How to Tighten a Baseball Glove (And When You Need a Full Relace)
A glove that has gone loose does not always need a full relace. Sometimes it does. Here is how to tell the difference and what to do in each case.
Why gloves go loose
Laces stretch over time. Every catch, every flex, every time the glove opens and closes, the lacing gives a little. Over a full season of regular use, that adds up. A glove that was tight and responsive when the laces were new can feel loose and floppy a year or two later even if no laces have broken.
How to tighten a glove without replacing laces
If your laces are intact and in good condition but the glove has gone loose, you may be able to tighten it by working the existing laces. Start at one end of the lace run and work toward the other, pulling each segment snug before moving to the next. Use a needle nose pliers to grip the lace firmly without damaging it.
This works best on gloves where the laces are still supple and have not cracked or dried out. If the laces are stiff or brittle, pulling them tighter risks snapping them.
How to tell if you need a full relace
Look at the laces themselves. If they are cracking, fraying, or feel stiff when you flex them, they need to be replaced regardless of whether the glove feels loose. Laces in that condition are close to failing.
Check the web specifically. Web lacing takes the most stress and is usually the first to go. If the web is sagging or the laces running through it have visible wear, a full relace is the better investment.
If one lace has already broken, replace all of them. As we said in our lacing blog, laces installed at the same time age together.
Relacing your own glove
A full relace is a manageable project for someone who is patient and methodical. You need the right laces, a lacing needle, and a good reference for the lacing pattern of your specific glove model. We sell a complete relace kit in our shop that includes everything you need.
If you are not confident doing it yourself, or if the glove also needs interior work, send it to us. We will evaluate it and tell you exactly what it needs.
Good equipment deserves great care.
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.
Leather laces and the tools for your next baseball or softball glove relace. This is the set of tools John Golomb, the Glove Doctor, uses in our New York studio, paired with American-made leather laces, relacing tips and a portable pouch.
What’s included: Four 72" leather laces: two in 3/16" width and two in 1/4" width. Plus a wood handle pull needle, small and large lace lockin’ needles, leather awl, needle nose pliers, clippers, and helpful relacing tips and instructions.
Choose your color: Select one of 18 lace colors from the menu. Both lace widths are included in the kit.
Which gloves does it suit? The included lace quantity is intended for a fielder’s glove. Check your glove’s original pattern before starting; larger mitts and more complex webs may require additional lace. Match the original lace width and construction.
The laces are cut from American hide, the same laces we use in our own restoration work. Every element in this kit is made in the USA. Keep the tools at your bench or bring them along in the compact pouch.
Need extra lace or help choosing supplies? Browse our baseball glove laces and glove-specific sets or read our guide to using glove relacing tools.
John Golomb, The 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.
