MRF Batting Gloves Explained: Grand Edition, Prince and Monarch Compared
Ankit GuptaShare
The short answer
MRF's hard-ball batting gloves separate mainly on two things: the shape of the finger protection and the grade of leather on the palm. The Genius Prince uses traditional sausage roll fingers for maximum coverage. The Genius Monarch uses a split-finger design that flexes more freely. The Genius Grand Edition sits at the top of the range as the players' option. All three take a leather palm and are built for leather-ball cricket.
How MRF's glove range is put together
MRF is best known in New Zealand for bats, but the Genius line runs across gloves, pads and protection too. If you have looked at the range online you will have noticed the naming does not make the hierarchy obvious - Grand, Prince, Monarch and Chase Master do not tell you which is which.
It helps to ignore the names for a moment. What actually changes as you move up the range is:
- Palm leather. Entry gloves use standard leather. Mid and upper gloves use sheepskin, which is softer, grips better and breaks in faster. Players' gloves may add a reinforcing patch across the heel of the palm where wear concentrates.
- Finger protection geometry. This is the biggest difference in how a glove feels, and it is explained below.
- Bottom hand reinforcement. Side bars and a hard thermoplastic shell over the outside fingers of the bottom hand, which is the hand that takes the hits.
- Backhand construction. Mesh panelling and gusseting for ventilation and flex.
The three finger protection styles, and what they actually feel like
This matters more than the model name, and it is the part most buyers get wrong.
Traditional sausage roll
Cylindrical foam rolls running the length of each finger, wrapped in polyurethane. Maximum coverage and the most forgiving on a rap across the knuckles. Slightly bulkier, and takes a few innings to soften up. This is the classic red-ball glove — if you play long-form cricket or face genuine pace on uneven surfaces, this is what you want. The MRF Genius Prince is built this way.
Split finger
The protection on each finger is divided into segments rather than one continuous roll. Flexes more freely through the fingers and feels less restrictive when you are working the ball into gaps. Marginally less coverage across the joints. Popular with players who bat with quick hands and want to feel the handle.
Low profile and moulded inserts
Instead of foam rolls, each finger carries a shaped rigid insert, or a slim moulded outer. This covers the same area with less material, so the glove is lighter and flexes closer to where your fingers actually bend. SG's RP Lite is a good example — rounded inserts on every finger of both hands, with a spacer mesh back for airflow.
This is the most popular construction for T20 and white-ball cricket, and the best choice in hot conditions. It protects well, but a rigid insert transmits more of a direct knuckle hit than a foam roll does, so it is not what you want facing 130 kph on a green NZ club wicket in October.
MRF Genius batting gloves compared
| Genius Monarch | Genius Prince | Genius Grand Edition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position in range | Mid | Upper mid | Players' / top |
| Palm | Sheepskin leather | Sheepskin leather with additional patch on high-wear area | Sheepskin leather with additional patch on high-wear area |
| Finger protection | Traditional split finger | Traditional sausage roll, PU over high-density foam | Traditional sausage roll with split lead fingers |
| Thumb | One-piece thumb | Split thumb | One-piece thumb |
| Bottom hand | Three-piece side bar with fibre-reinforced fingers | Three-piece side bar plus TPU shell on first four fingers | Extra protective flap over two lead fingers |
| Sizes | Adult | Junior, Youth, Adult | Junior, Youth, Adult |
| Dexterity | Right and left hand | Right and left hand | Right and left hand |
What the player endorsements actually mean
The Genius Prince is often listed as the Shubman Gill edition, and the Grand Edition is associated with Virat Kohli. It is worth being clear about what that does and does not tell you.
These are marketing and sponsorship arrangements plus a colourway. They are not a different glove. The retail Prince you buy is the same construction whether or not the listing mentions Gill. International players also frequently use bespoke gear made to their own specification, which is not what reaches the shelf.
None of which makes the gloves worse - the Prince is a genuinely good glove at its price. Just buy it because the construction suits how you bat, not because of the name on the box.
