Not sure what laces or tools you need? Start here.
A straightforward guide to choosing the right laces, tools, and setup so you can relace your glove with confidence. If you’re looking at laces and tools and not totally sure what you need, this will walk you through it.
Jump to what you need:
Should You Relace It Yourself
Absolutely—relacing is something you can learn and do yourself. Most players successfully relace their own gloves with the right laces and tools. Once you understand how the glove is laced and how to maintain tension, you can keep your glove in good condition over time and make adjustments as needed. That said, there are situations where it makes more sense to send it in. f your glove has deeper leather damage—tears, holes, or interior lining that needs restoration—that’s when you’ll want professional repair. Relacing handles structure and function, but it doesn’t address underlying leather issues.
Choosing the Right Lace
Before choosing laces, take a look at your glove. Don’t assume it follows a standard setup—there are variations depending on the model, pattern, and how it was originally laced. For example, some gloves use 3/16” lace in the web, even though many webs are typically 1/4”. Match what’s already there.
From there, the general guideline is:
3/16” width laces are used for:
Strap tie
Palm
Thumb
Little finger
Heel
1/4” width laces are used for:
Webs
Finger tops
Web tops
These sizes affect how the glove holds its shape and how the lace runs through the channels, so staying consistent with what’s already in the glove matters.
All of our laces come in 72” length and ~2.4 mm thickness. They’re cut from the same leather we use in our restoration work and custom gloves, pre-cut to proper lengths, and skived where needed for specific areas.
John Golomb, The Original Glove Doctor, has restored over 70,000 gloves over the past four decades. These are the same laces we use in our shop every day.
Each 72" leather lace is cut from premium American hide and tanned for superior resistance to moisture and heat. Our laces retain their firmness and flexibility longer, resist cracking, and outlast standard replacement laces, even under heavy use. Made in the USA.
These baseball glove laces are built for glove repair and relacing. If your glove feels loose, worn out, or needs tightening, replacing the laces is one of the most effective ways to restore structure and performance. We use these same laces every day in our glove repair work, where durability, consistency, and long-term performance matter.
Need help with glove repair or relacing? Visit our Glove Restoration & Repair Service.
John Golomb, The Original Glove Doctor, has restored over 70,000 gloves over the past four decades. These are the same laces we use in our shop every day.
Each 72" leather lace is cut from premium American hide and tanned for superior resistance to moisture and heat. Our laces retain their firmness and flexibility longer, resist cracking, and outlast standard replacement laces, even under heavy use. Made in the USA.
These baseball glove laces are built for glove repair and relacing. If your glove feels loose, worn out, or needs tightening, replacing the laces is one of the most effective ways to restore structure and performance. We use these same laces every day in our glove repair work, where durability, consistency, and long-term performance matter.
Need help with glove repair or relacing? Visit our Glove Restoration & Repair Service.
John Golomb, The Original Glove Doctor, has restored over 70,000 gloves over the past four decades. These are the same laces we use in our shop every day.
Each 72" leather lace is cut from premium American hide and tanned for superior resistance to moisture and heat. Our laces retain their firmness and flexibility longer, resist cracking, and outlast standard replacement laces, even under heavy use. Made in the USA.
These baseball glove laces are built for glove repair and relacing. If your glove feels loose, worn out, or needs tightening, replacing the laces is one of the most effective ways to restore structure and performance. We use these same laces every day in our glove repair work, where durability, consistency, and long-term performance matter.
Need help with glove repair or relacing? Visit our Glove Restoration & Repair Service.
How Much Lace Do You Need
If you’re relacing a full glove, this is a good baseline:
Fielder’s glove: 2 laces
Trapeze web glove: 4–6 laces depending on configuration
Catcher’s mitt: 3–4 laces
First base mitt: 3–4 laces
If you want to be exact, position-specific lace sets give you exactly what you need.
