How to break in a baseball glove
It’s not a glove but love for those with a deep penchant for baseball or softball.
The first time you put your hand inside the glove and smell the leather, the moment becomes memorable. Every baseball player holds a deep affinity with their gloves and considers it their most prized possession. What keeps popping up in the back of their mind regarding their baseball glove is how to break in a baseball glove?
They try hundreds of ways to break in a baseball glove without realizing that mere slight negligence or wrongdoing can damage their favorite gloves beyond imagination.
Why Break in A Baseball Glove?
Choosing the right mitt for your specific position and playing style is the watershed in your overall performance. Once you buy a baseball glove and put it on your hands, immediately you will notice its stiffness and lack of pocket required to catch the flying and grounded balls.
The ultimate goal of breaking in the baseball glove lies in forming a pocket.
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Albeit no glove can make you a better player or defender. However, picking the right and comfortable glove can make you feel more comfortable and confident on the ground, ultimately helping you play more nimbly and neatly.
A plethora of ways could be adapted and applied to break in the baseball glove effectively.
This article will share some of the tried and tested practices widely exercised by players to efficiently break in their baseball gloves. However, first and foremost, we would walk you through the techniques and a lot of misinformation surrounding the breaking in of a baseball glove that you must avoid because these wrong ideas do more harm than good to your baseball glove along with your performance.
Don’ts
Say No to Microwave
It has been observed that many players put their baseball gloves in the microwave or oven, considering it would help them make it soft and smooth. However, the truth is the complete opposite; having done so can dry out the laces and shatter them finally.
Don’t Drive a Car Over it.
Driving a car over the pocket of the glove damages the leather and doesn’t help you create a pocket that you are craving. It’s better to save your gas and the leather of your expensive baseball glove rather than ruining it for no good reason.
Don’t Apply Oil
Although covering the baseball glove with oil or hot water is one of the most widely accepted and exercised formulas used by players worldwide to break in a baseball curve. Still, it’s not the best one. There are many side effects associated with the application of oil.
When you put oil on the baseball glove, it goes down the inner part and sits there, eventually turn out to be increasing the net weight of the glove, which leaves a negative impact on your play. Moreover, the higher probability of soaking into the palm’s paddling increases the leather’s early death by breaking it down.
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Please don’t Leave it in Car.
Leaving the baseball gloves inside a hot car is likely to dry out the leather and cause its laces to become brittle. Dry leather will feel hard on your hands, and you won’t feel comfortable wearing them on. So, it better to keep the store the gloves at home.
Dos
Just Play Catch
Undeniably, catching the ball with your baseball gloves is the best way to break in a glove. It has no negative aftermaths but helps you practice the game and shapes your gloves as per your expectations and requirements.
Just like other leather products, with extended use, leaving your baseball glove alone over time will start softening. Eventually, you will have soft and comfortable gloves on your hands if you keep repeating the catching practice regularly.
Steam Your Gloves
Steaming the baseball gloves softens the leather and makes you feel more comfortable when you put them on. It’s an easy, quick, effortless, and effective way to break in a baseball glove; however, there is the likelihood that it may negatively affect the leather’s fibers.
The process of steaming is relatively simple and straightforward. Initially, you need to apply the glove conditioner to make the open up.
Next, put the glove in a glove steamer to soften the leather, and once you take it out of the steamer, start hitting with a mallet on the specific areas. Keep repeating the process several times till you get the desired results. Simple as that.
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Wrap the Gloves
Another most appropriate method for breaking in a baseball glove is wrapping it with a ball in the pocket. It gives your baseball gloves the perfect shape and makes a picture-perfect pocket for you to grab the ball.
The process is smooth and seamless; you need to close the glove with a ball in the pocket. Hold the glove in that same position, wrap it with a rubber band, string, or anything that would work out. Please keep it in that position for a couple of days, unwrap, and wrap again. Repeat the process few times.
Conditioning the Glove
Although oil has been prohibited in the don’ts section, most players apply it more than the required amount, ultimately increasing the overall weight and decreasing performance. However, a slight application of glove conditioning cream during the season can help you keep the leather’s stiffness at bay. While using glove conditioners, make sure to use the approved ones to be used on leather.
You don’t get a glove that feels natural on your hand, but you have to make one.
With the tips mentioned above and tricks, you can get yourself a dream baseball glove that you can’t find in any supermarket.
Final Thoughts
There are no short-cuts to break in a baseball glove properly, but you need to follow the above-listed tried and tested practices to get your hands on a comfy baseball glove. After that, you’re free to use your baseball or softball glove, baseball bat, and more!
Good luck with your new gloves for the upcoming season!
