Play Like a Pro with Rawlings’ 950Z Catcher’s Gear

Yadier Molina, Geovany Soto, Ramon Hernandez—They all use Rawlings catcher’s gear, and so can you!

Rawlings’ 950Z catcher’s equipment uses Zoombang technology for the best protection and features a lightweight design for comfort and mobility.

Revised from the popular 950 line of catcher’s gear with the help of former pro catcher Mike Matheny, the 950Z series uses Zoombang material in the chest protector and knee padding to maximize your safety behind the plate.

Zoombang equipment was developed through collaboration with respected professional trainers, equipment managers and professional athletes. The unique Zoombang viscoelastic polymer is a semi-solid, plastic-like material that is extremely soft at rest and conforms to any shape but instantly behaves as a solid on impact.

The Zoombang material is soft and fluid-like to the touch. On impact, the Zoombang molecules lock together, spreading the shock to provide maximum protection. After impact, Zoombang material returns to its original state.

The 950Z chest protectors have dual removable shoulder caps and a wide flat front for better control and reduced ball rebound.

Athletes praise the Rawlings 950Z series. "It is the best chest protector I have ever used. It is light and I like the Zoombang pad," K. Miller of Pennsylvania said.

The leg guards have an adjustable knee insert for comfort and a patented design for protecting your instep.

Rawlings 950Z catcher’s gear is available in adult and youth sizes and in a variety of colors. Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your 950Z catcher’s equipment.

Increase Your Pop with Rawlings 5150 Bats

Rawlings recognizes that all players have their own unique swing style and has developed bats to fit each of these styles.

The 5150 series by Rawlings is a great place to find that perfect bat. Composite frames, alloy barrels and EXOGRID® with Ph.DTMbats are all available.

Dizrel of Massachusetts prefers the 5150 alloy. "The bat has a nice weight and good pop. Solid value!" he said of the 5150 Alloy High School/Collegiate.

EXOGRID with PhD
Do you perform better with a stiff handle bat? Until now you had to compromise a sweet feeling bat for peak performance because as a bat gets stiffer, its vibrational response increases - that the sting. Rawlings has incorporated Ph.D™ technology (passive hybrid damping) into a stiff handle bat design. The need for compromise is over!
• Game proven EXOGRID® optimized for feel
• Reduced sting from Ph.D™ technology in a stiff handle design
• Rawlings' 5150 Alloy barrell

5150 EXOGRID with PhD bats available:
BB51XO: High School/Collegiate (-3)
SL51XO: Senior League (-8.5)
YB51XO: Youth Baseball (-11)

Composite
Just added to our 5150 Series is the 5150 X-Treme Performance Composite Bats.
• The X-Treme Performance bats feature increased barrel length for maximum sweet spot.
• It also has an X-treme Multiwall designfor the most responsive barrel.

5150 X-Treme Performance bats available:
SL51XP9: Senior League (-9)
YB51XP: Youth Baseball (-11)

Rawlings' 5150 composite bat offers the ultimate combination of bat speed, power and control.
• The bat is constructed of a 100% composite frame and is the most forgiving composite bat on the market.
• It has the largest, most responsive sweet spot that can be found on a BESR certified bat.

5150 composite bats available:
BB5150C: High School/Collegiate (-3)
SL5150C5: Senior League (-5)
SL5150C1: Senior League (-10)
CP5150C: Coach Pitch (-11.5)

Alloy
Rawlings' 5150 alloy aluminum bat delivers a balanced feel for maximum swing speed and improved bat control.
• The bat is one piece and is constructed of a 100% alloy frame.
• By offering increased flex, it offers more pop than aluminum bats of the past.

5150 alloy bats available:
BB5150A: High School/Collegiate (-3)
SL5150A5: Senior League (-5)
SL5150A95: Senior League (-9.5)
YB5150A: Youth Baseball (-12)

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your 5150 bat today.

Break in Your New Glove--Rawlings-Style

Put it under your mattress and sleep on it, massage shaving cream into it--You've heard all the tricks for breaking in your new Rawlings glove.

Your father may swear by them, but when it comes to getting your new glove ready to go, Rawlings can walk you through everything you need to do.

Follow these steps to have your glove in mid-season form on the first day of practice:

Step 1: Work the Padding
Using both hands, grab the heel of your glove by each side and twist it back and forth. Do the same with the fingers and thumb of your glove. This will ease the tension of the fibers inside the glove padding, creating a more comfortable fit.

