Glove Name: Spezial
Manufacturer: Uhlsport
Year First Made: 1998
Glove Cut: Roll Finger
Description: Uhlsports first roll finger glove with a bandage wrist. Green/Black backhand.
Reason for Nomination: I like to think that this glove was created during uhlsports golden age. They seamed to push the limits on desgin and foam types. While all that was going on the Spezial was a simple glove that evolved into a "Special" (pun intented) glove. The previous seasons model was a V-Notch entry glove and the simple addition of the bandage wrist sent this glove over the top. It also started the revolution of all top end gloves having a bandage wrist. I wore this glove for many seasons and before the Selsport Wrappa was available in the US, this was the glove i told just about anyone who would listen, to wear this glove. The thumb, as many have said in other threads, was just about perfect, creating an excellent fitting glove all the way around.
these were my first top quality game glove and i absolutly loved them, these gloves got me to wear Uhlsports until i got tired of the absolutgrip latex a few years ago. Are you sure they came out in '98 i could have sworn i wore them when i was in high school, and mine were always Red/blue/black backhand. All in all a great glove and a defnate yes from me.
This particular colorway was introduced in 1998. The first model of the Spezial itself was 1995.
I got the wrappa before the spezial, which always strikes me as weird( should have been the other way round)
Both gloves IMO,deserve Hall of fame status, but they raise a few points worthy of mention
1. Uhl could have owned roll finger gloves, if they'd released spezial in other latexes;how good would an APG or ASG as well as supersoft.
2. I'd love to know how much the Spezial influenced Sells and the Wrappa and the Adi Fingertip aquagrip
3.I thought the Y-Cap spezial was an even better glove, but, again would have been even better in APG, ASG or even Absolutgrip the following year!
Bigrobo, totaly agree with the above statement of the gloves, although I have to say I really did not like the spezial once it was switched to this Y-Cap style. Really found the fit awful and the glove lost a lot of its comfort. It was at this time I tried the Wrappa and Ive not looked back since!
The original was the first ever roll finger glove I used and I have not looked back since. The original was a great glove, really consistant grip is something that I really remember. But once they switched it to the glove at the top with the bandage wrist it just took an already awesome glove to another level. I dont care what anyone says, Uhlsport just got the balance of the whole glove right when they made that glove. Combine that with the thumb and it was just a very special glove! Never knew why they changed it so much after that.
Paul, good points mate, I think the problem was Uhlsport didn't take roll-fngers seriously because they didn't understand any markets outside of Germany.
I liked the y-cap fit, but I agree it wasn't the same or as good as the latex bandaged wrist; but the glove was a good looking glove and could easily be brought back today, especially with modern latexes and why not put the '98 bandaged wrist on it also!
Spot on. Again, for the US market, the only other players in Roll finger were the Adi Gauntlett and Nike Gunn Cut. Both were extended palms and v-notch opening. The foam's for both were spotty at best so this was really the only good roll finger glove available at the time. Once the bandage wristband was put on, it pulled not only the style but Uhlsport to the front of the glove manufacturers pack if only for a short while. Selsport was very new to teh market and really only a UK option.
While everyone's showing some love f/Uhlsport, I'd like to recommend the Zoff Pro Safes..the ones Shilton wore @ WC '86. Those were the high-end models forever until BBS knocked them out the box, tho their only "technology breakthrough" was that the palms were super-thick w/flex-points. and green palms, instead of red or white
I loved the original spezials especially the 083 as shown. Now thats a glove