Without a doubt, the most important asset of any goalkeeper equipment is their gloves. The gloves can be the difference maker when a game is on the line, and we all know some of the best keepers have the best gear.

The gloves provide grip, and protection and usually gloves are made from a blend of natural and synthetic latex foams. With all the different types of gloves out there, which is the best to upgrade your game?

Before you find the gloves that fit your game, let’s look the anatomy of keeper gloves.

When punching a ball out of the keeper area, you’ll want to have the best backhand protection available. The quality of the backhand in the glove is what factors in on if the glove is $20 or $200. The cheaper the glove, the less foam layer it has, the most expensive ones are made with latex.

The other important part of the glove is the palm. The palm allows you to catch the ball. Goalkeeper gloves with a good grip are considered match gloves. Higher level goalkeeper gloves have a good, strong grip and a thick palm made of top grade materials. Palm types include smooth, dimpled and textured. If you are looking for just practice gloves, look for textured of dimpled palms, leave the smooth palm for a match game.

Fingers are essential to catching and securing the ball. A glove’s cut and size will determine how snug the glove will fit. Some keepers prefer a looser fit with more freedom of movement, while others prefer the control and security that a tightly fitted glove provides.

Goalkeeper gloves should be roomy, typically 1/2 to one inch past the end of your fingertips. Gloves that fit tightly are more prone to blowouts, or holes around the fingers or palm.

How do you determine your glove size?

It’s easier than you might think! All you need to do is, measure the circumference of the part of your palm just below your knuckles, without your thumb. Round up to the next whole inch, and then add 1 to determine your size.

Measure both hands, and if the measurements are different, order the larger size for the most consistent fit.

If you can’t seem to find a tape measure around, another way you can find your perfect glove size is by looking at your shoes. Yup, your shoes! Typically, the goalkeeper glove size will correlate with your shoe size. If the shoe size is a half size, round up to the next full size for the best fit.

However, the best way to determine fit is to try gloves on. Ultimate Soccer Store has a local store in Boca Raton, Florida where you can come by and try on gloves to see which one fits your hand the best.

If you don’t live in Boca Raton, use the tip we mentioned above, and purchase your gloves online at www.ultimatesoccerstore.com.