Free Glove Relacing Instructions

Relacing your baseball glove will tighten the old lacing.

A new baseball or softball glove has a break-in period where it conforms to your hand. Your glove slightly stretches and bends in the center to fit you. If the laces become loose or break, the glove looses strength and the shape changes. This causes you to drop balls because the glove doesn't close tightly. You do not need a new glove, but can relace the sections or the entire glove yourself.

Things You'll Need

• 3/16-inch wide lace
• 6-inch lacing needle
• Needle-nose pliers
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut one end of a 3/16-inch wide lace with scissors to form a point on the end. Cut each side of the square end at a 45-degree angle to make a point.

2. Push and twist the point clockwise through the eye of a lacing needle so it protrudes about 1 inch through the eye.

3. Untie one of the two knots in the section of baseball glove you are relacing. There is a knot on each end of each section.

4. Pull the old lace out of the hole with needle nose pliers and insert your needle with the new lace into the hole. Pull the old lace out of the next hole and insert your needle through this opening in the same direction as the original lace. Pull the lacing tight and keep it flat through each hole. Continue this process to lace this section of the glove.

5. Tie a knot in the first end of the section to secure the lace. Twist the lace counterclockwise and pull the needle off the end of the lace. Tie a knot in this end of the lace. Cut the excess lace from each end close to the knot with scissors.

Tips & Warnings

• The standard lace width is 3/16-inch; however, you may choose to replace the lacing with 1/2-inch wide lace for extra strength.

• The glove will be stiff when it is newly relaced like a new glove. Working the glove open and closed will slightly stretch the laces.

• Sporting goods stores carry replacement laces and lacing needles for gloves.

• Unlacing and relacing one hole at a time helps you to follow the manufacturer's lacing pattern so the glove is the same as the original and performs in the same manner.

References

• Tanners Team Sports: How to Relace a Glove