Author: Brian Davis | Updated: May 8th, 2025
Are Batting Gloves Necessary?
The short answer is no. But that doesn’t mean they’re not useful in helping you improve your game. For most of baseball’s early history, batting gloves simply weren’t around. This means that many legendary players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Willie Mays never wore them. While there may have been some earlier one-off uses, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that players like Lefty O’Doul and Johnny Frederick experimented with using accessories like an ordinary street glove and even bandages to help protect their hands during play. And in the 1960’s Ken Harrelson pushed the idea further when he used a golfing glove during his games. Around this time the benefits started to make sense and the accessory became more popular with new players.
So What Are Batting Gloves For?
Most hitters wear and swear by their batting gloves. Even with them being so prevalent, you still might be questioning if they’re really necessary, if they’re more fun than functional. While it’s entirely possible to still be a good hitter without them, we’re confident that once you find the right ones, you’ll never want to step to the plate without them again. Here’s the advantages of wearing batting gloves:
Batting Gloves Improve Grip:
Many brands design batting gloves that are very sticky to help improve grip. This is important because a tight, controlled grip is paramount to good hitting. Even the slightest slip or mishandle of the bat can cause you to not hit the ball squarely. Weather also plays a part. During warmer months, your hands will most likely be sweating, so a pair of batting gloves can make holding and controlling the bat much easier. The last thing you want is the bat to fly out of your hands, which can be embarrassing and dangerous!
Batting Gloves Absorb Shock:
Some players wear batting gloves because it reduces the vibration, or stinging in the hands, that often accompanies hitting a baseball. This is particularly problematic in colder weather where the vibration can cause sore, or in extreme cases, even fractured fingers. It’s important to note that wearing batting gloves won’t eliminate all vibration but they absorb enough shock to significantly reduce it.
Batting Gloves Protect A Player’s Hands:
Batting gloves provide a layer of protection between the player’s hands and his (or her) bat. Think about it. Between batting practice and in-game at bats, you’re constantly swinging the bat, and all those reps can take a toll on bare hands. Blisters can form, which, depending on the severity, can be quite painful not to mention frustrating. You don’t want to have to stop swinging the bat waiting for them to heal.
Why Fielders/Runners Wear Batting Gloves:
Before sliding mitts, some players took their batting gloves with them when they reached base and held onto them while running the bases. This kept their fingers in so if they had to slide into a base, they wouldn’t injure them. Also, some fielders prefer wearing a batting glove under their fielding glove. The main reason is so they don’t have to put a sweaty hand into their ball glove. This keeps the interior of their fielding glove nicer and lasting longer.
Should I Use Batting Gloves? It Comes Down To Personal Preference:
You might be wondering about alloy and composite bats since those already include a grip wrapped around the handle. If you find that grip sufficient and are simply more comfortable without batting gloves, then by all means, you shouldn’t wear them. In the case of wood, we’d recommend pine tar or alternative bat grip. But no matter what type of bat you swing, batting gloves give you a stronger, more assured grip when holding the bat, making them a function of hitting. So we recommend giving them a try, or at least have a pair in your bag in case you want to switch up your approach at the plate.
A good pair of batting gloves can inspire confidence, change your look at the plate, and make you a better hitter. That’s a pretty good haul for a relatively inexpensive baseball accessory. So make sure you shop our wide selection of batting gloves right here at BaseballSavings!