Step 2: Soften the Leather
Condition your glove with a light coating of Rawlings Glovolium leather treatment oil. This will soften your glove and make it more comfortable. Be aware that some glove oils will darken the leather. For Primo gloves, we recommend using the Primo Butter that is formulated for these high-end gloves. The Pro Preferred Care Kit has a non-staining formula that is ideal for light-tan, kip leather, and color-dyed leather-such as Pro Preferred gloves.

Step 3: Wrap Your Glove
Place a Rawlings baseball or softball in the pocket of your glove and close it. Fold it the way you want your glove to close in your game. Secure your glove with rubber bands and let it rest in a cool, dry place. This will allow your glove to conform to the shape of a baseball or softball more readily and easily.

Step 4: Play Catch
The more you use your new Rawlings glove, the better it will fit and feel to your hand.

Step 5: Maintain Your Glove
Inspect the laces of your glove every 6 months and replace them as needed. Always store your glove in a cool, dry place with a ball in the pocket when not in use and during the offseason. We recommend using a softball to increase the size of the pocket. Treat your glove with Rawlings Glovolium to ensure it will last for years.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your glove or order Rawlings Glovolium.

Rawlings 5-Tool Fielding Tools Developed to Improve Defense

Offense may win games, but it's defense that wins the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Rawlings has partnered with Ripken Baseball to produce a line of fielding tools for its 5-Tool Training Program that will develop hand-eye coordination, reflexes and soft hands.

Every 5-Tool Training product includes drills and instructions to help you improve your baseball performance. Popular fielding tools include:

• The 5-Tool Quik Hands Glove, a foam trainer that is contoured to fit your palm and can be used during practice to teach soft hands. Learn to transition the ball from glove to throwing hand quickly and smoothly. To order at RawlingsGear.com, look for style number QUIKHANDS.
• The 5-Tool Pro Trainer Glove, an undersized 9.5” Pro Preferred leather glove. This Rawlings glove demands that you keep your eyes on the ball all the way into the glove. It forces you to stay down on ground balls with both your head and hands and also to move your feet. It encourages soft hands and will immediately begin to eliminate bad habits. To order at Rawlings Gear, look for style number PROTRAIN.
• The 5-Tool Reactball, a fielding trainer that is designed to take erratic hops to improve your reflexes and fielding ability. The Reactball should only be used as a ground ball training tool on a gym floor or outside on a field. The ball bounces erratically, which will help you practice staying in front of the ball. To order at Rawlings Gear, look for style number REACTBALL.
• The 5-Tool Pitching Machine Training Baseball, which can be used in pitching machines. These training baseballs look and feel like real baseballs. The 5-Tool Pitching Machine Training Baseball has a full-grain leather cover with a wound cork and rubber center. This center, along with Kevlar stitched seams, gives these training baseballs incredible durability. To purchase individually or in dozens at Rawlings Gear, look for style number 5TROTBPM.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your 5-Tool training equipment for fielding.

Rawlings Offers Superior Protection with Zoombang Football Girdles

When it comes to protecting football players, Rawlings has players covered—literally.

Rawlings' Zoombang protective girdles absorb up to 80% of impact forces and dissipate energy and shock from hard hits while still being lightweight and flexible.

Zoombang equipment was developed through collaboration with respected professional trainers, equipment managers and professional athletes. The unique Zoombang viscoelastic polymer is a semi-solid, plastic-like material that is extremely soft at rest and conforms to any shape but instantly behaves as a solid on impact.

In Rawlings' Zoombang girdles, the polymer is strategically placed at the hip, thigh and tailbone for superior protection.

Rawlings' Zoombang girdles are sold in adult and youth sizes. See the sizing chart to determine your size.

Rawlings also carries a line of compression shirts with Zoombang polymers.

Leave it to Rawlings to remain on the cutting edge of sports technology.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your Zoombang girdle.

Rawlings Unveils New Bat with Technology Like Never Before

Imagine a bat that won’t vibrate, but that still has a large sweet spot and lots of pop. Imagine a bat that has a stiff handle, but that won’t sting. Imagine it’s priced better than the competition.

Impossible? Then you haven’t taken a swing with Rawlings’ newest bat—the 5150 Exogrid with Ph.D.

Available for pre-order, the Exogrid capitalizes on Ph.D technology (that’s passive hybrid damping) to reduce vibration on impact yet maintain a stiff handle.

Rawlings designers and Vyatek Sports have teamed up to create a power hitter’s dream.

Starting with Rawlings’ 5150 1-piece aluminum alloy frame, they added Vyatek's patented Exogrid with Ph.D technology. Then they made sure it had all the features you expect from a Rawlings bat, including being compatible with Rawlings' Sci-Fly and Speedcap technologies.

