“Right hand throw” (RHT) means the player throws with their right hand. A glove labeled RHT fits on your left hand, keeping your dominant right hand free to throw. It’s a labeling convention used across baseball and softball that confuses a lot of shoppers because the glove goes on the opposite hand from what the name suggests.
Why the Label Says One Hand but Fits the Other
Gloves are always described by the hand you throw with, not the hand you wear the glove on. A right-hand throw glove is designed for a right-handed thrower, so it fits on the left hand. You catch with your gloved left hand, then pull the ball out and throw with your right.
The same logic applies in reverse. A left-hand throw (LHT) glove fits on the right hand and is made for left-handed throwers. This convention is universal across baseball glove manufacturers, softball glove makers, and retail sites. Whether you’re shopping at a sporting goods store or browsing online, “throwing hand” is the standard filter.
How to Pick the Right Glove
If you write with your right hand, you almost certainly want an RHT glove. If you write with your left hand, look for LHT. About 9 out of 10 gloves on the market are RHT, so left-handed throwers need to pay closer attention when shopping, especially when buying secondhand.
When buying a used glove where the seller hasn’t specified RHT or LHT, look at where the thumb sits in the photo. If the thumb is on the left side of the glove as you look at it palm-up, it’s designed to fit on a left hand (meaning it’s an RHT glove). Flip that logic for an LHT glove.
RHT vs. LHT at a Glance
- RHT (Right Hand Throw): Glove goes on the left hand. For right-handed throwers.
- LHT (Left Hand Throw): Glove goes on the right hand. For left-handed throwers.
Does This Apply to Softball Too?
Yes. The RHT and LHT labeling system is identical in baseball and softball. Softball gloves differ from baseball gloves in pocket size and shape (softball gloves have larger pockets to accommodate the bigger ball), but the throwing-hand convention stays the same. When you filter by “throwing hand” on any retailer’s site, the options are typically Right, Left, and occasionally Ambidextrous.
Ambidextrous gloves are a niche product designed to be worn on either hand, useful for the rare player who switches throwing arms. They feature finger stalls and a pocket that work regardless of which hand wears the glove, though they sacrifice some of the fit and feel of a hand-specific design.