Care for baseball gloves is often overlooked during the season and the off-season. Many players throw their gloves into their bags and walk away. To get the most out of your glove, one must take care of it in season and in the off-season.

Here are a few tips for caring for your glove:

• Keep it clean. Cleaning a glove periodically, not only looks better, but keeps the pores of the leather clear.

• Condition the glove with baseball glove conditioner. This keeps the glove leather hydrated and supple. After all, a glove’s leather was a living being at one time. It’s skin. While conditioning the glove, think less is more. It doesn’t need much.

• Store a ball in it. Whether it is in season or off season, store a ball in the pocket to keep the shape of the glove’s pocket.

• Store the glove in room temperature. Extreme heat will cause the glove to dry out and become hard. Extreme cold will cause the glove to become hard and not pliable until it warms up. Keeping a baseball glove at a constant room temperature when it is not in use will keep it from deteriorating as quickly.

• Keep the laces tightened. Tighter laces keep the glove formed. Loose laces are more susceptible to breakage and put unneeded tension on other parts of the glove, speeding the break down of your glove. Quicker breakdown of the glove will result in the glove getting floppy and needing to be replaced sooner.

• Replace any frayed or broken laces. Frayed laces will break soon. Broken laces transfer the tension to other parts of the glove, usually the other laces. Added tension to these laces cause them to stretch and break quicker.

If you follow these tips, they will help maintain the longevity of your glove and aid in helping you Make The Play!

Guest Blog by Mark Jones

Specially designed for breaking in baseball gloves and softball gloves. The Vinci Glove Break in Kit includes wooden mallet, glove conditioner, rubber bands and plastic ball. Made for players of any level!