Yeh, I thought there would be some 'depreciation' on the name. I thought for a while before clicking the mouse on the order to place the pattern or model number instead of my name on it , but was in retrospect too hopeful it was just going to work. I hadn't played in 30 years and now play 4 games a week and more over the summer the past 4 years.
Even for a fairly big city (Denver), we don't have a great retail store for softball/baseball. There are only a couple general sporting goods (chain) stores that will stock the better $250 + gloves, and the selection at that end is anemic. So I ended up choosing the Rawlings 208 after a couple months of posting on this site and looking around on the web mostly for pictures of select gloves I heard about, and talking to Rawlings (not very consistent answers). Unfortunately, I never saw a 206 or 207 locally, but my narrow hands and long fingers lead me to choose the 200 pattern as I surmised fitting my hand, which I like pretty tight; was more important (to me) than the actual pocket as I could probably make that work. Well, still working on it. What I don't like since you both asked is, in fact, the pocket. Fielded balls bounce around a bit inside the glove and this 'feel' does not inspire confidence. I keep looking at it to try to see what I could do. The break in took far longer than any other glove I have tried since I started playing again - posted that here thinking someone would straighten me out on what I could do when it was not softening up with repeated hits and some Lexol. An HOH glove (very old) and the Vinci kip glove I started with usually took a couple weeks and 8k-10k strikes with my mallet to break in; but this one took 28k before I could play it. I asked Rawlings to make the thumb and pinky stiffer and they acknowledged that on the order confirmation through Chad, but I don't think anything there is the problem. I like the thumb and pinky. I don't really like the way it closes either, but I can live with it. So the confidence factor is not there and it's like I have to think consciously about it when the ball is hit to me at second base. I'd still be playing the Vinci except for it's going floppy. I probably helped that along with more conditioner than needed.
I also have an RGG 1275 that does not seem to get much mention on this site or anywhere for that matter, but has worked okay since the Vinci was given away for the reasons above, and while the pocket is similar to the 200 pattern, as far as I can tell, I may just stick with it. The improvement I was trying to gain with the 200 pattern was a slightly heavier feel that would not sting as much as I like to field the ball in the pocket and not the web. I liked the feel of the PP leather with the Vinci 6oz kip glove (TJ1952) glove, but again it went soft and floppy.
So some lament here with all my typing. I may keep the 200 pattern as a rain glove after pounding some more on it to try to expand/stretch the pocket area to see if that helps, or just take the loss next spring, and try to find a used SP125 with presumably a deeper pocket yet medium/smaller hand stall, or maybe find a used Pro 1000 in 12.5/13" that I can bail on if they don't work out without losing as much on the coin.
If you have an idea how to handle my pocket issue please let me know.
Thanks-
Probably another newbie mistake - ordering a glove I had not seen, tried on, and going by pictures and opinions; but then that's what I had to make a decision. The glove is a black pro preferred custom 208 that was bought this past season and is almost broken in and played in 2 games. A problem I am sure is I had my name placed on it.
. Seriously!!
