Most baseball gloves are stiff and uncomfortable when you first bring them home from the sporting goods store. That's why even Major League Baseball players engage in rituals and breaking-in methods that might seem silly at first. Getting a soft and supple glove could mean the difference between the perfect catch and dropping the ball, so it's important to soften the leather and form a pocket so your glove helps you to be the best baseball player that you can be.
Step 1
Apply some type of oil to the glove on a daily basis to help soften the leather. The oils from typical household staples like shaving cream or olive oil are easy to obtain and apply. Coat the entire glove with the oil as you rub in a circular motion. "Reader's Digest" suggests rubbing the glove, allowing the glove to rest for 30 minutes and then wiping away the excess.
Step 2
Soak your glove in water to help soften the glove and prepare it for a more extensive breaking-in period. The water penetrates the leather to make it more supple and easier to mold. Hold your glove under the faucet so that all of the parts become wet, and then allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
Step 3
Place your glove in the microwave for a short amount of time while it's wet, San Francisco Giants player Aaron Rowand tells ESPN. Leave your glove in the microwave from 30 to 60 seconds, and no more. The heat will work with the water for a softer glove. If you're worried about putting your glove in the microwave, put it in a 350 degree oven for 2 or 3 minutes, or leave your glove in the trunk of your car on a hot day to break it in and make it softer.
Step 4
Insert a baseball in the pocket of your glove while it's still slightly damp. When you purchase a new glove, it won't have as deep of a pocket as your broken in gloves from the past. Create your own by leaving the ball in the pocket, and then tying the glove with kitchen string so that it dries around the ball, suggests NYO Sports. This will break in a pocket in the glove so you can catch the ball more easily.
Step 5
Play with your glove as much as possible once it has dried. You should have a softer glove to work with, but you still need to play the game to get the most broken in and comfortable glove. Apply oil or shaving cream once per week to help keep the glove soft and the leather in good condition.
Things You'll Need
- Shaving cream
- Oil
- Water
- Microwave
- Kitchen string
- Baseball
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