I want it now
There are a lot of young people online these days asking all kinds of questions. I’ve seen a lot of posts and questions recently about how to break in my new softball mitt or baseball mitt. Most want to know how to do it in a few days. To be honest, it can be done. You can break through a glove quickly, but in most cases you won’t like the results you get. It may soften up and allow you to catch the ball, but it won’t last.
BBQ Softball Glove
I see so many suggestions for putting the mitt in the oven. Or in the microwave and cooking it like a roast. Ok, the leather may have come from a steer, but come on, take it seriously. That will only dry it out and stress the laces so much that they will break prematurely. The manufacturer has put a lot of effort and research into tanning the hides to make them the best for ball gloves. Do what they suggest.
My “glove boy”
I know there are a lot of guys in the MLB who have a “glove” that has all sorts of tricks to smooth out a new glove. They dunk them in buckets of water, oil, and all kinds of stuff. They are cooked in the oven or microwave. Heck, I’ve even heard of them spraying them with WD-40 and running them over with the car.
Those will definitely soften up a glove. But you have to realize those are MLB guys — they can afford 10 or 12 new $250 gloves every year. So if one goes bankrupt, they don’t care. They usually sign a contract with a glove manufacturer and get free gloves anyway.
So here are My Suggestions for breaking in your new glove. I have done a lot of research and also draw on experience.
my new glove
When you first come home with your new softball glove.
1. Fold the glove over the seams several times to smooth them out. Ball gloves are made with natural breaks on the inside of the fingers and another on the thumb side. Those are the seams I’m talking about. Usually there are laces there. Some gloves have slits or markings instead of laces.
– Work the laces on top of the web as well, they will be stiff. Doing this over and over again should loosen the glove a lot.
2. Put a baseball or baseball in the pocket and wrap it tightly. Use a bandage, large elastic bands, or just place it under your mattress overnight. Oh, and pre-wrapping works great too.
– This will form a nice pocket right where you need it in the morning.
3. Play Catch: Lots of catches, with hard throws.
– Go to the batting cage, put on your helmet, and catch the balls instead of hitting them. Take the fastest balls you can safely catch. Do this a few times and your glove will soften.
– Continue folding the glove over the seams several times to smooth them out. Just keep this while playing catch. Work the laces over the web a lot too.
4. Remember to pack a softball or baseball in your pocket when you are not wearing your glove. Clean it up after playing too.
5. More catches, as much as you can.
** If it’s still too stiff…
6. Rub some good quality glove conditioner on the pocket/palm and up the web. Also in the laces at the top of the web. These tend to be very stiff. Then fold in the seams a bit more.
** Good conditioners: Akadema glove conditioner, Pecards, Lexol. These are my favourites, there are other good ones out there.
7. Put the glove in a plastic bag after applying the conditioner. Find a warm place. A windowsill or in your car if it’s summer. The plastic bag retains moisture for you.
* Not the oven please.
The heat helps to open the pores of the leather allowing the conditioner to work better.
– Room temperature is usually hot enough to do the job.
– Hey, you could snuggle with him like a teddy bear…
8. Hit a ball in the pocket or use a glove smasher. You get a lot more leverage using the masher.
– You can make one with an old baseball and a rod or broomstick.
– Cut the broomstick to about 12-15 inches long.
– Drill a hole to throw the softball.
– Insert a screw through the ball into the broomstick.
– Make sure it is tight; check it often.
– Or you can buy a glove crusher online.
9. Check out the full article Breaking Your Ball Glove – Myths and Facts