With the weather heating up around the country and Major League Baseball a couple weeks into its season, it is only natural to think about wanting to get out on the diamond to play some ball. And whether you plan on playing a friendly game with the family or a hard nosed battle in your rec league, you are going to need a solid glove to get you through the action. But how do you go about finding a glove? Which one is right for you? Where are the best deals? Worry not, because regardless if this is you first time picking up the leather or you are a seasoned pro, I’ve got you covered.

Position, position, position: The first thing you want to consider is what position you are likely to play. If you haven’t played baseball before, you might think a glove is a glove, but there are actually several different types to consider. If you plan to play catcher, for instance, there is a glove specifically designed to catch those fastballs without breaking the palm of your hand. Same thing goes for first base — which has a glove made to dig balls out of the dirt — and the rest of the infield and outfield. If you are unsure of where you might be playing or it doesn’t really matter, just stick clear of first base/catcher’s mitts and you should be fine.

Try before you buy: While online deals are hard to resist, it is a good idea to make your way to a local store to try on different gloves. It doesn’t mean you have to buy it right then and there, but by trying on different types of mitts you will get a good feel for how each type works and hopefully discover which one is for you. This is especially true for people who haven’t played baseball before; there is no way to know which glove you prefer to play with until you try it on. Also, while you are at the store make sure to take a mental note of their prices and do some competitive shopping online later.

Do look for the best deal: Really take some time to think about how much you want to spend on a glove. There are a few things to take into consideration. How much are you going to use it? Are you going to play competitively or just for fun? Do you want to find the cheapest available or are you looking to buy something that will last a long time? Once you have taken the time to answer those questions make sure to look around for the best deal. A quick Google search will bring up a gazillion (OK not that many) web sites that sell baseball equipment, but take the time to make sure the place is reputable and see what their return policy is in case the glove you select doesn’t fit or feel right.

Take care of your investment: After all of that research and money (hopefully not too much) you are going to want to take good care of your baby glove. Here are a few quick tips in no particular order to help you get going. Above all else, remember to just have fun!

–It is OK to use leather oil, but don’t drown the glove in it like you are trying to mask the taste of lettuce with ranch dressing.
–If your glove gets wet, let it air dry. DO NOT put it in the microwave or dryer.
–When not using the glove try to store it in a cool, dry area. One place definitely not to store it in is the trunk of your car.
–Breaking a glove in takes time. Avoid quick fixes like running it over with your car and instead beg your friends to play catch with you.

To check out deals and discounts on baseball gloves on Smarter.com, click here.

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1. How to Break in a New Baseball Glove
2. Baseball Gloves for Under $70
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Pick and choose to see what model is best for you:

1. ProForm C500 Treadmill – $499.00
   Affordable for anyone looking to build their own home fitness center, this treadmill has a 2.75 THP Mach motor and has a ClearView Backlit display and ProStride cushion.
2. ProForm 495 Pi Treadmill – $399.00
   Save yourself $100 with this treadmill. This popular treadmill comes with a quick speed control feature along with a CoolAire fan to keep you from overheating. Check out what others have said about this treadmill in our reviews.
3. ProForm 6.0 GSX Treadmill – $579.00
   Also comes with the 2.75 THP motor and has a 300-pound user capacity. The AirTrek cushioning feature helps to ease the impact on your body for a more comfortable workout.
4. ProForm Crosswalk 425 Treadmill -$449.00
   This machine can really burn the calories. With it’s CrossWalk upper body feature, you can sculpt your back, arms and shoulders all in one workout on this treadmill.
5. ProForm 350 Treadmill – $399.00
   Make your run a little more challenging by being able to adjust your incline and by using QuickSpeed controls. Run the terrain of the hills from your living room.
6. ProForm 540 Treadmill – $499.00
   This treadmill comes with the 2.75 hp motor and also an EKG pulse grip to help you monitor your target heart rate. You can also use iFit workout programs which can be downloaded from the Internet.
7. ProForm 600s Treadmill – $499.00
   This treadmill comes complete with four personal trainer workouts designed by real certified personal trainers that automatically adjust your settings such as your running speed during your workout.
8. ProForm Perspective ES Treadmill – $1,249.00
   ProForm’s most advanced entertainment treadmill, this thing even comes with a built-in 7-inch TV.
9. NordicTrack Elite 2900 Treadmill – $1,199.00
   This elite treadmill also comes with the iFit workout programs which allows you to just plug in your card and instantly you have a personal trainer.
10. NordiTrack S 3000 Institutional Treadmill – $2,699.00
    This treadmill is in a class of its own and received high praise from testers from Runner’s World magazine in January 2007.

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According to the latest issue of Men’s Health, they gave us these two tips for a longer life:

• Tequila is good for you! You heard that right. According to a study done by the University of Guadalajara, blue agave – a plant extract and the main ingredient used to make tequila – can pass through stomach acids without being destroyed and can help treat cancer.

          Where’s the salt and lime! 

• And here’s a little fun fact. If you drink 3 glasses of red wine a week, you reduce your chances of getting colon cancer by 68%!

          Pass me the bottle!

Photo courtesy of instyle.com.

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To some people, a mitt is a sacred possession to them, so breaking it in and getting a good feel for it is very important.

Although there are so many ways to break in a glove, here are some helpful tips:

Apply Oil:

When you first buy your glove, get some glove oil, usually some linseed oil and rub it into the seams of your glove and the pocket. Usually glove manufacturer’s make their own oil, so look for it near the glove section of the sporting good store. Some people even suggest using shaving cream as an alternative.

Apply it to the mitt, using a cloth or your own hand, and rub it in thoroughly all over the glove. Make sure there are no clumps if you’re using cream and also not to apply too much. You want to have a nice coat all over the mitt, but there’s no need to see your reflection in it. Focus on the pocket region because this is where the glove is going to get the most traffic.

Set the glove aside and then let it dry on its own.

Use a Ball:

When the oil dries, get a baseball and place it into the pocket (catching region) and close the glove around it tightly. Grab a couple of thick rubber bands and wrap it around the glove, making sure that it won’t flop open. This helps to form the pocket region of the mitt.

Do this overnight or when you’re not using the glove.

Get outside:

Last but not least, just play catch! There’s no better way to break in a new glove than to toss the ball around. Whether you play catch for a few minutes a day or an hour, every little bit helps.

Notes:

Some people suggest using certain creams and treatments that require you to place your glove in the oven to help break it in some more. Some people don’t like this method because they feel that it can damage the leather and they recommend that you don’t do this.

I did this to the last glove I bought, 11 years ago, and I still use it to this day. It still looks practically new and it helped to form the pocket almost perfectly. I loved the results.

The cream for this is sold in any sporting goods store and use your own judgement about whether or not you want to try out this method.

With that said, have fun!

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