Buying a good baseball glove is always something to look forward to. But in order to maintain its properties through time, you will need to take some basic care steps. Of course, the more expensive your glove is the more often you`ll have to perform these steps.
As good gloves can last for years, a minimal care routine is essential. If you are a dedicated player you`ll know that keeping your gear and accessories in good shape is among the top priorities with the game. Here are the best tips on how to care for a baseball glove:
New glove care
When you buy a new glove you always have to consider that leather options come with a break-in period. Since this period might depend on the rigidity of the leather, many players feel tempted to apply other methods to shorten the period. Some use alcohol or oil, others heat the gloves to try to get thorugh the break in period. But the best way is just to play catch until you feel the glove is ready. This way the leather will be used for its intended purpose and the glove will break-in in the directions it’s supposed to do so. You don`t want to apply any other mechanical pressure from other sources apart from your holding hand and the ball itself.
Storing
Storing your glove has a major impact on how the leather will hold up in time. But too many playrs can just forget about it in the bag or throw it in a dark corner until the next game. But you want to keep a leather glove in a ventilate area which will not affect the material. Ideally, you will keep it in the house and not in the basement or the garage.
Off season tips
When you don`t play baseball you might be tempted to just store the glove under the bed, in a drawer or in a box in the basement. This is not the best way to care for the glove. You need to find the best location where you can keep it for a longer period of time. The best way to store is to place a ball in the net and wrap it with an elastic or nylon cord to keep the ball into position. This will keep the leather in the natural position of the glove. You also want to store it away from any sources of moisture. The bathroom is not an option as neither is the garage due to the lower temperatures.
Caring for a baseball bat is a simple process which you need to do regularly. If you manage to follow the above advice you will be well on the way towards a long life for the product. Since you might be investing in a premium glove it might be worth also investing in a carton which allows for ventilation but can also keep a more controlled temperature environment together with keeping dust away.
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