I bought this glove for my 12-year-old, who is a pitcher, after his coach recommended upgrading from his old one. After doing some research online, I decided on this 11.5-inch style, which works perfectly for both pitching and infield. The leather is soft—just as we expected—and it was very easy to break in. My son already used it in a game, and it performed beautifully. Even his coach complimented the glove! We couldn’t be happier with this purchase.