How to Lace a Baseball Glove: Step-by-Step Guide

Can you lace a baseball glove yourself? Yes, absolutely! With a bit of patience and the right materials, you can successfully re-lace your baseball glove, whether it’s to refresh worn-out lacing, adjust the pocket depth, or simply to give it a new look. This guide will walk you through the entire process of how to lace a baseball glove, from gathering your supplies to the final touches.

Lacing a baseball glove is a fundamental skill for any player who wants to maintain their gear or customize it. It’s more than just making your glove look good; it’s about ensuring it functions optimally for catching fly balls and snagging grounders. Many players wonder about the specifics of re-lacing a baseball mitt, and this comprehensive guide aims to answer all those questions. We’ll cover various glove lacing patterns, essential tools, and the techniques needed for a successful DIY baseball glove relacing.

Why Relace Your Baseball Glove?

Over time, the lacing on your baseball glove can wear out, break, or become loose. This can significantly affect the glove’s performance. Worn-out lacing can lead to a loose pocket, making it harder to control the ball. Frayed or broken laces can even cause the glove to lose its shape. Relacing your glove offers several benefits:

Restores Functionality: Tight, strong lacing ensures the glove maintains its shape and provides a secure pocket for catching.
Extends Glove Lifespan: Regular maintenance, including relacing, can dramatically increase how long your glove lasts.
Customization: You can choose different lacing colors to personalize your glove and make it stand out.
Improved Feel: A properly laced glove feels more responsive and comfortable on your hand.
Addresses Wear and Tear: It’s an excellent way to perform baseball glove repair on specific areas that have seen heavy use.

What You’ll Need: Gathering Your Supplies

Before you start, make sure you have everything you need. This makes the process much smoother.

Glove Lacing: Baseball glove lacing is typically made of high-quality leather. It’s usually sold in rolls or pre-cut lengths. You’ll need about 5-10 feet of lacing, depending on the size and style of your glove. Leather lacing is preferred for its durability and flexibility.
Lacing Tool or Awl: A specialized lacing tool or a sturdy awl is crucial for pushing the lace through the pre-drilled holes.
Pliers (Optional but Recommended): Needle-nose pliers can help grip the lace and pull it through stubborn holes, especially when starting or finishing.
Scissors or Utility Knife: For cutting the lacing to the desired length.
Gloves (Optional): Leather dye can transfer, so wearing gloves might be a good idea.
Rag or Soft Cloth: For cleaning the glove and wiping away excess oil.
Glove Conditioner or Oil: Once relaced, conditioning your glove will help keep the leather supple.
Patience: This is a skill that takes practice!

Preparing Your Glove for Relacing

Proper preparation is key to a successful relacing job.

Assess the Damage: Carefully examine your glove. Identify which laces are broken, stretched, or worn out. Note the original lacing patterns. Many gloves have different patterns for the web, fingers, and wrist strap.
Remove Old Lacing: If you’re doing a full relace, you’ll need to remove all the old lacing. Start by cutting away any broken pieces. Then, systematically work your way through the glove, pulling out the intact lacing. It’s helpful to pull the lace out in one continuous piece if possible, as this can give you a reference for your new lacing. However, if laces are very old and brittle, they might break into smaller pieces.
Clean the Glove: Before you start lacing, it’s a good time to clean your glove. Wipe away any dirt, dust, or old oil. This will make the leather easier to work with and prepare it for conditioning later.

Deciphering Glove Lacing Patterns

Baseball gloves aren’t just laced randomly. Specific glove lacing patterns are used to create the pocket and provide structure. The most common areas needing lacing are the fingers, the thumb, the wrist strap, and the webbing between the thumb and index finger.

Webbing: This is the most visible and crucial part of the lacing. The type of web can vary (e.g., I-web, H-web, Trapeze web), and each has its own lacing pattern. The webbing lacing helps define the pocket’s depth and shape.
Fingers: Lacing along the outside of each finger helps maintain its structure and stiffness.
Thumb: Similar to the fingers, thumb lacing reinforces its shape and provides a good grip.
Wrist Strap: This adjustable strap often uses a simple loop or buckle system, but the lacing holding it in place can also wear out.

When you’re re-lacing a baseball mitt, pay close attention to how the original laces were threaded. Taking pictures as you remove the old lacing can be incredibly helpful. Most players follow the original patterns to maintain the glove’s intended feel and function. However, some players modify these patterns for a deeper pocket or a more flexible feel.

The Step-by-Step Process: How to Lace a Baseball Glove

This section details the techniques for relacing the most common sections of a baseball glove. We’ll start with the webbing, as it’s often the most complex.

