One of the most commonly asked questions in the goalkeeping universe!
What's the right answer? For me, the best answer to that question is the goalkeeper gloves that give you the most confidence. As a goalkeeper, you know exactly what I mean. When you put on a pair of gloves and they just feel right then that gives you a little boost of confidence when you're catching volleys or diving for low balls. The best goalkeeper gloves are the ones that are right for you.
This may change from goalkeeper to goalkeeper and it may evolve throughout your goalkeeping career. As a professional, I've worn at least 5 different brands of gloves during training and games. I wasn't always wearing the gloves that were best for me and I could always feel when it just wasn't right. The most expensive Nike or Adidas gloves may not always be the best option for you personally. It may also turn out that the youth goalkeeper gloves you loved may not be the brand of adult goalkeeper gloves you choose to wear. Your needs change so your goalkeeping equipment may need to change as well.
But how do I know which gloves will fit my hands perfectly without trying them on?
Unfortunately, it tends to be a lot of trial and error. I've had gloves that I've only worn once or twice because I realized, once I started goalkeeper training in them, that they weren't the gloves for me. The first thing to focus on is what size goalkeeper gloves you generally tend to wear. In today's day and age of goalkeeper gloves, a size 9 doesn't always have the same universal fit. The general rule of "measure around the widest part of your palm and add one" doesn't always work out when switching from brand to brand. You should always have a general idea of what size goalkeeper gloves you wear but also understand what cut of glove fits you best.
What are these different goalkeeper glove cuts you're talking about?
Whether it's goalkeeper gloves for kids or goalkeeper gloves for adults, professional goalkeeper gloves or amateur practice gloves, they all have a certain glove cut. We will discuss the main cuts you will see when shopping around for the best goalkeeper gloves.
Roll Finger Cut:
The roll finger cut is a very popular goalkeeper glove variation in the goalkeeper world. The cut refers to the fingers of the glove being rolled or curved to shape around your fingers and provide the maximum catching surface on the glove. The fingers of the glove aren't as tight as some of the other cuts we will discuss
Examples: (Roll Finger w/ Pre-Curved Flat Palm)
The Locus Pro & Locus Pro Blackout offer a roll finger concept with a pre-curved flat palm to enhance your catching abilities. The pre-curve coupled with the roll finger enables your hands/fingers to be in the perfect catching position from the start.
Negative Cut:
Simply put, the negative cut fits "more like a glove". This cut is more of a true fit to your hand when wearing the correct size. It is a bit more snug on all of the fingers and the palm. This specific goalkeeper glove cut allows for more flexibility and natural hand movement. Unlike the roll cut, the fingers of this glove don't curve to the shape of your fingers.
Examples: (Negative Cut)
The Pivot range of Prime Focus Goalkeeping gloves offer flexibility and comfort. They are the perfect lightweight model that fit very true to your hands.
Hybrid Cut:
There are a wide variety of hybrid cut gloves available on the market. When you see the phrase "hybrid cut goalkeeper glove" it is referring to a combination of goalkeeper glove cuts used on one glove. Often times, the combinations are more specific to certain goalkeepers and how they prefer their gloves to fit in certain areas and also how they prefer to catch the ball. For example, you can have a hybrid roll/negative cut with the two middle fingers being negative cut. This provides a tighter feeling when catching the ball while the outer two fingers are roll and provide the extra surface area to really feel secure.
Examples: (Hybrid Roll/Negative Cut)
The latest goalkeeper glove in the Prime Focus Goalkeeping line is a hybrid cut concept that maximizes design to make it one of the most comfortable yet secure goalkeeper gloves on the market. The roll/negative cut design utilizes the best features of multiple gloves and combines it into one amazing glove.
What about goalkeeper gloves with finger protection?
Some people call them fingersave goalie gloves, goalkeeper gloves with spines, or some other variation to refer to finger protection. Goalkeeper gloves with finger protection are readily available almost everywhere you look these days. They are all about personal preference. Some goalkeepers, especially youth goalkeepers, like to use them to give them added protection when catching the ball. Most soccer goalkeeper gloves with finger protection will have the ability to remove or replace them. Finger protection can be an added benefit but can also add to the bulk of the glove so it will all depend on how it feels when you put the goalkeeper glove on.
Examples:
The Locus Pro Aqua & Locus Pro BCAM are just two of the many goalkeeper gloves with finger protection that we offer. The difference with these two models is the fact that we added a silicone gel punching zone on the backhand which provides more control when punching. This, coupled with the finger protection, makes for a tighter fit in the glove.
All of the Prime Focus Goalkeeping goalkeeper gloves (except for the Pivot range) have removable finger protection in the goalkeeper gloves. We want to make sure to give both youth goalkeepers and adult goalkeepers the option to use them when necessary.
What type of goalkeeper gloves are best?
Simple answer; the goalkeeper gloves that you are most comfortable in. People always ask "what goalkeeper gloves do the pros wear?" but there is no easy answer there because every professional goalkeeper has their own preferences. Some goalkeepers prefer their gloves tighter and some prefer them looser. Other goalkeepers prefer fingersaves while some don't like them at all. You have to figure out which goalie gloves are best for you and sometimes trial and error is the best way to do that. Are you wondering where to buy goalkeeper gloves online? You can take a look at our entire line of goalkeeper gloves HERE and get more information. You can also check out our most popular goalkeeper gloves on the Amazon website.
Hopefully, this article gives you some insight into the goalkeeper glove decision-making process. Our goal is to provide you with all the information you need to find the best goalkeeper gloves for you. Our mission is to provide professional quality, affordable goalkeeper gloves that meet your goalkeeping needs. If you have any questions or need advice on choosing goalkeeper gloves or sizing goalkeeper gloves, feel free to contact us!