Which one should you buy?
- Junior or age-group player moving to a hard ball. Prioritise coverage over feel. Sausage roll construction and a correctly sized glove matter far more than the model tier. The Genius Prince in junior or youth size is the sensible pick.
- Club cricketer in senior grades, mostly two-day or 50-over. The Prince. Sheepskin palm, full roll protection, and it will last a season or two of regular use.
- Mostly T20 and midweek white-ball cricket. The Monarch's split-finger design will feel less restrictive. Outside the MRF range, the SG RP Lite is the lighter option again, and it comes in a Small Adult size that MRF does not offer.
- Representative or premier grade, facing serious pace. Step up to the Grand Edition, and consider a good pair of inner gloves - they extend palm life significantly and improve the fit.
- Indoor or soft-ball cricket only. None of these. You are paying for padding you do not need and it will feel clumsy. Buy a dedicated indoor glove.
What size MRF batting gloves do I need?
Measure in a straight line from the base of your palm, where the wrist begins, to the tip of your middle finger. If you fall between two sizes, size up - especially if you wear inner gloves.
| Size | Hand length | Approx. age |
|---|---|---|
| Small Junior | 16.5 cm | 5–7 years |
| Junior | 17.5 cm | 8–10 years |
| Youth | 19 cm | 11–13 years |
| Adult | 21 cm | Most adults |
| Large Adult | 22.5 cm | Large hands |
MRF sizing runs close to standard. Full charts for bats, pads and helmets are on our cricket equipment size guide.
Which hand do I order?
Order the dexterity that matches how you bat, not your writing hand. A right-handed batter, with the left shoulder facing the bowler, orders right hand. This matters on these gloves specifically, because the bottom hand carries the extra side bar and hard shell reinforcement. Order the wrong dexterity and the protection ends up on the hand that does not need it.
Making leather gloves last
Sheepskin palms fail from trapped sweat far more often than from impact. Three things will roughly double the life of a pair:
- Take them out of the kit bag after every innings and let them air. Sealing damp gloves in a bag overnight is what rots the palm.
- Never dry them on a heater, in a car, or in direct sun. Heat stiffens and cracks leather permanently.
- Wear cotton inner gloves. They absorb the sweat instead of the palm doing it, and they improve the fit.
Do not machine wash them. If they need cleaning, wipe the palm with a barely damp cloth and air dry away from heat.
Frequently asked questions
Are MRF batting gloves good quality?
Yes, in the mid to upper range. MRF's sheepskin-palm gloves compare well against similarly priced SG, DSC and SS options. The entry-level gloves in any brand's line, MRF included, are a different proposition and are best treated as short-life gear for a first hard-ball season.
Are sausage roll, split finger or moulded insert gloves better?
None is better overall — they trade coverage against weight. Sausage roll gives the most coverage and forgiveness, and suits red-ball cricket and genuine pace. Split finger flexes more through the fingers. Moulded inserts are the lightest and coolest, and suit white-ball batting where you want feel through the handle. Match the construction to the cricket you actually play most, not to the format you watch.
Do you stock MRF gloves in New Zealand?
Yes. We hold MRF stock here in New Zealand and dispatch same business day. You are not waiting on an overseas shipment. See the current range in our MRF collection.
Do I need inner gloves?
They are not compulsory, but they are cheap and they make a real difference to both comfort and how long the palm lasts. If you bat for long periods or play in humid conditions, get a pair.
How long should a pair of batting gloves last?
A club cricketer playing weekly through a full NZ season, with reasonable care, should get one to two seasons from a sheepskin-palm glove. Palms wear before padding does. If the padding is compressed or the side bar has split, replace them - a glove that has stopped absorbing impact is not doing its job.
Still not sure?
Message us on chat, email howzzat@cricketwarehouse.co.nz or call 0800 124 601. Tell us the player's age, hand measurement and what grade they are playing, and we will tell you which glove to get - including if that means the cheaper one.