Relacing the Webbing

The webbing is what creates the “pocket” of your glove. Getting this right is essential for catching.

Start Point: Typically, the lacing for the web starts at one of the top holes of the web, often near where the index finger connects to the web.
Threading the Lace:
- Take your lacing tool and push one end of the lacing through the first hole from the outside of the glove to the inside. Leave a few inches of lace hanging on the outside.
- On the inside of the glove, thread the lacing tool through the next hole in the web pattern.
- Grab the lacing with the tool and pull it through the hole, ensuring a smooth pass.
- Continue this process, moving from hole to hole, following the established pattern.
Creating the Crossover: The defining feature of web lacing is the crossover stitch. After pulling the lace through a hole and moving to the next, you’ll typically loop the lace around the previous lace before threading it through the next hole. This creates a strong, interwoven effect that holds the web together and shapes the pocket.
- When you pull the lace through a hole and it emerges on the other side of the glove’s webbing, bring it across the front of the glove to the next hole in the pattern.
- Before inserting the lacing tool into that next hole, wrap the lace around the lace that’s already coming out of the adjacent hole. This is the crucial crossover stitch.
- Then, use your tool to push the lace through the new hole.
Maintaining Tension: As you lace, keep consistent tension on the lace. Too loose, and the pocket will be sloppy. Too tight, and the glove will be stiff and difficult to close. You want the lace to be snug but still allow the leather to flex.

Webbing Patterns: There are various glove lacing patterns for the web.

Single Crossover: A common pattern where each new lace segment crosses over the previous one.
Double Crossover: Some patterns involve a double crossover for added strength.
Basket Weave: Some specialized patterns create a basket-like appearance.

Table 1: Common Webbing Lacing Approaches

Pattern Type	Description	Key Features
Standard Web	Follows a consistent back-and-forth with crossovers.	Creates a balanced pocket, common on many gloves.
Deep Pocket Web	Utilizes longer crossover stitches to deepen the pocket.	Ideal for players who prefer a deeper catch area.
Open Web	Leaves more space between the lacing, creating a more flexible web.	Can offer a quicker feel for the ball.

Relacing the Fingers and Thumb

These sections are usually simpler than the webbing but just as important for glove integrity.

Starting Point: For the fingers and thumb, the lacing typically starts at the bottom, near the base of the finger/thumb.
Threading:
- Push the lacing from the inside out through the bottom hole. Leave a tail.
- Thread the lace tool through the next hole up on the outside of the finger/thumb.
- Pull the lace through.
- On the inside, thread through the next hole.
- Continue this simple back-and-forth pattern up the finger or thumb.
Tension: Again, maintain consistent tension. You want the finger/thumb to hold its shape without being overly stiff.
Finishing a Finger/Thumb: When you reach the top, you’ll usually have a few extra holes. You might need to do a final crossover or loop to secure the lace. Sometimes, the lacing from one finger will connect to the next.

Relacing the Wrist Strap

The wrist strap is crucial for adjusting how the glove fits your hand.

Identify Attachment Points: The wrist strap is usually attached to the main body of the glove at two points.
Remove Old Lacing: Carefully remove the old lace that secures the strap.
Thread New Lacing: Thread your new lacing through the designated holes, much like the fingers, but often with a simpler path. The goal is to secure the strap so it can be adjusted.
Final Knot/Securing: You’ll often end up with a few inches of lace. Tie a secure knot on the inside of the glove, or if there’s a specific grommet or loop, thread the lace through it to secure it. You can trim excess lace or tuck it neatly.

Finishing Touches and Securing the Ends

Once all sections are laced, it’s time to finish.

The “Last Lace”: The final piece of lacing often connects different sections or finishes off the wrist strap.
Tying Off: When you reach the end of a lacing run, you need to tie it off securely.
- Find a convenient spot, usually on the inside of the glove.
- Thread the lace through the last hole.
- Pull it snug.
- Tie a strong knot, like a double knot or a square knot. You can also use a lacing tool to tuck the end of the lace neatly into the glove lining.
- Trim any excess lace, leaving about half an inch. You can lightly burn the end of a synthetic lace to prevent fraying, but be very careful with leather lacing as it can scorch easily.
Checking Lacing Patterns: Double-check all your lacing. Are the crossovers tight? Is the tension consistent? Ensure all laces are secure and won’t easily come undone. If you’re unsure about specific glove lacing patterns, looking at diagrams or videos of your specific glove model can be very helpful.

