Best Way To Break In A Baseball Glove
Option 1
Most manufacturers agree that a glove oil or leather conditioner cream should be used as long as it does not contain silicon. Most manufacturers recommend not to use anything that requires a microwave or an oven. Apply a small amount of Glove Oil in the triangular area. Rub it into the leather until most of it has been absorbed, then wipe off the excess with a soft towel. Next, fold the glove at the hinge and exercise that area a bit. Then, fold the glove and squeeze the fold so that a crease can be formed along the triangle line from the index finger side to the hinge. After setting this crease, re-fold the glove and form a similar crease from the thumb side of the triangle to the hinge. The final step is to re-fold the glove so a crease can be formed from the center of the web crotch to the hinge. When finished with these steps you should be able to see three distinct creases fanning out from the hinge to the web crotch.
After completing these steps (about 20 minutes) put the glove on your hand and close it a few times. You should be able to feel a difference in the way the glove responds. Repeat this procedure in a few days, but do not use the glove oil in excess.
Option 2
Another good way to properly break in your new baseball glove is to play catch with it at least 20 minutes every day for two weeks. This not only makes the glove softer but also allows it to form to your hand. If you find that you aren't getting any results using this method or want to break in your baseball glove more quickly, there is a method to speed up the breaking-in process.
Preheat an oven to 350°F / 180°C (never use a microwave) for about 10 minutes. Turn off the oven and place the glove in the oven on a cookie sheet for 5 to 10 minutes, checking the glove every few minutes. Do not leave the glove unattended while in the oven. Carefully remove the baseball glove from the oven. (The glove will be hot, so use caution). Rub glove conditioner on the glove. Proceed to break in the glove. A similar method is to leave the glove in a hot car before applying glove conditioner and breaking it in.
Most manufacturers agree that a glove oil or leather conditioner cream should be used as long as it does not contain silicon. Most manufacturers recommend not to use anything that requires a microwave or an oven. Apply a small amount of Glove Oil in the triangular area. Rub it into the leather until most of it has been absorbed, then wipe off the excess with a soft towel. Next, fold the glove at the hinge and exercise that area a bit. Then, fold the glove and squeeze the fold so that a crease can be formed along the triangle line from the index finger side to the hinge. After setting this crease, re-fold the glove and form a similar crease from the thumb side of the triangle to the hinge. The final step is to re-fold the glove so a crease can be formed from the center of the web crotch to the hinge. When finished with these steps you should be able to see three distinct creases fanning out from the hinge to the web crotch.
After completing these steps (about 20 minutes) put the glove on your hand and close it a few times. You should be able to feel a difference in the way the glove responds. Repeat this procedure in a few days, but do not use the glove oil in excess.
Option 2
Another good way to properly break in your new baseball glove is to play catch with it at least 20 minutes every day for two weeks. This not only makes the glove softer but also allows it to form to your hand. If you find that you aren't getting any results using this method or want to break in your baseball glove more quickly, there is a method to speed up the breaking-in process.
Preheat an oven to 350°F / 180°C (never use a microwave) for about 10 minutes. Turn off the oven and place the glove in the oven on a cookie sheet for 5 to 10 minutes, checking the glove every few minutes. Do not leave the glove unattended while in the oven. Carefully remove the baseball glove from the oven. (The glove will be hot, so use caution). Rub glove conditioner on the glove. Proceed to break in the glove. A similar method is to leave the glove in a hot car before applying glove conditioner and breaking it in.