Glove Cut Guide

The goalkeeper glove market has such a wide variety of goalkeeper glove cuts, some being new to the market whilst others have been around for decades, today we will cover a selection of cuts for you to be able to choose from when selecting the right cut gloves for you, we have broken this article down in to two sections, the traditional cuts and the hybrid cuts.

Traditional Cuts

These cuts are the original cuts that have been around for years, cuts that have withstood the test of time and are still used today

Flat Palm

The traditional cut, still used by some top goalkeepers, most notably Gianluigi Buffon.

This cut offers a large surface area on the ball but has its limits due to it having so moulded shape for added surface area. This cut has been the mould for many different cuts that are used today and this cut is seen as one of the most original cuts.

The stitching on the flat palm glove is on the exterior of the glove, this provides for a more loose fitting glove when compared to a negative cut or a negative hybrid like our 1NS Negative glove. In addition, the flat palm consist of one piece of latex for the palm, compared to the two used on another traditional cut, the roll finger.

This cut is commonly found on junior goalkeeper gloves, a good cut for beginners as it allows for greater contact area with the ball which helps to improve handling skills and have a better feeling of the ball.

Roll Finger

Another traditional cut which is still popular in today’s game, used by goalkeepers such as Bernd Leno and Ben Foster.

The popularity of this cut comes due to the contact area that the gloves have with the ball, with the fingers having more of a moulded fit than the flat palm, which gives a more natural feel when the ball is in your hands. The downside of the Roll Finger cut is due to one of the unique features of the gloves, the two part palm structure. This is a downside of the gloves as they can begin to split where the two cuts of latex are combined.

This cut was extremely popular before the hybrid cut of gloves came onto the market, preferred by many top goalkeepers alongside the negative cut. The stitching of the gloves is on the exterior of the cut, with the rolled element eliminating the need for gussets.

This cut is perfect for any goalkeeper who prefers a looser fitting glove and also a glove where they can have total contact with the ball with the added bonus of the comfort that you have wearing this cut.

Our MOTION Roll Finger is a great option for any goalkeeper that wants to try a Roll Finger Cut

Negative Cut

A glove that has become extremely popular in the last decade, this is a traditional cut that has been adapted into a hybrid in various ways, this has made the negative cut such a popular cut, both the traditional style as well as its hybrid counterparts. This cut has been worn by top goalkeepers both past and present, this includes Iker Casillas, Yann Sommer and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The negative cut is the most natural feeling glove available to a goalkeeper, providing a second skin feel due to the stitching being on the interior of the glove. Negative gloves give the tightest fit possible in a glove which has its own limits as the surface area is decreased which means that it gives up on more contact zones when handling the ball. However consideration that needs to take place with this cut is the fact that the finger tips will wear quicker than a roll finger cut due to the latex being exposed more.

This cut is perfect for any goalkeeper who wants a natural feeling when catching a ball, it is a cut that will make you feel more in control whilst handling shots. This cut offers top performance and comfort, with a tight but comfortable fit which is perfect for goalkeepers of any age.

Hybrid Cuts

The Hybrid Cuts are becoming very popular and have been adapted multiple time to provide the benefits of the traditional cuts whilst adding their own additional benefits as well as limiting their downfalls.

Hybrid Cut

The original of the new era of goalkeeper gloves, this cut started the trend of combining two cuts and merging them into something greater. Combining two original cuts in the Roll Finger and the Negative cut and bringing the best of both world together. This popular cut is worn by many goalkeepers, with top goalkeepers like Ederson Moraes topping the list.

The original hybrid cut was a mix between the roll finger and negative cut which brought brilliant qualities from each glove and combined them into this popular cut. The negative middle and ring finger provided the glove with a snug fitting base for the glove whilst negating the downfall of the roll finger cut due to the one piece construction that the hybrid cut is formed of. The roll finger element provides great surface area for handling that when combined with negative cut provides to be a great middle ground for goalkeepers that like both a tight fitting glove but also love the surface area of a roll finger cut. The cut still has its downsides though, the negative middle and ring fingers do still wear like a negative cut on the finger tips, this is due to the fact that the stitching does not offer any protection to the latex as on these two fingers it is on the interior.

