Valle Eagle 1050S Outfield Training Glove

The Valle Eagle 1050S is a 10.5 inch outfield training glove for baseball and softball players, built with a trapeze web, a Japanese steerhide shell and an adjustable strap wrist back. It is the outfielder's version of the Valle idea: a glove that looks and feels like a real gamer but is two inches shorter than the smallest outfield glove a player would take into a game, so a fly ball or line drive has to be caught in the center of the pocket and moved to the throwing hand in one motion. Outfielders from about age 14 through the professional level use it for pregame flies, crow-hop transfer work and drop-step drills.

Why Outfielders Train with a Smaller Glove

Outfielders drop more balls in the transfer than in the catch. A 12.75 inch gamer with a deep trapeze pocket lets a fielder catch lazily and dig for the ball afterward; the 1050S does not. Its 10.5 inch pattern and shallower pocket mean a ball caught off-center or with a soft glove hand pops out, and a ball caught cleanly is already close to the throwing hand. Over a few hundred fly balls that turns into a faster, more consistent catch-and-throw, which is the play that keeps runners from taking the extra base. The glove is not for games; it is the pregame and practice tool that makes the gamer feel effortless.

Trapeze Web with Pro-Style Construction

The trapeze web is the classic outfield web, open and flexible enough to see through and to wrap a ball on the run, and the 1050S keeps it at training size. The shell is Japanese steerhide with leather welting and USA-tanned leather lacing, the palm carries extra padding and the thumb has added cushion support, so the glove takes hard fungoes and machine-fed fly balls without sting. Two index finger pads, one over the index finger and one over the middle finger, mean the pad is in the right place whether the player wears one finger per stall or two fingers in the pinky stall, and the pinky stall has extra room for that grip. Like every Eagle glove it is Valle white with "Train Like A Pro" embroidered in red on the shell.

Strap Wrist Back for a Locked-In Fit

An adjustable strap wrist back cinches the 1050S to the hand, which matters more on an outfield glove than on any other: a trainer that shifts on the hand during a full-speed crow hop turns a clean rep into a fumbled one. The strap also lets one glove fit a high school player and an adult, so a team can keep a few in the bag for outfield rounds.

Who This Baseball Training Glove Is For

The 1050S is for outfielders who already catch the ball and want to catch it better, from high school and travel ball through college and professional programs. Softball outfielders use it too; the trapeze pocket handles a 12 inch ball. It also works for utility players who want one trainer for fly balls and line drives. Infielders should look at the Eagle 975S, which uses the same construction in a 9.75 inch I-web pattern, or the smaller Eagle 8S and Eagle K47. Players who want the 1050S in Kip leather with an open wrist back have the Eagle Pro 1050, and a weighted Pro version exists for glove-speed work.

How to Use the Eagle 1050S

Start with a round of catch with a baseball to feel the pocket, then move to fungoed fly balls: catch in the center of the pocket, crow hop, transfer and throw, with the goal of the ball never sitting in the glove. Add drop-step and over-the-shoulder work, line drives off a bat, and do-or-die charging drills where the transfer speed is the whole point. Machine-fed fly balls work well because the pace is repeatable. Coaches run outfield rounds in the 1050S until the last round, then switch players to their gamers so the difference is obvious. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is enough.

Caring for a Steerhide Training Glove

A steerhide trainer holds its shape for seasons if it is treated like a game glove. Play catch with it before the first fungo round so the pocket forms naturally around a baseball; there is no need for steaming, oiling or a mallet, and heavy conditioner only softens a glove that is meant to stay firm. Let it air dry after a wet practice, never in a hot car or a dryer, and store it with a ball in the pocket rather than flat. A light wipe with a damp cloth keeps the white leather recognizable in a bag full of tan gamers. Outfielders who train with the 1050S every day should expect the pocket to settle in over a few weeks and then stay put, which is exactly what a trainer should do: the glove stays small and honest while the gamer does the forgiving.

Wondering where the outfield trainers sit in the wider line? Our Valle training glove guide walks every model by position and skill.

Valle Eagle 1050S Outfield Training Glove Specifications

• Type: undersized outfield training glove for baseball and softball
• Series: Valle Eagle S-Series
• Size: 10.5 inch
• Web: trapeze
• Leather: Japanese steerhide shell with leather welting; USA-tanned leather lacing
• Padding: added palm padding, cushioned thumb support, double index finger pads
• Wrist back: adjustable strap
• Position: outfield
• Throwing hand: available for right-hand throwers (glove worn on the left hand) and left-hand throwers (glove worn on the right hand)
• Color: Valle white with red "Train Like A Pro" embroidery
• Age range: 14 and up

What's Included

One Valle Eagle 1050S outfield training glove in the throwing hand you select. Balls are sold separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 10.5 inch glove really catch fly balls?

Yes. The trapeze web gives it a real pocket; it is simply smaller and shallower than a game glove, so the catch has to be clean. That is the training effect.

Is the strap back the same as an open back?

No. The 1050S has an adjustable strap that closes over the wrist. The Pro 1050 is the open-wrist-back version.

Does it fit an adult hand?

Yes. The strap adjusts to the hand, and college and professional outfielders use the 1050S.

1050S or 975S for an outfielder?

The 1050S is the dedicated outfield trainer with a trapeze web. The 975S is a utility trainer with an I-web that infielders, pitchers and outfielders share. Pick the 1050S if the player is primarily an outfielder.

Does it need a break-in?

It arrives ready to use but a little firm; a round or two of catch loosens the pocket. Do not steam or oil it.