The Evolution of Spin Control Technology

Meet Spin Control Technology, an innovation in A2K® and A2000® baseball gloves and softball gloves.

Working to provide players with a new advantage in the field, Wilson Senior Glove Designer Ryan Smith spent years experimenting with leather treatments and textures that could reduce the spin rate of batted balls and allow for improved handling. After developing several options, the Wilson Ball Glove team found a possible solution in 2018.

“We were working on different textures like SnakeSkin in gloves,” Smith said. “I met with the factory in 2018 around spring training like we do every year, and they brought me a glove with this dimpled pattern.”

Unlike SnakeSkin™ Pro Stock® leather, which typically appears on the outer shell of the glove, this dimpled leather featured prominently inside the palm of this sample. While studying the glove, Smith tossed a baseball into the palm. It quickly stuck to the leather and settled into the pocket.

“It kind of clicked in my head,” Smith said. “That dimpled pattern would cause more friction because of the way it hits the ball.”

The dimpled texture in the palm of this sample would go on to become Spin Control Technology™, Wilson’s patented surface texture that works to increase friction against the ball.

Spin Control Technology, among Wilson’s latest innovations in baseball gloves and softball gloves, appears in the palm, web, and other areas of A2K® and A2000® ball gloves. The textured leather boasts an evenly distributed dimpled pattern that rubs against the ball to minimize spin.

“It’s Pro Stock and Pro Stock Select leather with a textured treatment and a little bit of an oil treatment to maintain its form,” Smith said. “We have sampled it with professionals and amateurs, and the results speak for themselves.”

To test the benefits of this new surface texture in the palm of A2K® and A2000® baseball and softball gloves, Smith designed gloves for several Wilson Advisory Staff Members. The first #TeamWilson pro on the list? Chicago First Baseman and team leader José Abreu.

“When I visited the company, they told me a lot about the leather,” Abreu said. “I’m pleased with the work they’ve always done with the gloves.”

“He told me it works, and he loved it,” Smith said of Abreu. Abreu’s latest Game Model glove, the A2K JAB79 GM first base mitt, boasts Spin Control Technology on flawless Black Pro Stock Select leather.

“If you get a glove with Spin Control Technology and test it, you feel it right away and know it works,” Smith said.

Fellow big leaguers like super-utility man Marwin Gonzalez, outfielder Eddie Rosario and pitcher Mike Clevinger have since adopted Spin Control Technology in their custom gloves.

After testing the textured leather with baseball players, Smith introduced the material to fastpitch softball. USA Softball stars like infielder Kelsey Stewart, catcher Aubree Munro and first baseman Valerie Arioto adopted Spin Control Technology in the gloves they used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Spin Control Technology is currently available in a wide assortment of baseball gloves, fastpitch softball gloves, and slowpitch softball gloves. To test out the textured leather for yourself, pick up patterns like the A2K SC1786, the A2000 SC1787, the A2000 SCSP13SS, or Kelsey Stewart’s A2000 KS7 GM.

Updated September 8, 2022