Evolutionary baseball grab that broke down common sense of catching ball! What is Mizuno "Global Elite H selection".
For baseball players, grabs are important gears like bats and shoes. Mr. Sudo, the planning manager, explained about the two newly created grabs created by Mizuno (Mizuno Corporation: Representative Director Akito Mizuno) who continues to produce grabs for more than 100 years.
Hidemi Sakuma
|
2018/01/29
Mizuno Corporation
Global Equipment Products Department
Diamond Sports Planning & Production Division
Mr. Tatsushi Sudo
ミズノは1913年から野球グラブの販売を始めた。創業者の水野利八氏は、自らグラブのデザインをして職人と製作していたとのことである。 それから100年以上もの間、ミズノは数々のグラブを生み出し、現在、日本の野球界でミズノのグラブは確固たる存在となっている。
- Could you tell us about the baseball glove you introduce this time?
Sudo: Currently, in Mizuno's grab, two main brands are "Mizuno Pro" and "Global Elite".
「ミズノプロ」・・・プロ野球選手が使用していることから王道がコンセプトとなっていまして、様々なテクノロジーを搭載して進化してきています。
「グローバルエリート」・・・「ミズノプロ」に対するものとして誕生しまして、王道に対して非常に革新的で、軽量をコンセプトにスタートし、捕球に関して強く落とし込んでいきました。見た目も従来の商品にはないものにしています。
This time, I will introduce "Global Elite H Selection" released in December 2017. There are two types of "H Selection", "01" and "02", for both hard and soft type, pursuing the goodness of leather and the capability of catching the ball, pitcher, Uchino, outfield and all round players We are developing it for.
「H Selection 01」
It develops with a hard type and a soft type, and it makes it very easy to grasp "Grab grab that can be grasped without grasping".
- Could you tell us the features?
Sudo: The feature you can see by looking is that it makes it easy to move the little finger part, which is important when catching a ball. By splitting the conventional single leather and joining them like a hinge, durability and fit are also improved. By adopting the shape "IDATEN FLEX structure" according to the hand grip, the speed of grasping and closing was improved by 37% over the conventional product.
「H Selection 02」
Grabs are in different positions, making it easier to catch in the pocket.
- Could you tell us the features?
Sudo: Durability is improved by increasing the strength of the leather, so that the hard shape of the pocket is maintained even if you use it. You can also move your fingers freely.
- What is the thickness of the leather?
Sudo: Although the thickness of leather of '01' and '02' is different, it is unified almost equally for each series, official type soft type, and if you use it you become familiar and catch it easier.
- How long did it take from planning to completion?
Sudo: I made a lot of samples as to what kind of combination it would be best to reach completion. It took about 2 years from planning to commercialization. This time, we decided to renew and change it drastically.
- Could you tell us about the future development?
Sudo：グラブはボールを捕るための道具でして、捕球をメインに特化をした商品がなかったので、今回は原点に返って捕球するために必要な要素を組み合わせて開発しました。
捕球してからスローイングするまでにいかにスムーズに繋げられるかも意識して作っています。「01」は、グラブの開閉スピードが従来のものよりも速いので、その分早い段階でボールを握って投げることができます。「02」は、しっかりと捕球をしてボールを投げられるようにしています。
グラブの形や見栄えが変わるとなかなか受け入れられにくい市場ではありますが、バランスを考えながら今回は攻めた商品であります。まずは、目に留めてから試していただきたいと思います。 (了)
Mizuno"Global elite H selection』
http://www.mizuno.jp/baseball/products/Hselection/H01/Cooperation of coverage / Mizuno Corporation
Photo provided / Mizuno Corporation
Interview photograph / Hidemi Sakuma
