What to look for when buying Goalkeeper Gloves

Obviously there are many features that you must consider when buying Goalkeeper Gloves other than just price. In this article I will try to tell you what you should look out for in a match glove for a professional or elite player and in a training glove or a junior's glove.


Glove Cut:


There are 3 main types of glove cuts called roll finger, flat palm and negative cut.


The most popular type of glove cut in the UK is the roll finger cut. Flat palm is still the most popular glove cut in the European market.


Negative cut is becoming more and more popular especially with Premier League goalkeepers - with keepers such as Edwin Van Der Saar of Manchester United wearing negative cut goalkeeper gloves.


There are other features that are available such as an extended palm - which means that the latex is extended over the top of the wrist strap. It would usually stop above the wrist on a traditional glove.


Back Hand:


There are popular types of back hand (i.e. not the palm side) that are available on the market in today's market.


Firstly a number of professional goalkeeper gloves have a ‘soft' latex on the back hand of their gloves, similar to that used on the palm of the gloves. This gives the goalkeeper a lot more protection than the other main types of material when punching a ball.


Other types of material include mesh which is suitable for use in hot conditions as it allows the goalkeeper gloves to breathe. The disadvantage of this material is that it does not give as much protection to the Keeper.


The third type of material used by a number of brands is embossed PU. This is a much thinner material than soft latex and does not give as much protection.


Latex Type:


You will often find that more expensive goalkeeper gloves will wear more quickly as they use more expensive and softer professional latexes.


These more expensive goalkeeper gloves will offer better adhesion and gripping properties on the ball when catching, but will last less which is why you should only use them in a match situation where you are using them less regularly.


Expensive professional latexes include Mega Grip, Giga Grip, Contact Lite, Aqua Foam and SuperSoft foams.


Strap Type:


You can get a half strap or a full strap. Full straps wrap around 360 degrees of the glove, where as half straps only wrap around 180 degrees.


The reason behind a half strap may be because the goalkeeper gloves have an extended palm.


There are many other types of straps designed for specific brands.


The thicker the strap generally the more support it gives to the wrist.


Wrist Type:


The most popular wrist type is the bandage wrist that literally wraps around the whole of your wrist like a bandage.


Other types include PU and mesh. Some wrist straps have openings in order to allow the goalkeeper to get into their goalkeeper gloves more easily.

Zapkam are a manufacturer of professional quality goalkeeper gloves, goalkeeper equipment and football kit