Rawlings' Sci-Fly radar matches you with your perfect bat by charting the launch angle of your swing and the speed, hit distance and spin rate of the ball off the bat. The patent-pending Speedcap measures your swing speed.

College hitters are already using Rawlings' Exogrid with Ph.D. Now you can too!

The bat is available for the high school/collegiate level, senior leagues and youth baseball. Priced under $300, you won't find a better bat for the money. Delivery expected late March or early April.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact your Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to pre-order your 5150 Exogrid with Ph.D. bat.

Rawlings Baseballs: Made with Care from Start to Finished Product

Throwing, catching and hitting baseballs may be second nature for you, but at Rawlings, manufacturing baseballs is our top priority.

Rawlings is the official supplier of baseballs for the highest levels of play, from Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball to the NCAA College World Series, the NJCAA championships and the NAIA championships. Countless high schools and youth leagues also use Rawlings baseballs.

Making a baseball is a fine art, one that Rawlings has perfected in the many years it has been making baseballs.

At the heart of each baseball is the pill. Smaller than a golf ball, it is a sphere of rubber cork in a casing.

Latex adhesive is poured over hundreds of pills loaded in a drum, which has rollers spinning it to evenly coat the pills. This adhesive never dries completely, leaving the pills sticky to the touch.

Next, four-ply wool is looped around the pill, which substantially fattens the pill. This is followed with a second and third layer of three-ply wool. It is these layers of wool that give the baseball resilience so it will spring back into shape when hit.

For the final winding, a much thinner poly-wool blend is used because its surface is smoother.

The ball-in-progress is now called a center. It is weighed and the circumference measured, and it should be 22½ centimeters around.

Then, adhesive is added to a spinning drum and the centers are loaded into it. As the centers tumble, they absorb the glue, allowing the fibers adhere to each other. The centers air-dry for 48 hours, but remain sticky.

Using a hydraulic press, figure-eight shapes are punched out of leather complete with holes around the periphery. This allows them to be stitched into baseball covers.

Before the balls are stitched, they are wrapped in wet towels to make them pliable enough to sew.

A water-based adhesive is then rolled onto one side of each of the leather cutouts. Two cutouts are pressed to the center's sticky surface for an exact fit.

Now it's time to sew--108 stitches in each baseball.

Finally, the baseballs are rolled into a press that smoothes down the seams, and a three-headed stamper gives each ball its trademark, league logo and the commissioner's signature.

With drying cycles, it takes a week to make a professional baseball. Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 baseballs are produced each day.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your baseballs.

Don't Get Stumped: Rawlings Can Help You Select Your Wood Baseball Bat

Choosing the right wood baseball bat can be overwhelming, and Rawlings Gear is here to help you make an informed purchase.

Rawlings manufactures more than 30 different wood bat models.

Ash and maple are the most common woods used in bats, but hickory and bamboo are also used. Hickory, however, is much heavier than other woods.

Rawlings' lines of wood bats include:

Pro Preferred Wood Bats
Only the best 5% of ash and maple is perfect enough to be considered for bats marked “Pro Preferred.” These bats are proven effective in the Major Leagues year after year.

• They have a high-gloss, ultra-protective clear finish and a U-shaped cup.
• They are individually inspected, with the length, weight and balance point (-2 average) written in the cup.
• Model numbers are P460M (maple), P302M (maple), P288RJ (ash) and P302 (ash).

Professional Wood Bats
The top 15% of all wood is reserved for Rawlings Professional Wood Bats. These bats are used in the Minor Leagues.

• They have a high-gloss, ultra-protective clear finish and a cupped end with a flared knob.
• Model numbers are 271MAP (maple), 460MAP (maple), 271BAP (ash), 460AP (ash), 288RJAP (ash), 143BAP (ash), 350BKAP (ash), 155BAP (ash) and 433AP (ash).
• The 155BAP ash wood bat and is great for wood bat tournaments.

Performance Wood Bats
One of the best values in wood bats is the Rawlings Performance Wood Bat. This line of wood bats offers quality wood and professional profiles at affordable prices.

• These bats have a standard cupped end.
• Model numbers are 350FMAP (maple), 155FMAP (maple), 325LAP (ash), 302FAP (ash), 292FAP (ash), 232AP (ash), 232SIGAP (ash), 212BAP (ash), 212BSIGAP (ash) and 182AP (ash, softball).
• The 325LAP ash wood bat is perfect for transitioning from a metal bat to a wood bat. It has a guaranteed -3 length to weight ratio (drop ratio).

