We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page.
Contents
Padded batting gloves can mean two different things. Some have padding on the back of the hand to soften a hit by pitch. Others have padding in the palm to cut the sting you feel when you miss the sweet spot. This guide covers both, plus gloves and tips for hitters who get blisters. Last updated October 2026.
Looking for an everyday glove instead? See our full guide to the best batting gloves.
How we picked: we picked Franklin, Bruce Bolt and EvoShield gloves whose makers describe padding, shock absorption or a reinforced palm, using the details each brand publishes. Prices change often, so check the store page when you click through.
Quick picks
Best for protection from pitches
Franklin CFX PRT Batting Gloves
Best to reduce sting
Franklin Shok-Sorb X Batting Gloves
Best for cold weather sting
Franklin Shok Sorb Neo Batting Gloves
Best reinforced palm for blisters
Bruce Bolt Gold Series Short Cuff Batting Gloves
Reinforced leather palm
Evoshield Carbyne Batting Gloves
Two Kinds of Padded Batting Gloves
- Back of hand padding: a padded shell on the back of the hand. It helps when a pitch hits your hand. It does nothing for sting.
- Palm padding: extra padding in the palm. It softens the vibration from a mishit, especially on cold days. It does not protect from pitches.
Know which problem your hitter has before you buy. Many hitters only need one.
Best Padded Batting Gloves for Protection From Pitches
Franklin's CFX Pro PRT has a protective soft-shell layer on the back of the hand. Franklin says it gives more protection against hit by pitches. It suits hitters who crowd the plate or who have been hit on the hand before.
Protect your hands when you step to the plate with Franklin Sports' CFX Pro PRT Padded Batting Gloves. These protective, padded batting gloves are designed to keep baseball and softball players' hands secure so they can step into the box with confidence. Built with a protective soft-shell layer, these gloves offer increase protection against hit by pitches.
Need more protection than a glove? A hand guard goes over the glove and covers more of the hand. See our guide to the best baseball hand guards.
Best Batting Gloves to Absorb Shock and Reduce Sting
Franklin's Shok-Sorb X has palm padding that Franklin says absorbs impact and eliminates sting. It has a genuine leather palm, Tri-Curve shaping to reduce bunching, and mesh vents on the back to keep hands cool.
Franklin's Shok-Sorb X Batting Gloves feature unique palm padding that absorbs impact and eliminates sting. Made from high-performance genuine leather, these gloves offer superior grip and bat control in all weather conditions. Tri-Curve technology follows the natural anatomy of the hand, reducing bunching and improving fit. Mesh vented handbacks ensure improved airflow, keeping hands cool and dry.
Pros
- Very good batting gloves for the price
The Shok-Sorb Neo also has extra palm padding. Franklin builds it for the sting from the bat in cold weather, so it fits early spring and fall ball. It works for baseball and softball.
Take the pain out of your at bats and grab a pair of the padded Franklin Sports Shok-Sorb batting gloves today. These batting gloves are designed with extra palm padding to eliminate the sting from the bat in cold weather. Whether you're playing baseball or softball, the sting from the bat on a cold day can cripple a hitter's hands.
Other Ways to Reduce Sting
- Sting comes mostly from contact off the sweet spot. More reps help more than any glove.
- Cold makes it worse. Keep hands warm between at bats on cold days.
- A bat grip can also help. Some hitters use a thicker grip or grip tape on the handle.
Best Batting Gloves for Blisters
Blisters come from friction: the handle rubbing the same spot over and over. A snug glove with a tough palm helps.
Bruce Bolt's Gold Series uses thicker 1.2mm Cabretta leather on the palm and back, with a double reinforced palm. Bruce Bolt says it added reinforcement where its gloves used to rip, and shapes the fingers and palm to fit the hand. A palm that stays intact and a close fit are what you want for blisters.
ALL NEW GOLD SERIES: Easily the best batting glove we've built yet! With thicker (1.2mm) softer Cabretta leather on both the palm and back of the glove, you'll immediately feel a difference from any other gloves on the market. Our GOLD Series gloves are the new standard in PREMIUM batting gloves.
EvoShield's Carbyne has a Cabretta leather palm with leather reinforcements that EvoShield says improve durability, and Lycra gussets so the glove flexes during the swing.
The Carbyne Batting Glove empowers elite high school and college baseball and softball players to elevate their swing with premium materials. A buttery smooth Cabretta Leather Palm offers superior feel with a soft finish to match its insane grip. Strategic leather reinforcements improve batting glove durability through countless hacks, and Lycra gusset inserts flex so players can swing freely.
Pros
- High quality cabretta leather
How to Prevent Blisters From Hitting
- Get the right size: make sure the glove fits snug with no bunching in the palm. Loose material rubs.
- Keep them dry: let gloves dry fully between sessions. Damp gloves get slick and rub more.
- Replace worn gloves: a palm that is worn thin or slick no longer protects your hand.
- Build up volume: add swings a little at a time early in the season so hands toughen up.
- Check the grip: a grip that is too tight adds friction. Hold the bat in the fingers, not deep in the palm.
Padded Batting Gloves FAQ
Do padded batting gloves help? It depends on the padding. Palm padding softens sting from mishits. Back of hand padding, like on the Franklin CFX Pro PRT, adds protection from pitches. Neither replaces a hand guard.
What batting gloves are best for sting? A glove with palm padding, like the Franklin Shok-Sorb X or Shok-Sorb Neo. Hitting the sweet spot more often helps most.
What are the best batting gloves to prevent blisters? A snug fit with a reinforced palm, like the Bruce Bolt Gold Series or EvoShield Carbyne. Keep gloves dry and replace them when the palm wears thin.
Does palm padding hurt bat feel? Some players feel less of the bat with more palm padding. If feel matters most, try a thinner leather glove from our main batting gloves guide.
Padded batting gloves or a hand guard? A padded glove adds some protection to the back of the hand. A hand guard covers more and stays on the glove. Hitters who want the most protection often use both. See our hand guards guide.
You May Also Like
Zach Kerr
Zach is a former college pitcher & Founder of Baseball Near You.
