Before checking out the products I’ve picked out as best, it is essential you know the criteria for which they were selected. Knowing what to look out for in a racquetball glove would help you make a better choice in getting one.
The focus in choosing a hand gear is to improve your overall control and gameplay. One crucial factor to consider is your ability to play while putting one on. So, before proceeding to buy the best-suite glove for your play style, I suggest you try out handling a racquet while wearing a regular glove. Just to get familiar with the feel.
With usability out of the way, here are the essential features to look out for in picking a suitable hand glove for racquetball.
Material
The materials used for the front and back of a glove are often different. The front end, the palm region, is usually made from leather. In contrast, the flip side of the glove making up the backside is generally made from softer material allowing better aeration.
The front palm region can either be made from natural leather or synthetic leather. Natural leather has a plush feel on the skin while synthetics provide a better grip. The best of these materials is sheep leather, then goatskin leather, tackified leather, and the synthetic.
For the backhand side, materials that allow good airflow are used. Common types of backing include mesh backing, neoprene, lycra, and spandex. Each of these materials has varying durability, aeration, and absorption. Depending on how heavy you sweat, you either go for ventilation or durability. With mesh backing being the best for aeration and spandex the best for strength.
Sturdiness
First off, for a glove to sit well on the palms, it must be the appropriate size. The tricky part, however, is that any regular handwear expands after prolonged use. This means you should opt for a pair that initially hugs your palm fitly. After a few sessions of racquetball, you’ll feel more comfortable putting on the fitted hand-gear.
The design of gloves also plays their part in how smart a glove sits on the hand. The finger region should be well articulated and the wrist free enough to accommodate twists and spins. That said, the grip on the play bat is also crucial for performance.
Handling a racquet is as much dependent on the fitness of the glove, as it is on the grip of glove materials. As earlier mentioned, the material used for the palm end of the glove determines the sturdiness of the racquet while playing.
If you’re just mastering using a glove, it is more advisable to go for high grip gloves with tackified leather or synthetic material. Otherwise, if you are the more skillful type, and need a relatively free hold, you should go for the more natural leather material options.
Stuffing
Racquetball gloves come well stuffed on their interior. This serves as a shock absorber when playing. While playing intensely, many players engage in diving and other skills involving bending low. For such moves, you need a well-padded glove.
The padding also serves as a grip factor for holding racquets. The best form of filling is the foam padding which has a soft feel and provides just enough cushion to keep the hands well-protected. However, make sure not to go for a piece that is too heavy or difficult to bend.
Breathability
Much of the effect of the material used in making a glove is felt here. The major complaint most people have about gloves is how it makes their palms sweaty. This where breathability comes into play. The part that is most important for this is the back of the glove.
For air to flow through any type of glove, it mostly goes through the back of the hand. This is why the material used for making this part of the product is quite crucial. Gloves with a microfiber mesh allow the most air through. However, for a better combination of breathability, absorption of sweat, and lasting tendency, you should go for materials like lycra or neoprene.
Durability
No one likes to spend on things that do not offer value for its money. Be that as it may, the ability of a product to last long mostly likely affects the price. Same goes here. The most durable of racquetball gloves are quite costly. But they do offer their money’s worth.
Generally, brands have reputations that have stood the test of time when it comes to how well their products last. In addition to the detail in making a glove, the material used again affects the durableness of the glove. Natural leather gloves often last longer than synthetic ones. However, make sure to strike a balance between durability, performance, and comfortability.