Technology has a considerable part to play in the world of sport. Modern materials such as carbon fibre, metal alloys and microfibres have replaced traditional ones such as wood and gut, to the extent that each new generation of sports equipment makes its predecessor seem heavy, awkward and inefficient.

As a result, sportsmen and women around the world are turning in performances that were completely unthinkable only a few years ago, to the extent that perfection has now been pushed far beyond the bounds of what, traditionally, has been considered possible.

Sports gloves represent one small but significant area in which technology has made a particularly important contribution. Enhanced grip, comfort and sensitivity, whether it be in racquet sports, golf, baseball, skiing or sailing, all translate directly into enhanced control and performance.

New types of leather have been created that have revolutionised the sports gloving industry and have proved invaluable to all sportsmen and women. Research into specialist leathers for a number of demanding Ministry of Defence and NATO applications such as combat gloves, pilot's gloves, and helmet linings, led to the development of leathers suitable for sporting gloves. One such leather, WR100, was developed by the glove leather manufacturer Pittards.

Fundamental to their research were the specially selected skins of the hair sheep, a traditional material, found in the sub tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. This sheep has a remarkably soft, strong and light skin which makes it particularly appropriate for military and sporting glove applications. WR100 leather also offers grip, water resistance, sensitivity, comfort and recovery.

Water repellency is important because competing in a soggy glove can reduce the will to win.

Cold is another factor which impairs performance; a cold hand reduces sensitivity and efficiency as well as having adverse psychological effects. Sporting leather must insulate heat, as well as have the ability to allow the escape of water vapour keeping the hand cool under extremely hot conditions.

Most importantly, the leather must offer enhanced grip. A stable structure within the leather will ensure that grip is retained, or even increased, under these adverse wet conditions. This allows maximum force to be transmitted and maximum control to be exerted at all times, whether it be to bat, club, raquet, wheel, handle, rope or rein. It is also invaluable to those, such as football goalkeepers and gridiron football players, who need to get hold of a fast moving ball.

Hand and eye co-ordination is critical in all sports and an insensitive gloving material can create a barrier which interferes with the subtle messages passed from one to the other.

Sport leather is also specially developed to be resilient to human perspiration, as the acids in human perspiration can denature the fibre structure. Such leathers dry hard, stiff and wrinkled, whereas sporting leather loses none of its softness, suppleness, and sensitivity despite many repeated soakings.

So, whether you are a budding Gordon Banks or an aspiring Tiger Woods, gloves will form an important part of your equipment for enhancing performance or protecting your hands across a range of activities.