This set includes a pre-selected mix of 3/16" and 1/4" laces commonly used for full relacing of catcher’s mitts. Catcher’s mitts typically require more lace than standard gloves due to heavier construction and additional lace paths.
These are the same laces we use in our shop every day. Each lace is cut from premium American leather, finished for strength and consistency, and made in the USA.
This set includes a pre-selected mix of 1/4" and 3/16" laces commonly used for full relacing of trapeze-style gloves. Trapeze gloves rely more heavily on wider lace for webbing and finger tops, with narrower lace used through the palm and fingers.
These are the same laces we use in our shop every day. Each lace is cut from premium American leather, finished for strength and consistency, and made in the USA.
This set includes a pre-selected mix of 3/16" and 1/4" laces commonly used for full relacing of standard fielder’s gloves. The selection reflects typical glove construction and relacing patterns across the palm, heel, fingers, web, and finger tops.
These are the same laces we use in our shop every day. Each lace is cut from premium American leather, finished for strength and consistency, and made in the USA.
This set includes a pre-selected mix of 3/16" and 1/4" laces commonly used for full relacing of first baseman’s mitts. First baseman’s mitts generally require more lace than standard gloves and use a similar mix of widths across structural areas.
These are the same laces we use in our shop every day. Each lace is cut from premium American leather, finished for durability and consistent tension, and made in the USA.
The Tools You Actually Need
You don’t need a full setup, but you do need the right tools. To get started, you’ll want at least one lacing needle:
A large lace needle works for most gloves
A small lace needle helps with tighter areas
A wood handle pull needle is another option depending on preference
From there:
Needle-nose pliers help pull lace through tight spots and get it set properly
A leather awl can help clean holes or clear out old lace buildup
If you want everything in one place, the full re-lace kit includes all of the essential tools organized and ready to go.
Baseball glove lacing needles for repair and relacing. Hold the end of your leather lace securely so you can pull it through holes and channels. Available in small and large sizes.
The small needle works in tighter areas like the palm and through grommets. The large needle gives you more reach and leverage for longer runs and thicker sections. Most lacers keep both sizes on hand and choose based on the area they're working on.
How to use: Cut the end of your lace on an angle, twist it into the needle, and pull it through the glove as needed.
Essential tool for anyone relacing their baseball or softball glove.
Professional baseball glove relacing tool. Hardwood handle, hardened steel shaft, open eye pull needle.
Unlike a lacing needle that pushes lace forward through the glove, this pull needle works in reverse. You push the empty needle through the glove from the side where you want the lace to come out. When the eye appears on the opposite side, you thread the lace through and pull it back. This lets you set the path before the lace moves.
The hardwood handle gives you leverage. The steel shaft won't bend. Essential for anyone relacing their baseball or softball glove.
Works with standard baseball and softball glove laces. Made in USA.
Professional leather awl for baseball and softball glove lacing and repair. Opens, realigns, and clears existing holes without damaging the leather.
The tapered steel shaft guides lace through stiff or compressed leather without cutting or enlarging holes unnecessarily. Essential when working with older gloves where holes have tightened, shifted, or collapsed over time.
The rounded wooden handle gives you control and leverage for steady, precise work. Whether you're at the bench or on the go, this awl handles the job.
Made in USA. Selected for durability and balance. A core tool for relacing, repairs, and general glove maintenance.
Everything you need to relace your baseball or softball glove. Core relacing tools, premium leather laces, and helpful instructions in one compact pouch.
The kit includes a complete selection of relacing tools, plus enough premium leather laces to finish a fielder's glove. Everything fits in a small, portable pouch—keep it at the bench or bring it along when gloves need attention on the go.
The laces are cut from American hide—the same ones we use in our shop. All components are made to the highest standards and sourced for durability, consistency, and long-term use. Every element in this kit is made in USA.
Perfect for first-time lacers or anyone who wants quality tools and laces ready when they need them.
Lace Thinning (Skiving)
We offer lace thinning and skiving to customize your order.
