When you need this

Baseball has a lot of equipment, and players have strong feelings about it. People talk about gear in a sports store, before a game when someone forgot something, and at home when a parent is buying a kid's first glove.

The biggest item for most players is the glove, and it comes with its own verb: you break in a new glove until the stiff leather softens and fits your hand. It can take weeks. Players also talk about the weight of a bat, whether cleats have metal or rubber spikes, and whether the helmet fits.

When you're borrowing, keep it soft: "Mind if I use your bat?" or "Do you have a spare glove?" Gear is personal, and asking politely gets a much better response.

Phrases

the leather hand cover for catching; a catcher's is a mitt

use something new until it's soft and comfortable

the long wooden or metal stick for hitting

the hard hat a batter must wear

shoes with spikes on the bottom for grip

thin gloves for a better grip on the bat

the mask, chest protector and leg guards

an extra one you can lend

be the right size

used so much it doesn't work well anymore

the large bag players carry gear in

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Say one natural line for each situation.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.