Youth Wood Bats
Rawlings has Little League-approved wood bats in ash and maple. These wood bats are made of the same quality wood at affordable prices.

• They have either a pro cupped end or a standard cupped end and are made with a thinner handle that is easier for youths to use.
• Model numbers include 225LAP (ash).
• The 225LAP ash wood bat is a hot bat for top-tier wood bat tournament players. It has a guaranteed -5 drop ratio and has the 2½” Big Barrel.

BLEM Wood Bats
BLEM wood bats are top-quality bats sold at great prices because they have minor cosmetic imperfections. These bats make great training aids.

In addition, when you order through Rawlings Gear, you can have your name and number engraved on select wood bats.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your wood bat.

Make Your Glove Your Own with Rawlings Gear's Customization Options

Rawlings Gear makes it possible for everyone to own their own personalized Rawlings baseball or softball glove.

There are four ways for you to customize your glove:

Rawlings Custom Glove Pro Shop

Build your own glove with Rawlings Custom Glove Pro Shop. Start with a blank Pro Preferred™ or Heart of the Hide® glove and walk through the easy steps on our Website to create your perfect glove. Create your own custom glove or build a glove just like the professionals use. Custom Rawlings gloves are $399 for Pro Preferred and $299 for Heart of the Hide. Estimated delivery time is 6-8 weeks.

Rawlings Personalized Pro Program

Pick an eligible glove for this program and add your name, change the lace color or add a flag. Select gloves in the Primo, Pro Preferred™, Heart of the Hide®, Gold Glove® Limited and Gold Glove® Series are available in the Personalized Pro Program. Your glove can be personalized for the cost of the glove plus $45. A Primo glove is the cost of the glove plus $55. Estimated delivery time is 6-8 weeks.

Custom Laser Engraving

Rawlings Gear's Custom Laser Engraving allows you to purchase your glove and have your name, team name or number engraved on it. Laser engraved gloves can be shipped in 12-14 business days instead of the 6-8 weeks it takes to receive your custom glove. Laser engraving is $15 plus the cost of the glove.

Custom Nameplate

A custom nameplate is a great addition to your Rawlings RCS or Instinct glove. These gloves come with a black Rawlings nameplate that can be removed to add a custom nameplate with your name and in a variety of colors. A custom nameplate is sold for the cost of the glove plus $10. Estimated delivery time is 6-8 weeks.

Personalization and engraving can be done only at the time of purchase.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your customized glove.

Rawlings 5-Tool Training Program: Meant to Make You a 5-Tool Player

Rawlings has teamed up with Ripken Baseball to offer a complete line of training equipment focused on improving baseball performance.

The result? The 5-Tool Training Program, geared to improving your fielding, throwing, hitting for average, hitting for power and speed.

Every 5-Tool Training product includes drills and instructions to help you improve your baseball performance.

Look for the following icons on Rawlings 5-Tool Training products:

Fielding:
Good defense wins ball games. Great defense wins the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. You need to be consistent on routine plays but also make the spectacular catches. Use products with the fielding icon to develop hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes and great hands.

Throwing:
Whether through pitching or fielding assists, great throwing is associated with great defense. While it’s important at all positions, having a strong arm is especially important for outfielders, pitchers and catchers. You need to have arm strength, accuracy and endurance to be truly effective. Use products with the throwing icon to develop a stronger, healthier arm built for the long run.

Hitting for Average:
A high-average hitter puts the ball in play, gets on base and moves runners around to score. You need a balanced swing, a good eye at the plate and great hand-eye coordination. Look for the average icon on products and spend as much time as possible using them to fine-tune your swing.

Hitting for Power:
Hitting for power represents one of the most sought-after capabilities in baseball: the ability to change the course of a game with a single swing. You need to be strong physically but also have a great swing to consistently get extra-base hits. Using products with the power icon will build your strength and bat speed and help you develop a powerful swing, turning you into a threat at the plate.

Speed:
Speed makes you a threat on the bases and gives you range in the field. Improving your foot speed, quickness and agility will take you to the next level and set you apart from the crowd. Look for products with the speed icon and dedicate plenty of practice time to improving this tool.


Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase 5-Tool Training Program products.

Rawlings Teams Up with Zoombang™

Rawlings has partnered with Zoombang™ to live on the cutting edge of sports technology.

Rawlings Gear sells an entire line of protective equipment and compression shirts and girdles made with Zoombang™ polymers that absorb impact while being lightweight and flexible.

