I want it now
There are many young people online these days asking all kinds of questions. Recently, I have seen many posts and questions asking: How do I break my new softball glove or baseball glove? Most want to know how to do it in a few days. To be honest, it can be done. You can put a glove on quickly, but in most cases you won’t like the results you get. It may soften and allow you to catch the ball, but it won’t last.
BBQ Softball Glove
I see so many suggestions for putting the glove in the oven. Or in the microwave and cook it as a roast. Okay, the leather may come from a steer, but come on, get serious. That will only dry you out and stress the laces so much that they will break early. The manufacturer has invested a lot of effort and research in tanning the hides to make them the best ball gloves. Do what they suggest.
My “glove boy”
I know there are a lot of MLB guys who have a “glove boy” who has all kinds of tricks to soften up a new glove. They dunk them in buckets of water, oil, and all sorts of things. They cook them in the oven or microwave. Hell, I even heard they got sprayed with WD-40 and got run over by the car.
Those will definitely soften a glove. But you have to realize that they are MLB lads – they can afford to have 10 or 12 new $ 250 gloves every year. So if you go broke, they don’t care. Usually they sign a contract with a glove manufacturer and get free gloves anyway.
So here are my suggestions for breaking your new glove. I have done a lot of research and am also taking advantage of the experience.
My new glove
When you bring your new softball glove home.
1. Fold the glove over the seams several times to smooth them out. Ball gloves are made with natural breaks along the inside of the fingers and another along the side of the thumb. Those are the seams I’m talking about. Usually there are laces there. Some gloves have grooves or marks instead of laces.
– Work the laces at the top of the web too, they will be stiff. Doing this over and over should loosen the glove a lot.
two. Put a baseball or baseball in your pocket and wrap it tightly. Use a good bandage, large rubber bands, or just put it under your mattress overnight. Oh, and pre-shipping works great too.
– This will form a nice pocket right where you need it in the morning.
3. Play catch: a lot of catch, with hard shots.
– Go to the batting cage, put on your helmet and catch the balls instead of hitting them. Catch the fastest balls you can safely catch. Do this several times and your glove will soften.
– Keep folding the glove over the seams several times to smooth them out. Keep doing this while playing catch. Do a lot of work on the laces above the band as well.
4. Remember to wrap a baseball or baseball in your pocket when you are not wearing your glove. Also clean it after playing.
5. More catch, as much as you can.
** If it’s still really stiff …
6. Rub some good quality glove conditioner into the pocket / palm and onto the band. Also on the laces at the top of the web. These tend to be very stiff. Then fold the seams some more.
** Good conditioners: Akadema, Pecards, Lexol glove conditioner. These are my favorites, there are good ones out there.
7. Place the glove in a plastic bag after applying the conditioner. Find a warm place. A windowsill or in your car if it is summer. The plastic bag locks in moisture for you.
* Not the oven please.
The heat helps open the pores of the leather allowing the conditioner to work better.
– The ambient temperature is usually sufficient to do the job.
– Hey, you could snuggle with him like a teddy bear …
8. Hit a ball in your pocket or use a glove crusher. You get a lot more leverage using the crusher.
– You can make one out of an old baseball and a stick or broomstick.
– Cut the broomstick to about 12-15 inches long.
– Make a hole to throw the baseball.
– Insert a screw through the ball in the broomstick.
– Make sure it is tight, check it frequently.
– Or you can buy a glove shredder online.
9. Check out the full article Breaking-in Your Ball Glove – Myths and Truths