This cut has been adapted in many ways since its introduction to the market, with our 1NS Hybrid is a variation of, and many brands have added their own twist to the cut, some of which we have included in this article. These adaptions include finger wraps as well as changes to the cuts used.

Overall, the traditional hybrid cut is a great modern ground for any goalkeeper, it provides the best parts of two different cuts whilst negating some of the flaws that can be found in them when divided

Expanse Cut

Another version of the hybrid cut, this provides the fit and feel of a roll finger cut but without the two piece construction, this negates the negative of the ripping that commonly happened on many old roll finger gloves after a long stint of use. This cut is used by many top goalkeepers such as Keylor Navas.

This cut provides incredible ball contact when handling, which is no surprise as the expanse cut is not far from the traditional roll finger cut. The expanse cut has been modified by various brands and can be found under various different names, it has proved very popular in the last decade. Like every cut it does have its flaws, it does not have the same feeling as a negative cut but on the flip side of the situation it provides a better platform for handling.

For young goalkeepers this could be a good choice as it does give a large surface area for handling and will help to increase confidence in your handling abilities. However, this cut can be expensive depending on the quality of the gloves materials.

Negative Hybrid

The negative cuts successor, which retains the heart and soul of one of the most iconic cuts, this cut has proved very popular with many goalkeepers moving from the traditional negative cut to this hybrid, goalkeepers such as Hugo Lloris and Marc-André ter Stegen don this popular cut.

The negative cut has been popular for years as we covered earlier in this article so it comes as no surprise that it has been modified to greater increase the capabilities of this already legendary cut. When combined with a flat or rolled cut on the middle and ring fingers the negative cut has an increased surface area whilst still retaining the tight fitting glove that is loved by many. But with all gloves there is the downside, the negative hybrid has the same downside as its predecessor and that is the fact of the finger tip wear, whilst it isn’t a major issue as the gloves will last it does prove as an issue for any goalkeeper that likes their gloves to remain aesthetically pleasing.

This cut is ideal for the goalkeepers who want the feeling of a negative cut but with the added bonuses that have brought the cut forward into the new era, check out our Hawk Goalkeeping 1NS Negative Hybrid which features this amazing cut

Flat Roll Hybrid

An adaption on the tradition hybrid, this time combining the greatest aspects of the Roll Finger and the Flat Palm cuts, this cut has come in many forms during its lifespan, goalkeepers that wear this style of cut include Thibout Courtois and Jordan Pickford. Even during its short lifespan it has had many modifications and has been adapted many times.

From its introduction, this style of glove has come in many forms, including the original Nike VG3 cut which featured wraps of both the pinky and index fingers to the cut used today by many brands which doesn’t feature any finger wraps but still resembles that of the gloves that came before it.

This cut is known for its superior surface area when handling the ball, providing both feel as well as contact area with the ball at all times. This is a cut that is popular alongside the traditional hybrid due to the fact that it offers the same qualities but rather than a tight fit it is looser. But with one option you limit the other, with this cut you lose the snug feeling but increase the surface area whilst handling.

This is the issue that you need to consider when choosing the cut for you, the traditional roll finger will offer a more natural feeling when handling but offers less surface area than this cut. The choice all depends on your personal preference.

Flat Palm Modification

This is rare and is used by David De Gea, his gloves feature a flat palm cut but has additional latex on each finger and thumb.

This cut is no available to the open market and is very rarely seen. The added benefits of this modification is the fact that it provides the added surface area whilst also having a good feeling for the ball. However due to the amount of stitching of this modification this has left it to be very rare as it provides a rather unnatural feeling when handling the ball.

We thought we would add this as an added bonus for those who are interested in the gloves of all the top goalkeepers, if so you should check out our Glove Showcase Blogs which give a breakdown on a new goalkeepers gloves each week.