In a softball match, all fielding team members can put on gloves, which are manufactured from leather or from some type of substance. Softball gloves have a mesh between thumb and forefinger. The first baseman and the catcher may wear gloves with extra padding, and no fingers. Softball gloves can be of any color, but a pitcher cannot wear white or gray gloves because this may confuse a batter. Gloves used in softball are normally larger than those used in baseball are.

Softball gloves need to be carefully selected. A purchaser of softball gloves needs to know his or her position in a game, because they have become more specialized, and are non-interchangeable by position. For example, infielders like smaller gloves, while outfielders prefer bigger ones. There are two types of gloves, namely, open web and closed web. The web of a softball glove is a piece of leather connecting the thumb and index finger. An open web uses interwoven patches of leather, while a closed web is a firm piece. It is usually observed that open webs catch and control a ball better, while closed webs facilitate a quicker transfer to a throwing hand. However, choice of softball gloves varies from player to player. There are professionals who go against this opinion, and still play a great game.

It is recommended to check the quality of leather as a fine quality leather forms better grip on hands as well as on a ball. Connoisseurs generally recommend using oil made exclusively for softening up gloves; this prevents the leather from getting damaged. It should also be made sure that gloves fit comfortably and do not fall off during play. For females, gloves having narrower finger holes are available for accommodating smaller hand sizes. It is better for a player to avoid buying gloves through mail order unless he or she is exactly sure of the model to be bought. It is recommended to store one or two balls inside the pocket, depending on the size of a glove, when the glove is not in use. Finally, it is beneficial to keep softball gloves in cool, dry places and they should be taken care of properly.