I want it now

There are a lot of young people online these days asking all kinds of questions. Recently I have seen a lot of posts and questions about how to break in 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 break a glove 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 to put the glove in the oven. Or in the microwave and cook 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 MLB who have a “glove” that has all sorts of tricks to smooth out a new glove. They dip them in buckets of water, oil, and all sorts of other things. They are cooked in the oven or in the microwave. Heck, I’ve even heard of them spraying them with WD-40 and running them over with the car.

Those will definitely soften a glove. But you have to realize that those are MLB guys: They can afford to have 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 based 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. There are usually laces there. Some gloves have slits or markings instead of laces.

– Work the cords on top of the spider web as well, they will be stiff. Doing this over and over should loosen the glove a lot.

two. Put a softball or baseball in the pocket and wrap it tightly. Use a bandage, large elastic bands, or simply 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 that 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. Just put this away while you play catch. Work the laces above the web a lot as well.

4. Remember to stow a softball or baseball in your pocket when you’re not wearing your glove. Clean it after playing too.

5. More catches, as much as you can.

** If it is still very stiff…

6. Rub some good quality glove conditioner into the pocket/palm and up into the web. Also on the laces at the top of the web. These tend to be very stiff. Then fold the seams a little more.

** Good conditioners: Akadema glove conditioner, Pecards, Lexol. These are my favorites, there are other good ones out there.

7. Put the glove in a plastic bag after applying the conditioner. Find a warm place. A window sill or in your car if it’s summer. The plastic bag retains moisture for you.

* Not the oven please.

The heat helps open up the pores in the leather allowing the conditioner to work better.

– Room temperature is usually enough heat 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 masher. You get a lot more leverage using the crusher.

– You can make one with an old baseball and a rod or a broomstick.

– Cut the broom handle to about 12-15 inches long.

– Drill a hole to throw the softball.

– Insert a screw through the ball on the broom handle.

– Make sure it is tight; check it often.

– Or you can buy a glove masher online.

9. Review the full article Breaking Your Ball Glove – Myths and Truths