So, I’ve been playing baseball for a while now, and I’ve always struggled with breaking in new gloves. It’s like they’re made of stone at first, and you can barely catch a cold, let alone a fastball. But after some trial and error, I think I’ve finally figured out a way that works pretty well. I wanted to share my process, step by step, for anyone else who’s tired of stiff gloves.
Getting Started
First thing I do is grab the glove and really examine it. I check out the leather, how it’s stitched, and where it naturally wants to bend. This gives me an idea of where I need to focus my efforts.
Warm Water Treatment
Next, I fill up a bowl with warm water. Not boiling, just nice and warm. Then, I carefully pour some of that water into the pocket and palm of the glove. I make sure the fingers get some love too. Don’t overdo it, just enough to get the leather a bit damp.
Working the Leather
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After that, I get to work. I start by rolling the heel of the glove in my hands. Back and forth, back and forth, just trying to loosen it up.
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Then I stretch the glove out. I pull on the fingers, open it wide, and just generally try to get it moving.
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I also use a weighted baseball. I throw it into the glove repeatedly, really focusing on creating a deep pocket. This is where the magic happens, folks.
The Wrap-Up
Once I feel like the glove is starting to close a bit better, I grab a regular baseball and place it right in the pocket. Then comes the crucial part. I wrap the glove up tightly with string or a big rubber band. The goal here is to keep that ball in place and help the glove form around it.
Playing Catch
Finally, after all that, I start playing catch. Not too hard at first, just some easy tosses to get the glove used to catching again. It’s a bit of a waiting game but be patient.
It usually takes me about 2-4 weeks to fully break in a glove using this method. I repeat the wrapping process after each catch session, and I always store the glove with a ball in the pocket when I’m not using it. It’s a bit of work, but trust me, it’s worth it in the end. You’ll have a glove that feels like an extension of your hand, ready to snag any ball that comes your way.
