Goalkeeper gloves are a keeper’s most important tool in saving goals. The right goalkeeper gloves make their hands bigger and increase the grip to catch the ball. Just like the right shoes are vital for football players, the right pair of goalkeeper gloves is essential for good goalkeeping. Goalkeeper gloves come in different sizes fo youth and adult keepers ranging from size 4-12. Keep in mind that the same size goalkeeper glove can fit differently depending on the brand a keeper selects. The best way to be sure of your size is trying them on. Goalkeeper gloves should fit snugly giving the goalkeeper a better feel when catching a ball. A goalkeeper glove that is too tight fitting can create difficulties in spreading and extending fingers to catch the ball. Goalkeeper gloves have their own designated cuts to make catching, gripping and fitting easier.
Negative Cut Gloves
Negative Cut goalkeeper gloves are gloves that the stitching of the glove is INSIDE rather than the conventional outside of the goalkeeper glove. By putting the stitching on the inside of the glove there is more palm on show which translates to more contact space for the ball.
For a lot of goalkeepers that do not have long fingers the gloves may fit a lot tighter and feel a lot more comfortable. At the end of the day it is a matter or preference and a goalkeeper should always try their gloves on for best fit.
For a lot of goalkeepers that do not have long fingers the gloves may fit a lot tighter and feel a lot more comfortable. At the end of the day it is a matter or preference and a goalkeeper should always try their gloves on for best fit.
Flat Palm Cut Gloves
Flat palmed goalkeeper gloves have more room inside the glove for free movement of the hands. This was the traditional cut for goalkeeper gloves. The seams are stitched on the outside of the glove rather than on the inside. This cut tends to make the fingers look like a box, so it is also called the Box Cut.
Roll Finger Cut Goves
This type of goalkeeper glove is one of the more popular glove types on account of its snug fit. The top of the fingers are directly stitched to the palm and the sides of the palm are rolled around the fingers. Roll finger gloves do not use gussets like flat palm or negative cut gloves.
Hybrid Finger Cut Gloves
Hybrid Cut goalkeeper gloves are gloves that incorporate a combination of the cuts to make use of the best of different finger and palm designs.
Wrist Closure
A goalkeeper's wrist is one of the most crucial parts of the hand. The closure or the strap at the wrist is an important consideration for goalkeeper gloves. These can be bandage, elastic or slit wrist. The bandage provides a secure fit but is known to be difficult to remove quickly. The elastic and slit wrists are not as secure as the bandage but can be easily put on and taken off. If you have an injured finger or fingers, finger protection gloves can be used to protect your fingers and avoid further injuries.