Zoombang™ equipment was developed through collaboration with respected professional trainers, equipment managers and professional athletes. The unique Zoombang™ viscoelastic polymer is a semi-solid, plastic-like material that is extremely soft at rest and conforms to any shape but instantly behaves as a solid on impact.

The Zoombang™ material is soft and fluid-like to the touch. On impact, the Zoombang™ molecules lock together, spreading the shock to provide maximum protection. After impact, Zoombang™ material returns to its original state.

Zoombang™ technology has many benefits for the Rawlings athlete.

• It dramatically improves the comfort and fit of traditional pads by dissipating up to 60% more energy than foam and gels while being 40% lighter than gels.
• It absorbs up to 80% of impact forces.
• It is nontoxic and won’t dry out, freeze or melt.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase Zoombang™ for Rawlings apparel and equipment.

Rawlings Helmets Meet or Exceed NOCSAE Safety Standards

Rawlings designs its equipment with protection in mind.

Rawlings' baseball and softball batting helmets, face guards, catcher's helmets and catcher's face masks meet or exceed safety standards set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).

All certified equipment bears the NOCSAE seal. On batting helmets, this appears on the outside rear portion of the shell.

According to NOCSAE.org, these standards are voluntary and have been adopted by most regulatory bodies, including the NCAA and NFHS. Rawlings is committed to meeting these standards.

The NOCSAE is a nonprofit group that seeks to reduce sports-related injuries by improving athletic equipment. The NOCSAE develops performance standards for protective equipment used in baseball, softball, football, hockey, lacrosse, polo and soccer.

While no helmet or mask can prevent all head or neck injuries, equipment that bears the NOCSAE seal has been tested to withstand the impact of a baseball or softball at different angles and at different speeds. Do not use a helmet if the shell is cracked or deformed or if the interior padding is deteriorated.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your batting helmet or protective equipment.

Play by the Rules with Rawlings Baseball and Softball Bats

Knowing which Rawlings bats are certified for the baseball or softball league you play in can make all the difference–It can help you maximize your performance while still falling within the guidelines of your league.

The best way to ensure your Rawlings bat is legal for your league is to review the rule book of the governing body for your league.

The following certifications are for the largest governing bodies in baseball and softball.

BESR Certification for NCAA and NFHS
The Baseball Research Center serves as the official certification center for all baseball bats used by the NCAA and NFHS. Each bat must pass testing in the Baseball Research Center at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell. This certification is known as the Baseball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR) certification. Refer to the NFHS Baseball Rule Book for Rule 1-3-2 and Rule 1-3-4, which pertain to the use of bats for high school play.

USSSA Certification
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) has different rules regarding approved bats based on age. Refer to the official USSSA Rule Book (Rule 8.02.E) for the appropriate standard for your age group.

ASA Certification
The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) certification for bats must follow Rule 3, Section 1 to be certified by the ASA for play and signify this by bearing a stamp on the bat.

ISA Certification
The Independent Softball Association (ISA) has different rules for bats for slow pitch and fast pitch softball. Refer to the official ISA Rule Book for standards and certifications.

NSA Certification
The National Softball Association (NSA) publishes a list of approved bats and ball manufacturers on its website. Refer to the NSA’s list of approved equipment.

ISF Certification
The International Softball Federation (ISF) uses the ASTM high-speed batted ball test to determine which bats are allowed to be used in ISF World Championships, World Cups, the Olympic Games and qualifying tournaments. Refer to the ISF’s Rules and Standards for a list of certified bats.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your baseball or softball bat.

It's Easy to Choose the Right Rawlings Glove

Rawlings Gear is here to help you choose the right Rawlings glove for your needs. Just remember three important components: fit, feel and style.

FIT:
Your glove should slide on and off your hand easily, without being loose. Look for a close, snug fit that’s comfortable but not tight.

FEEL:
The more you play, the more you’ll determine what feels best to you. As a general rule, your glove should be stiff enough to give strength and flexible enough to give control and agility. The glove should provide freedom of motion without being floppy. Some players prefer a stiffer glove they can break in to their liking, whereas other players want a glove that’s game-ready off the shelf. Don’t be afraid to try on several different Rawlings gloves to see what feels right to you!

STYLE:
The position you play will determine the style of glove you need. If you are an infielder, look for a glove that is smaller, between 10-1/2 and 11-1/2 inches. If you are an outfielder, look for a glove between 12 and 12-1/2 inches with deeper pockets. Catchers and first basemen use unique styles with more padding to catch the ball.

All Rawlings gloves are made from the best leather and in patterns that show you are a serious player.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase your glove.