Thinner laces (approximately 4 oz or 1.6 mm) are typically used for:
Palm
Heel
Certain webs
This makes the lace easier to work through tighter areas, gives you a bit more usable length, and creates a cleaner profile on the glove surface.
These thin palm laces are cut and skived specifically for the palm area of baseball and softball gloves.
Unlike standard-length laces, these are cut shorter for palm use and skived down thinner to allow smooth threading through tight palm channels where bulkier leather can cause resistance or distortion.
John Golomb, The Original Glove Doctor, has restored over 70,000 gloves over four decades. These are the same palm laces we use in our shop when control, flexibility, and clean installation matter most.
Designed for both baseball and softball gloves — palm construction, not glove type, determines the lace.
This finger hole lace is designed for gloves with an index finger–out opening, where the index finger extends partially outside the glove for added leverage, control, and feel.
It is used to reinforce and finish the index finger hole, helping the opening hold its shape while allowing natural movement during play.
This service professionally thins baseball and softball glove laces to reduce bulk, improve flexibility, and make lacing easier—without sacrificing strength.
Each lace is precision-skived in-house using industrial equipment, resulting in cleaner lace paths, tighter knots, and a more broken-in feel.
Thumb and small finger loops are the larger leather loops found at the base of the thumb and pinky on select baseball gloves. These loops sit at the heel of the glove and are secured by the heel lace, helping anchor the glove’s structure where the thumb and pinky meet the heel.
Each loop is made by hand in our shop from the same premium American leather used for our glove laces. The leather is cut, shaped, and punched individually to ensure proper thickness, strength, and flexibility. Made in the USA.
Before You Start
Before you relace your glove:
Clean the glove
Remove built-up dirt and grime
Let it dry completely
Apply conditioner lightly
This gives you clean access to the glove and makes the process more manageable.
A liquid leather cleaner formulated specifically for baseball glove leather. Designed to lift dirt, sweat, and surface buildup while preserving the structure and finish of the hide.
Used as the first step in glove care before conditioning. Cleans without over-drying or leaving residue that can stiffen leather over time. Appropriate for both new gloves and older gloves.
Apply with a cloth or cleaning pad, then wipe clean before conditioning.
Size: 4 oz
Made in the USA
A leather conditioner developed for maintaining flexibility and moisture balance in baseball glove leather. Helps soften dry areas, reduce surface cracking, and keep leather responsive without over-saturating.
Used after cleaning to replenish oils lost through play and exposure. Suitable for routine maintenance or as part of a restoration process. Absorbs gradually and is intended for controlled, light application rather than heavy coating.
Apply sparingly with a cloth or pad and allow time to absorb before use. Made in the USA
Designed specifically for cleaning and conditioning baseball glove leather, this professional-quality glove cleaning pad gives you control, coverage, and the right amount of abrasion—without damaging the leather.
One side features a soft microfiber surface ideal for applying cleaner or conditioner evenly across the glove. The opposite side uses a gentle nylon scouring mesh to lift dirt, grime, and embedded buildup from seams, webs, and high-wear areas.
Perfect for routine glove maintenance, restoration prep, or seasonal care, this pad helps extend the life of your glove while keeping the leather supple and game-ready.
This glove care kit brings together the same tools and products we use in our shop for routine maintenance and restoration prep. Designed to clean, condition, and protect baseball and softball glove leather without overworking or oversaturating the hide.
The cleanser lifts dirt, sweat, and surface buildup. The conditioner helps restore moisture and flexibility after cleaning. The cleaning pad provides control and consistency, allowing you to apply products evenly and work into high-wear areas without damaging the leather.
Used together, these tools help extend the life of your glove while maintaining feel, structure, and performance.
Final Thought
Relacing is part of maintaining a glove. With the right materials and a clear understanding of how it’s put together, you can take it on yourself and keep your glove going. And if you decide you’d rather not handle it, we’re here to take it on for you.
