Used Baseball Gloves & Mitts Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when buying a baseball glove. The most obvious thing is your throwing type: do you need and RHT (right hand throw) glove or an LHT (left hand throw) glove? The other thing to take into consideration is the webbing pattern. Outfielders should opt for gloves with deeper, tightly stitched pockets; the trapeze web or the H-web are both great options for outfield gloves. An I-web is a great pattern option for infielders.
When purchasing a used baseball glove there are a few key areas you should check, the lacing and leather. Lacing is one of the most important parts of a glove. If the lacing is broken, or close to breaking, then you need to move on to another option. The same rule applies if the lacing is cracking. Laces that are in good condition do not crack or break. Leather on the outside of the glove also plays an important role in how long a glove will last. Baseball gloves take a beating when playing the game which is why it's important to make sure a glove has plenty of life left in its leather by making sure it isn't overly worn out.
A used baseball glove does not need to be broken in. It is likely that its previous owner might have oiled it and stretched or loosened the strings so that it was ready to go. If you purchase a pre-used glove, it's best to familiarize yourself with the feel of the glove before your game starts just to be sure you know where everything is located.
Any baseball player knows that gloves need to be broken in before they are game ready. The beauty of a used glove is that it's already been broken in for you. If you're getting close to the start of your season, and you don't have enough time to properly break in a glove, you may consider buying a used glove that you can play with right away. In addition, buying a used glove on SidelineSwap gives you the power to ask the glove's previous owner any questions you have about how the glove feels to play with. Lastly -- and most obviously -- used gloves are always going to be cheaper than brand new gloves. So, if you're on a budget and it's just not in the cards for you to purchase a new glove, used gloves can be the perfect solution for you.
Just about everyone who plays baseball has a glove that they use to play the sport. Many people who have played baseball for a long time get accustomed to a certain glove, and when it becomes unusable they will go ahead and buy another one that is the same type of glove. With baseball glove manufacturers constantly producing new styles, many players will spend good money for older, used baseball gloves if it means keeping a similar style and feel to their previous glove.
In baseball, the most important piece of equipment is your glove. It's what gives you control over the ball and allows you to catch it. It's also a safety tool. It keeps the ball from ricocheting off your hand and causing injury. A ripped glove affects your control of the game and increases your risk of injury and therefore should be replaced.