A baseball mitt is a very personal piece of equipment. In order for that mitt to perform the way a player wants it to, it has to be broken in correctly. You will be able to use the mitt if you don't do anything to break it in, but if you really want it to be dependable and responsive in game conditions, take the time to break it in and loosen it up correctly.
Step 1
Put two big squirts of shaving cream in the palm of your mitt. Take your time and rub the shaving cream into the palm and finger areas of the glove. Then put two more squirts in and repeat the process. Wipe off the access with a dry towel.
Step 2
Put a baseball in the pocket of the baseball mitt. Wrap the fingers of the mitt around the baseball and push the thumb area over the fingers. Tie the glove shut with a rope or string. Leave the glove in this position for about eight hours.
Step 3
Untie the glove and play catch with it. Throw with a partner for about 15 to 20 minutes. Find someone who can throw hard and make your mitt make a "popping" sound when the ball hits the leather.
Step 4
Squirt glove oil in the pocket of the mitt and rub it throughout the surface. This will make the leather softer and more supple. Wipe off the excess oil with a towel, then repeat Step 2.
Things You'll Need
- Shaving cream
- Glove oil
- Towel
- Rope
- Baseball
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