recommend using a finger guard if the opponent has a broken finger or is prone to injury. Finger pads and leg pads are just as good at protecting our fingers from injury.

How to extend the life of Gloves:
As with most football equipment, you can extend their life as long as you take good care of them.
Wear on the palm surface is normal, as latex is a fragile substance and a slight wear will not tighten, and the goalie gloves will continue to maintain their grip until the foam layer is completely worn. Different brands of gloves have their own care plan, just follow the instructions.
We recommend you buy two pairs of gloves at the same time, one for training and one for racing, so they last longer. Most gloves work better when moistened with clean water before use.

Finally, it is also necessary to clean the latex after each match, otherwise the viscosity of the latex palm will be weakened. The cleaning method is as simple as rinsing the gloves with clean water and wiping the dirt off with your fingers. After cleaning, put it in a ventilated and dry place to air dry. Personally, I recommend investing in a bottle of professional glove wash, which is gentler than regular soaps and detergents and more helpful in eliminating the smell of sour gloves.