A baseball mitt is a very personal piece of equipment to a baseball player. When you find one that fits you perfectly, and you have broken it in just right, the mitt is like an extension of your arm. Sooner or later your favorite baseball mitt will break down. Replacing it is an option, but if you would rather continue to use it indefinitely, you can rebuild it. That does take some some time and patience.
Step 1
Inspect your baseball mitt to determine the extent of the damage. A normal fielder's mitt has five main sections of lacing, according to the John Golomb Legacy website.
Step 2
Remove the laces from your mitt that need to be replaced. Snip the lace with scissors if it is still intact, and then use needle-nose pliers to pull it out. Pay attention to the path of the lace so you know how to insert the new one. If the mitt is older, consider replacing all of the laces, even if some do not appear badly worn or damaged.
Step 3
Rub the new lace with petroleum jelly or baseball glove conditioner to soften it before you put it in your mitt.
Step 4
Tie a basic overhand knot at one end of the lace. Thread the lace through your baseball mitt. Use needle-nose pliers or a lacing needle to help guide it through.
Step 5
Tie a square knot on the end of the lace once you have pulled it all the way through. Tie it as tightly as you are comfortable with, and snip off any excess. Repeat the lacing process with any other laces that need to be replaced.
Step 6
Rub leather conditioner or baseball glove oil into your mitt to treat the leather.
Things You'll Need
- Scissors
- Replacement lacing
- Needle-nose pliers
- Lacing needle
- Leather conditioner
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