Breaking in a new leather baseball glove has long been part of the magic of springtime for many a baseball player. There are as many techniques, tips and wives' tales associated with the subject as there are blades of grass in the outfield! This article will introduce you to but a few of the tried-and-true, basic techniques. Take it from there and with time and experience you will find what works best for you.
It is important to note that a lot of baseball gloves these days are synthetic, and the same rules do not apply to these gloves. Know your glove type beforehand and save yourself unnecessary work! This article will only provide steps for breaking in a leather baseball glove. Good luck!
Step 1: Beat it up!...The first thing to do with a new leather baseball glove is to beat it up a little bit. Bend it, punch it, slap it. Open it, close it. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You get the idea. Loosen up the leather.
Step 2: Play catch!...Begin playing catch with your baseball glove right away. But keep it clean for now! Try not to get much dirt on it at first. Perhaps the best method to accomplish this is to play catch with yourself and a new, clean baseball. Just throw the ball into it with your free hand over and over and over again. Or try punching the pocket with your fist.
Step 3: Oil it up!...Mink oil, linseed oil and castor oil all make great leather conditioners. Of course, you can always purchase a formulated leather conditioner that is likely available where you bought your glove, but be careful of what's in it and make sure it is a conditioner and not a cleaner! Some won't even specify what exactly is in it! Keep it simple. Mink oil is cheap and readily available at any self-respecting feed store. Whatever conditioner you decide on, oil up that glove real well! And leave it overnight to allow the oil to work its magic! It'll make it soft and pliable.
Step 4: Form a pocket!...Playing catch the first day helped to begin to form the pocket. But let's fast-forward the process! After having oiled your baseball glove, put a softball in it and wrap it up snug with rubber bands or soft rope and leave your glove overnight. While the leather is being penetrated and conditioned by the oil, it will also develop a memory around the softball. Using a softball rather than a baseball helps create a large, deep pocket.
Step 5: Play ball!...Repeat Steps 1 and 2. Keep playing lots of catch! And now don't worry about keeping it so clean. Just play. It is a good idea to repeat the softball and rubber band trick until you feel you have formed a good pocket. Some players store their gloves this way year-round. Also oil your glove again if and when you feel it is necessary to make it easier to open and close around the ball. From now on, however, you will need to thoroughly clean the dirt from your glove before conditioning.
It is important to note that a lot of baseball gloves these days are synthetic, and the same rules do not apply to these gloves. Know your glove type beforehand and save yourself unnecessary work! This article will only provide steps for breaking in a leather baseball glove. Good luck!
Step 1: Beat it up!...The first thing to do with a new leather baseball glove is to beat it up a little bit. Bend it, punch it, slap it. Open it, close it. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You get the idea. Loosen up the leather.
Step 2: Play catch!...Begin playing catch with your baseball glove right away. But keep it clean for now! Try not to get much dirt on it at first. Perhaps the best method to accomplish this is to play catch with yourself and a new, clean baseball. Just throw the ball into it with your free hand over and over and over again. Or try punching the pocket with your fist.
Step 3: Oil it up!...Mink oil, linseed oil and castor oil all make great leather conditioners. Of course, you can always purchase a formulated leather conditioner that is likely available where you bought your glove, but be careful of what's in it and make sure it is a conditioner and not a cleaner! Some won't even specify what exactly is in it! Keep it simple. Mink oil is cheap and readily available at any self-respecting feed store. Whatever conditioner you decide on, oil up that glove real well! And leave it overnight to allow the oil to work its magic! It'll make it soft and pliable.
Step 4: Form a pocket!...Playing catch the first day helped to begin to form the pocket. But let's fast-forward the process! After having oiled your baseball glove, put a softball in it and wrap it up snug with rubber bands or soft rope and leave your glove overnight. While the leather is being penetrated and conditioned by the oil, it will also develop a memory around the softball. Using a softball rather than a baseball helps create a large, deep pocket.
Step 5: Play ball!...Repeat Steps 1 and 2. Keep playing lots of catch! And now don't worry about keeping it so clean. Just play. It is a good idea to repeat the softball and rubber band trick until you feel you have formed a good pocket. Some players store their gloves this way year-round. Also oil your glove again if and when you feel it is necessary to make it easier to open and close around the ball. From now on, however, you will need to thoroughly clean the dirt from your glove before conditioning.
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