When Does a Baseball Glove Need Relacing?

A good glove can outlast several sets of laces. The trick is catching worn laces before one snaps mid-inning.

Six signs it’s time

1. Frayed or fuzzy laces. The surface is wearing through, and a break is coming.
2. Dry, cracked laces. Leather lace that cracks when you flex it has lost its strength.
3. A broken lace. One break puts extra strain on everything around it.
4. Floppy fingers. If the fingers spread apart or flop over, the finger laces have stretched.
5. A loose web or heel. Ball control suffers when the web shifts or the heel lace is loose.
6. No shape on the shelf. A glove that collapses when you set it down usually needs re-tensioning.

Full relace or spot repair?

If one or two laces are bad and the rest are supple, a spot repair ($15–$25) is usually enough. If laces are dry or fraying all over, a full relace ($45, or $55 for catcher’s and first base mitts) is the better value.

Not sure? Send photos and Kenny will tell you what it needs.

By Kenny Gand · October 10, 2026