Baseball Glove Conditioning After Relacing

After the meticulous process of relacing your baseball glove, it’s vital to condition the leather. This helps restore moisture and flexibility, especially if the leather has dried out during the process.

Apply Conditioner: Use a good quality baseball glove conditioner or a mild leather oil. Apply a small amount to a clean rag.
Work it In: Gently rub the conditioner into the lacing and the leather of the glove. Pay attention to areas that felt particularly stiff or dry.
Allow Absorption: Let the conditioner soak in for a few hours or overnight.
Wipe Off Excess: Use a clean rag to wipe away any excess conditioner.
Breaking in the Glove: After conditioning, your glove might feel a bit stiff. You’ll need to go through the process of breaking in a baseball glove again. This involves flexing the glove, using glove oil or mallets, and playing catch to help it mold to your hand and the ball.

Troubleshooting Common Issues in DIY Baseball Glove Relacing

Even with careful work, you might encounter some hiccups.

Lace is too short: This can happen if you underestimate the length needed or if you make a mistake and have to re-do a section. You might need to start a new piece of lacing, tying it securely to the end of the old lace on the inside of the glove.
Lace is too long: Excess lace can be neatly trimmed and secured with a knot or tucked away.
Uneven tension: This is common. Try to go back and adjust the tension on sections that feel too loose or too tight. Sometimes, pulling on a lace from one end can help redistribute tension along its length.
Lace won’t go through a hole: Use pliers to grip the lace end firmly and gently pull it through. Ensure the lacing tool is pushing it squarely.
Glove feels too stiff: This could be due to overly tight lacing or a lack of conditioning. Loosen some of the tighter lacing and apply more conditioner.

Advanced Lacing Techniques and Customizations

Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to lace a catcher’s mitt or a standard fielder’s glove, you might want to explore more advanced techniques.

Customizing Pocket Depth: By varying the tightness and the length of crossover stitches in the webbing, you can adjust how deep or shallow your pocket is. Tighter, longer crossovers generally lead to a deeper pocket.
Adding or Removing Lacing: Some players remove the traditional “X” lacing on the index finger for a softer feel or add extra lacing to reinforce a specific area.
Color Combinations: Using multiple colors of lacing can create a unique and personalized look for your glove.

Baseball Glove Webbing Repair

Relacing is also a key part of baseball glove webbing repair. If your web is torn or significantly worn, replacing the lacing that holds it together is often the primary repair needed. A well-executed relacing job can effectively address many issues related to web degradation. If the leather of the web itself is torn, that might require more advanced leather repair, but good lacing is the first line of defense.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How much lacing do I need to relace a baseball glove?
A1: Generally, 5 to 10 feet of lacing is sufficient for a full relace of a standard baseball glove. Catcher’s mitts or gloves with extensive webbing might require slightly more. It’s always better to have a little extra than to run short.

Q2: Can I use paracord or other materials instead of leather lacing?
A2: While you can technically use other materials, leather lacing is highly recommended for baseball gloves. Leather provides the right balance of flexibility, strength, and grip. Synthetic materials might be too stiff, too slippery, or not durable enough for the demands of a baseball glove.

Q3: My glove feels too stiff after relacing. What should I do?
A3: This often means the lacing is too tight, or the leather needs conditioning. Try to loosen the lacing slightly, especially in the pocket area. Apply a quality glove conditioner and work it into the leather and the new lacing. Then, practice breaking in a baseball glove by flexing it and playing catch.

Q4: How often should I relace my baseball glove?
A4: This depends on how often you use your glove and the quality of the original lacing. For serious players, relacing every 1-3 years might be necessary. For casual players, it could be much longer. Look for signs of wear, fraying, or looseness.

Q5: What is the difference between relacing a catcher’s mitt and a fielder’s glove?
A5: Catcher’s mitts often have thicker lacing and more robust construction due to the heavy impact they endure. The webbing is typically deeper and more reinforced. While the basic lacing techniques are similar, you might need heavier-duty lacing and more careful tension control for a catcher’s mitt. The glove lacing patterns for a mitt are specifically designed to create that large, deep pocket.

Q6: Where can I buy baseball glove lacing?
A6: You can purchase baseball glove lacing from sporting goods stores, online retailers specializing in baseball equipment, and some leather craft suppliers. Make sure to buy lacing specifically designed for baseball gloves.

Mastering how to lace a baseball glove is a rewarding skill that enhances your connection with your gear. By following these steps, paying attention to detail, and practicing your lacing techniques, you can keep your glove in top condition for seasons to come.