Sports Product Review

Nearly twenty years ago I was at my office and the UPS man dropped off a box. It simply bore our address but no “To” or “From” on the label. Inside were three, brand-new, SSK baseball gloves (www.ssksports.com). This delivery was clearly a mistake, but there was no packing slip or any other indication of who had sent the gloves or to whom they were supposed to go. I called UPS and asked if they could track them back and, (though I’m sure with today’s more sophisticated software they’d be able to), they said they had no information and there was nothing they could do. Three free ball gloves had landed in my lap. 

I gave one to a friend and kept the other two. They were big gloves, 13.5 inches, which made them perfect for softball. One broke in nicely and became my regular glove. The other one, however, never really seemed to want to break in. Over the years, the first glove was the one I used for softball, pitching to my boys down at the school, and Little League batting practice. The second glove sat on a shelf for the most part, but every so often I’d take it out thinking if I gave it a little work, it would eventually break in. But, after all those years, it was still as stiff as the day I took it out of that anonymous box.

Recently, the pocket of the first glove broke and, given its age, I decided that rather than try to re-string it, I’d just switch over to glove #2. I figured if I could get twenty years use from each of them, then that would be a pretty good deal. But, when I put it on my hand, it was like trying to catch with cardboard. So, with the new baseball season around the corner, I decided to give Hot Glove (www.hotglove.com) a try.

We’ve reviewed several other products from Unique Sports and have always been impressed. And though I’ve never done anything to break in a glove except play catch and tie it up with a ball in the pocket, this was a case where I felt I had nothing to lose. The information on the can claimed that in just a few minutes I was going to have a glove that had the same supple feel of the one it was replacing. As directed, I liberally applied the foam to the stiff leather and then popped it in the oven for four minutes. When it came out, I allowed it to cool, and then slipped it on my hand, expecting the same tough cardboard feel I’d experienced for two decades.

I was amazed. The glove was as soft and pliable as the first one I’d been using for forever. As I worked it open and closed and pounded my fist into the pocket, it formed into a perfect fit. The “before” and “after” result was the most remarkable metamorphosis I’d ever experienced from a product. The claims made about how easy and effective Hot Glove is were true.

Little League season is fast-approaching and, just as I imagine will be the case with many of my players, I’ll be starting it off with a freshly broken-in glove. Unlike their new leather, however, I’ll know that my “brand new” mitt has been patiently waiting its turn since long before they were born.

Source: Hot Glove