Backhand: The backhand of the glove provides protection when punching the ball. The body of the
glove and finger gussets usually connect the palm and backhand. (Finger gussets are the inner mesh lining of the fingers, small pieces of material that are inserted into the gloves to help improve the fit.) The quality of the backhand also factors into the cost of the glove. Less expensive gloves have a single foam layer, while the best gloves have latex backhands.
Palm: The palm of the goalkeeper glove (along with the fingers) allows the goalkeeper to catch the ball. Goalkeeper gloves with a good grip are considered match gloves. Upper-level goalkeeper gloves have a good, strong grip and a thick palm made of top grade materials. Palm types include smooth, dimpled and textured. Textured or dimpled palms are durable and are better suited for Futsal or beach soccer.
Closure: A goalkeeper glove’s closure refers to the way it gets on and off of your hand, and how it is secured to your hand. Hook and loop closures are the most common, and feature an elastic, adjustable flap that can be used to tighten and loosen the glove. V-notch closures have a vented entry to help keep your hands cool and dry. Bandage closures are a lot like medical bandages, elastic that wraps securely around the wrist. Bandage closures provide the most supportive fit, so some goalkeepers find the fit restrictive.
Fingers: Fingers are crucial to catching and securing the ball. A glove’s cut and size will determine how snugly the glove fits. See glove cuts in the next lesson. Some keepers prefer a looser fit with more freedom of movement, while others prefer the control and security that a tightly fitted glove provides.
GLOVE CUT
A goalkeeper glove’s cut refers to the way the palm material is constructed.
Flat: Also called “traditional cut”, the palm on these goalkeeper gloves is a single piece of flat foam. Flat palm gloves offer a loose fit and boxier appearance, with exterior stitching.
Rolled/Gunn: Roll/Gunn cut goalkeeper gloves are identified by their “rolled” finger construction, the seams on the back of the finger causing them to roll. The sides of the palm are wrapped or rolled around the fingers. This cut offers a snug fit and larger contact area with the ball.
Negative: The seam is on the inside of the glove. The palm is made with one piece of latex with gussets between the palm and the backhand. The negative provides the most snug fit, and is ideal for female goalkeepers and goalkeepers with slimmer hands.
Finger Tip: The finger tip glove is mostly used in conjunction with the rolled finger and has the latex from the palm rolled over the end of the finger to cover the fingernail on the outside. This provides a seamless finger. This type of glove is rare to find and it is useful for goalkeepers with shorter fingers
Hybrid: Hybrid cuts offer a combination of cuts in the same glove. This cut is a combination of rolled/Gunn and either the flat or negative cut.
FINGER PROTECTION
Finger protection usually comes in the form of plastic spines inserted into the backhand of the goalkeeper glove. This technology is popular at the youth and recreation levels because of the technology it provides. Two main types of finger protection are segmented (stiff) spines and flexible (bendable) spines. Segmented spines bend forwards (but not backwards) to prevent finger hyperextension. This is the most common type of finger protection. Flexible spines bend forwards and backwards, and are designed to support the fingers, disperse shock and stay flexible. Gloves with finger protection are recommended for goalkeepers that have had or are prone to finger injuries. Much like shin guards and legs, plastic finger spines do not eliminate injuries from stubbed or kicked fingers.