RAWLINGS PRO PREFERRED CATCHERS MITT/GLOVE
I was a catcher for almost 19 years and now I’m working on my 11th year of teaching the game of baseball to kids of all ages. Over the course of time I have had my hand in many catchers mitts. The Rawlings Pro Preferred Catchers Mitt/Glove is by far the nicest mitt I have had a chance to use and the easiest product review to write about. The light weight design and shape of this mitt gives a catcher maximum hand control for receiving the ball.The depth of the pocket has also been well thought out, not to shallow and
not to deep. Therefore, the Rawlings Pro Preferred Catchers Mitt/Glove helps speed up exchange time from mitt to hand and minimizes catchers pop time from home to second.
When you buy a glove of any kind, you want the leather to be stiff. This is a good sign you are getting high quality leather. Tuff leather means durable. This mitt is made with big league leather (tuff,stiff, and durable). Since Rawlings uses a high quality leather for the Pro Preferred catchers mitt/glove, break-in time increases. The last Rawlings Pro Preferred Catchers Mitt/Glove I broke in took about a week of catching over 150 pitches a day before it was game ready. Once the break in period is over, all you will ever have to do to maintain this mitt/glove. Make sure the laces are tighten whenever the mitt/glove starts to fill loose (No Oil Please!!!).
I do not know of anything that is negative about the Rawlings Pro Preferred Catchers Mitt/Glove. I have completed a product review on the Top Ten list of catchers mitts/gloves at www.goodguysreview.com/top-ten-product-reviews/, you can go here and compare this mitt to other top of the line catcher mitts/gloves.
| TO VIEW–> | Rawlings PROSCM20B Pro Preferred Series 32.5 Inch Baseball Catcher’s Mitt |



The reason I do not like oil to break in gloves is simple. In my opinion oil takes life out of the glove. Most gloves come preconditioned, now it is up to the user of the glove to break it in the old fashion way, by using it. Oil can make the leather to soft which allows the leather to stretch more than it should. This can lead to ripping of the leather. Oil also, adds weight to the glove and can make it heavy. To make a glove last, make sure the laces stay tight and do not just throw the glove in a bat bag when you are done using it, so it can get smashed and all bent out of shape. Carry the glove in your hand and when you get home put it up for safe keeping (Do not leave your glove in the trunk of a car). As a glove starts to age they seem to dry out. Now is the time for oil. Use a very light amount. If you you think you have the perfect amount you most likely have to much. Use very thin layers.
P.S. when buying a glove, the stiffer the leather, the better the leather.
Hi,
Why don’t you recommend oil to break in baseball gloves?