The Kachi Fitting Guide

Sizing tells you how long the glove is. Fitting tells you how it's going to feel after 200 catches a week. A perfectly fitted glove disappears on your hand — you stop noticing it and start noticing the ball. Here's how Carlos Castillo's academy fits players, from 8U up to college signees.

Step 1 — get the size right first

Fit only matters if the glove is the right length for the position. Start with the Kachi Size Guide and pick a length within the range for your position and age. Then come back here for fit.

Step 2 — the hand-stall test

Slide your hand all the way into the glove until your fingertips reach the end of the leather finger stalls. You're looking for three things:

• Fingertips: just barely touching. If they're crammed against the leather, the glove is too small. If there's an inch of space, it's too big.
• Thumb: aligned with the thumb stall. Your thumb crease should land at the same spot as the thumb fold in the leather, not above or below it.
• Wrist closure: snug, not tight. You should be able to slide one finger between your wrist and the strap.

Step 3 — the close test

With the glove on, hold a baseball in your throwing hand and place it in the pocket. Close the glove around it.

• The glove should close cleanly with the index finger and pinky meeting around the ball.
• If it folds funny — for example, the heel pinches before the fingers meet — the glove is too stiff for your hand strength, or the pattern is wrong for the position. Time to break it in more, or rebuild with a softer Kip grade or a deeper pocket.
• Ask a teammate or coach to watch from the front. Does the closure look natural, or are the fingers buckling?

Step 4 — the break point

Every glove closes at a single hinge — the "break point." On a Kachi glove, this is set during pattern assembly and reinforced by the leather grade. Make sure your glove breaks at the right point for your position:

• Pitcher / closed-web glove: break at the heel. Closes like a clamshell. Hides grip.
• Infielder: break between the index finger and middle finger. Pinky-finger close. Fast transfer.
• Outfielder: break between middle finger and ring finger. Bigger basket close. Catches fly balls deep.
• First base: break at the heel — same as a catcher's mitt — for scooping low throws.
• Catcher: hinge across the heel only. Closes one-handed around the ball.

"Most people buy a glove that's the right size and the wrong shape. The break point is the difference between a glove you tolerate and a glove you trust."

Step 5 — wrist closures

Kachi gloves are available with three wrist closures. Pick what your hand actually likes:

• Velcro / hook-and-loop strap: easy on/off, infinitely adjustable. The default for most academy and youth players.
• Buckle / D-ring: classic look, set-and-forget tightness. Common at the pro level.
• Pull-strap (no velcro): traditional. Snug fit that breaks in to your hand specifically. Once it's right, it's right forever.

Padding & back-of-hand fit

The back of the glove (the "back" — opposite the pocket) and the heel padding determine how the glove feels on your knuckles when a ball hits the pocket hard. Two options:

• Standard padding: the Kachi default. Reduces sting on hard line drives. Recommended for most positions.
• Pro reduced padding: for infielders who want maximum feel and quickest closure — at the cost of more sting on a hot shot. Available on request during a custom build.

Common fitting mistakes

• Sizing up "to grow into." Doesn't work. The glove won't break in to a hand it doesn't fit. Buy the right size now; replace when outgrown.
• Buying outfield-shape for infield play. The deeper pocket slows your transfer. Match shape to position.
• Cinching the wrist strap too tight. Cuts circulation, slows closure. One-finger gap is the rule.
• Wearing your sweat-wicking glove liner inside-out or bunched. A flat liner under the back of the hand is fine. Bunched liner ruins the fit.

What to do if your glove doesn't fit

If you ordered a Kachi and it doesn't fit how you expected, message us within 14 days of delivery. We'll work with you to either rework the pattern or exchange. Your Lifetime Craftsmanship Guarantee covers fit-related defects forever.