There’s nothing quite as heartbreaking as watching the ball rip straight through your trusty softball glove. But fear not! In this guide, we’ll show you how to restring your glove, resurrecting your ol’ reliable and saving you from having to buy a new one.
When Should You Relace Your Glove?
Relacing your glove isn’t just for when it reaches its breaking point. There are a few indicators that it may be time to give your glove some TLC. If you notice the laces feeling softer and thinner than they used to or if the leather around the laces starts deteriorating, it’s a good sign that it’s time for a restring. You can also consider relacing it when you first get the glove, especially if the lacing seems poorly constructed.
You are viewing: Restringing a Softball Glove: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Ol’ Reliable in Shape
Assessing the Damage
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Before you begin the restringing process, take a good look at the damage. Measure the extent of the puncture and plan your relacing strategy accordingly. It may be helpful to draw out the process to simplify the job and save yourself time and effort. To restring your glove, you’ll need a lacing needle and a new lace.
The Relacing Process
If necessary, start by removing the original lacing from your glove. Untie and pull the lacing through the glove, inspecting the condition of the leather as you go. If the laces are ripped, you’ll need to replace them with the new ones.
To begin the restringing, insert the needle into the hole closest to the damage and thread it with your lace. Pull the needle through the opposite side of the hole, ensuring that the lace goes through cleanly. Take care to fix any twists in the lacing and tighten the needle manually to your desired level of tightness. Continue lacing up the glove, intermingling each hole with the lacing. Following the original lacing pattern will provide the best possible feel when the glove is finished, ensuring your hand doesn’t feel restricted. If you’re unsure, take it slow and be careful during your first attempt to avoid further damaging the glove.
Position-Specific Considerations
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Catchers often need to relace their gloves more frequently due to the high-speed catches they make repeatedly. Outfield gloves tend to last the longest since outfielders typically see less action. Infielders generally fall in the middle, with first baseman’s mitts requiring more frequent relacing. While first basemen do catch throws at decent speeds, it doesn’t compare to the toll a catcher’s mitt takes. Other infielders (second base, third base, and shortstops) use gloves that can withstand a fair amount of beating before needing a restring.
Save Your Favorite Glove
Losing your favorite glove can be traumatic. But before you rush out to buy a new one, consider whether a simple restringing could bring it back to life. Don’t spend a fortune when all you need is some new lacing!
Looking for new laces? Check out our top picks for the best laces to keep your glove in top shape.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: HOW
