Grips & Cuts
It depends on several factors which grip is perfect for you. To achieve the perfect balance between grip and durability, it is important to know on which surfaces you play and how regularly the glove is used.
You have to decide for yourself whether a soft foam like SUPERGRIP or SUPERSOFT, a robust RESIST or an all-rounder like ABSOLUTGRIP suits you best. To help you, we show our foams in the video below.
For artificial turf fields, we’ve developed a special adhesive foam in our RESIST collection with integrated abrasion-resistant graphite particles. These make the adhesive foam extremely durable and extend the lifespan of the grip.
Our RESIST gloves are available as SUPERRESIST, SOFTRESIST, and STARTERRESIST – depending on what you prefer and how much you’d like to spend. All models are suitable for artificial turf, indoor, and hard ground surfaces.
Check out the RESIST models here >
Important: Especially for regular training sessions or matches on rough and dry artificial turf fields, it’s crucial to take care of your gloves. If you take good care of your gloves both on and off the pitch, other adhesive foams are also suitable for artificial turf, hard, and indoor surfaces – for example, our ABSOLUTGRIP, SOFT, STARTERSOFT, or AQUASOFT.
Answer: Clearly no. Goalkeeper gloves from the uhlsport AQUA collection are designed specifically for rain and wet weather conditions, but also give you extreme grip in sunshine.
The adhesive foam contains special AQUA additives that support the adhesion of the surface in wet conditions. If you keep the palm of your hand moist, every AQUA adhesive foam is an absolute top rubber even in dry weather.
On our blog we have compiled the advantages of the AQUASOFT and the AQUAGRIP. Click here to learn more >
You can find more information about the entire AQUA collection in the video below.
What cuts does uhlsport offer?
uhlsport currently distinguishes between seven cuts, which mainly differ in fit, seam construction and grip area:
- Classic Cut – traditional, slightly roomier cut with an outer seam
- Reflex Cut – the tightest cut, an evolution of the Half Negative Cut
- Half Negative Cut (HN Cut) – the most popular cut, combining inner and outer seams
- Tight HN Cut – a narrower version of the HN Cut for smaller hands
- Finger Surround Cut – grip wraps all the way around the sides of the fingers
- Rollfinger Cut – flat finger surface with a half-round, raised inner panel
- Skin Cut – the tightest, closest-fitting cut using latex-wrap technology
On top of that, individual collections occasionally feature special cuts.
What is the difference between outer seam and inner seam construction?
With an outer seam, the palm and back of the hand are joined together via side panels, usually made of breathable mesh. The seam sits on the outside, which enlarges the inner palm area and increases the ball-contact surface – this is the principle behind the Classic Cut.
With an inner seam, the glove is sewn inside-out so the seam sits on the inside, letting the material hug the fingers more closely. This creates a more direct ball feel and a tighter, skin-close fit – the basis for the Reflex, HN, Tight HN and Skin cuts.
Many cuts (e.g. Half Negative or Finger Surround) combine both constructions: inner seams at the fingers for a tight fit, outer seams in certain areas for better ergonomics.
What defines the Classic Cut?
The Classic Cut is the traditional, standard cut, also known as the Regular Cut. It is based on an outer-seam construction where the palm and back of the hand are stitched together at the sides. This results in a comparatively roomier fit with a large ball-contact area and, as a result, high catching security. The cut remains a solid standard and is still worn by professional goalkeepers.
What defines the Reflex Cut?
The Reflex Cut is the tightest cut in the uhlsport range and builds on the Half Negative Cut. Thanks to the inner seam, the grip wraps closely around the fingers and hand, creating a second-skin feel. This provides a very direct ball feel and maximum flexibility. uhlsport positions the Reflex Cut as a professional-level cut, which is why it is only combined with the High Performance foams: Supergrip+, Supergrip and Absolutgrip.
What defines the Half Negative Cut (HN Cut)?
The Half Negative Cut, or HN Cut for short, is the most widely worn cut at uhlsport – from grassroots football all the way up to the top international leagues. It combines the benefits of inner and outer seams: a comfortably tight, but not extreme, fit with a sensible grip distribution for a direct ball feel and good ball control. The HN Cut is generally seen as the best middle ground between comfort and a close fit.
What defines the Tight HN Cut?
The Tight HN Cut is a narrower evolution of the Half Negative Cut. It keeps the same basic construction with its dynamic inner seam, but the fit is cut narrower around the palm. This cut was developed specifically for smaller, slimmer hands, for example for female goalkeepers and young players, and comes as standard with the Absolutgrip foam.
What defines the Finger Surround Cut?
The Finger Surround Cut combines a close-fitting inner seam with an ergonomic outer-seam construction. The foam wraps all the way around the sides of the fingers and meets the top of the finger without any additional insert. This gives it the largest continuous grip contact area of all uhlsport cuts, which is why the Finger Surround Cut is especially popular at the professional level.
What defines the Rollfinger Cut?
The Rollfinger Cut is immediately recognizable by its flat finger surface and half-round, raised inner panel. The inner section of the glove is fully covered in foam, providing plenty of grip along with an ergonomic fit and a large catching surface.
What defines the Skin Cut?
The Skin Cut is the closest-fitting cut in the uhlsport lineup. Using a special latex-wrap technique, the foam is wrapped tightly around the fingers, creating an especially large grip area and a very direct, immediate ball feel. It's aimed at goalkeepers who prefer the tightest possible fit.
Which cut is right for me?
As a rough guide:
| Cut | Fit | Particularly suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Cut | roomy, traditional | Beginners, anyone who wants an uncomplicated standard cut |
| Half Negative Cut | comfortably tight | All-rounders, the most widely worn cut |
| Tight HN Cut | tight, narrow fit | Smaller/narrower hands, women, youth players |
| Reflex Cut | very tight | Professional-level ball feel, larger hands |
| Finger Surround Cut | tight, large grip area | Maximum contact area desired |
| Rollfinger Cut | tight, flat finger surface | Plenty of grip on the inner surface |
| Skin Cut | closest fit | Tightest, most direct fit |
Can I combine any cut with any grip foam?
Not always. Some cuts, such as the Reflex Cut, are deliberately only available at uhlsport with the High Performance foams (Supergrip+, Supergrip, Absolutgrip), while other cuts like the Tight HN Cut come as standard with a specific foam. Which cut-and-foam combinations are actually available depends on the individual model.
Every keeper has different preferences when it comes to the cut of his goalkeeper gloves. One likes it skin-tight with inseam, the other wide cut with outer seam. That's exactly why you can choose from different cuts - so that you feel comfortable and can get everything out of you.
Learn what distinguishes which cut in the video below.