If you've just purchased a new catcher's glove, breaking it in properly and quickly is likely one of your first priorities. Catcher's gloves are typically bulky and stiff -- particularly when they're brand new. If you can't open and close the glove easily, you will have a hard time catching your pitcher's best throws. Breaking in your mitt properly ensures your investment is usable and comfortable from the first game to the last.
Step 1
Apply several drops of glove oil into the palm of the glove, working it in up to the webbing between the thumb and index finger so that the leather absorbs it.
Step 2
Wipe off excess oil with a towel.
Step 3
Fold and unfold the glove at the hinge, which is near the bottom several inches below the pinkie finger. Repeat this process several times until you feel the glove loosen a bit.
Step 4
Bend the glove at an angle to form a diagonal crease from the index finger to the hinge. Squeeze the folded glove for three to five minutes to set the crease.
Step 5
Fold the glove back over to form a diagonal crease from the thumb to the hinge. Squeeze the glove tightly to set the crease and hold it for three to five minutes.
Step 6
Form a crease down the center of the palm by folding the glove as far over as you can from the center of the web crotch right below the web. Hold the bent glove in place for several minutes.
Step 7
Play catch with someone for an hour or visit a batting cage to catch a bucket of balls. Squeeze your glove between balls to help break it in.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep a baseball in your catcher's glove when you're not using it. Rub oil or glove conditioner into your glove several times a year or whenever you feel the leather getting dry.
- Do not put your glove in the oven or microwave or submerge it in water or oil to break it in. These things can damage the leather and laces.
Things You'll Need
- Glove oil
- Towel
- Baseball
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