Heart of The Hide Slowpitch Softball

UPDATE:After using this glove now for 4 games, I am very impressed. The 1st game I got the game ball for the catches I made in the final inning. So great initial results. Now 4 game in I am still equally impressed. I've had a lot of baseball gloves in my day including a 12.5" Rawlings HoH which is a very good in-field glove but a lacks the deep pocket of this glove. I'm finding that this glove deeper pocket keeps the ball in the glove, preventing it from unintentionally popping out. If you play softball you know what I mean. It sort of inhales the ball. It gives me a lot of confidence on tough catches or balls that are difficult to track in the sun because you don't need to be perfect with every catch. This is hands down the best glove I've ever owned. I understand why most pro players use Rawlings HoH because quality of material is top shelf. And it's not a heavy glove. I don't know how Rawlings does it but this glove stands out from the pack.INITIAL IMPRESSIONS AFTER BREAK-IN AND 1 GAME:I received this glove on a Sunday, a day earlier than expected. And boy am I glad I did. I broke it in that day. Its comes pretty stiff but I have a method of breaking gloves in so I can use it immediately. The next day, Monday, we had our first game of the season (I live in SW Florida and we start our season 1st week in January). I play center field in a 55 and older league. For the first 8 inning I fielded grounders but then came the 9th inning. We were up by 3 runs. The 1st batter hit a liner and I ran in and made a sliding catch about 6 inches off the ground. My first thought was 'the ball stayed in the glove' ... awesome! But then with 2 outs and 2 men on board 1st and 2nd and the score 17-14 the batter hit a shot in the gap. I was able to get a good read on it coming off the bat, ran full speed and made a leaping catch. The glove literally ate the ball. If it didn't it would have been a tie game as that ball was gone. The team gave me the game ball. I included 2 pics. Notice the 1st pic there is a ball in the glove that you can hardly see. This glove gobbles up the ball. 5 stars for the early delivery and another 5 stars for an amazing glove that is 100% worth the price.

Got it at the beginning of the season this year and yeah it was slightly stiff but that's what you get when you get a premier glove its not a extremely soft to where it feels like a pillow and will get floppy a few weeks. This is a legit premier leather glove and over time it will feel more comfortable as it molds to your hand and play style. For me I'm playing 3rd base I wanted a stiff glove that gave me confidence that it'd hold it's shape and wouldn't just fold over after a few games or a season. I was still able to break it in in roughly 48 hours to where it was game ready. After about 20 games a dozens of practices there's very little wear and tear and it's still holding its shape as its designed to. You want your gloves to stay open stay stiff and close easily during your break-in process you don't want a pancake glove. You get what you pay for and with proper care this will EASIELY 5 to 10 years. It's a 5 out of 5 no question.

This gloved is replacing a very old Heart of the Hide. have been playing if after 1 week of breaking it in.

One of the higher-end Rawlings gloves, it comes with the quality you'd expect. It offers a deep pocket that can nearly hide a 12" softball when closing it thumb-to-pinky. It has a comfortable pinky finger stall that is snug enough if you wear it traditional but is also wide enough if you want to wear it two-in-the-pinky, or even three fingers in the pinky as I'm wearing it for Slowpitch Outfield. The glove has the thick durable HoH feel but the palm is relaxed enough to allow for a very fast break-in and closed easily after just one session with a mallet. Surprised at how quickly it became game-ready and how well it can swallow the ball.

I did not buy this from Amazon but from a big box sporting good store. Heavy black stain came off after oiling the glove with Rawlings Break in oil. Sent it back and received a new glove and same thing happened to the warranty replacement. If this was a hundred dollar glove I would understand but this is the top of line model. I emailed Rawlings back again but they have not responded. Pic is of the warranty replacement the day I received it.

It is a beautiful glove. But the leather is very still and it hurt my husband’s fingers trying to move it. He plays Sr Softball, so I’m sure a younger, stronger person wouldn’t have this problem. Even after it has been through its break in period, it would be too stiff.

Outstanding glove.

This is the best glove in the world broke in nicely, comfortable, great quality, shapes well, definitely worth the money. I use it for slow pitch infield / Outfield it works great for each if you break it in correctly