A common question among baseball players is – when should you replace your baseball glove? This equipment is essential, as it prevents your hand from suffering from injuries and bruises.
As the hits from the batter get harder and the pitches from the pitcher become faster, it has become crucial to ensure your baseball glove is in excellent condition. This iconic piece of equipment will make all the difference in the world.
On top of that, you don’t want to find yourself in a position where you were unable to catch the ball, because of your glove. While there is no definite timeline as to when you should replace this equipment, you should keep an eye for the following signs, which indicate the same:
When should you replace your baseball glove?
Cracked leather
The leather is the main component of the baseball glove. It is the material that keeps the mitt in place, as it acts as the foundation. Over time, due to the continual use and other external factors, the leather will start to lose its rigidity.
There will be a point when you start to observe cracks appearing on the baseball glove. While it isn’t necessary to replace the mitt immediately, you should start looking for new ones. The reason is that once the leather starts to become weaker, so does the rest of the baseball glove. It quickens the speed at which the other materials start to deteriorate, which can be a significant problem if you use the same mitt during a match.
Glove doesn’t feel sturdy
When you make the snowcone shape with the baseball glove, you should be able to catch the ball with ease. As long as the material of the mitt is in good condition, you won’t face any problems.
However, once you start to observe that it feels like the ball is going through the baseball glove, you should consider replacing it.
For example, your teammate threw the ball hard in your direction. Due to the lack of sturdiness of the material, the glove let the ball through. As a result, the opposition was able to steal a base.
At this point, you shouldn’t place any trust in the mitt, as it can fail at any moment. It is much better for your game to replace your baseball glove.
Padding no longer exists
As you continue to use the baseball glove, the padding will take a beating. The reason is due to the impact of the ball, which this equipment has to undergo every day. After a certain amount of time, it starts to feel like there is no padding on the baseball glove.
Is there anything wrong if you continue to use your mitt in this condition? If you do so, there is always the risk that your hand will suffer from bruising. When the batter hits the ball extremely hard, you will feel the high amounts of pain, when you catch it with your mitt.
There are tears everywhere
You want to keep your baseball glove with you as long as possible, as you have tons of memories with it. For instance, you remember the time when you won the game for your team, as you caught the ball before it went for a home run.
As the baseball glove is an essential part of the game, you wear for it every match. Whether it is a practice or a casual session, this equipment is a part of you. Over time, the material will start to experience the effects of wear and tear. You will observe rip in various portions of this equipment.
What will happen if you continue to use the baseball glove in this condition? For starters, there is a high chance the ball will tear this equipment, as it travels at a high speed.
Unable to maintain its form
After spending months with the baseball glove, you now feel comfortable using this piece of equipment in all your matches. It feels amazing to know that this mitt is a perfect match for your hand, as it is comfortable.
As time goes on, you start to observe that the baseball glove is no longer able to maintain its form. The area where your fingers are supposed to be, start to become flat. Soon, you have to open up the baseball mitt, as it folds up when you don’t use it.
The reason why you need to replace the glove when it is unable to maintain its form is that it can affect your confidence. If you doubt whether the mitt will be able to catch the ball, your performance won’t be up to the mark.
If you observe any of the above signs after using your baseball glove for a long time, you should replace it as soon as possible! To find the best youth catchers mitts click here and for the best batting gloves click here. We also have a guide to baseball bats here.
Article Sources
https://www.academy.com/explore/how-buy-and-break-right-baseball-glove-you
http://probaseballinsider.com/baseball-glove-faqs-break-maintenance-replace/
https://www.quora.com/When-should-you-replace-a-baseball-glove
