How to Break in a Baseball Glove Fast

Baseball gloves must be conditioned with care.

Any baseball player can tell you the importance of having a broken in baseball glove. As an extension of the player's hand, a glove must conform and react accordingly to the movements of the player's hand. The stiffness and slippery surface of a new baseball gloves creates awkward hand contractions and reduces the consistency and effectiveness with which the baseball player uses his glove. If you do not have the time to naturally break in the glove, a few steps can accelerate the process so that you can use your glove almost immediately.

Things You'll Need

• Baseball Glove
• Glove Treatment Oil
• Baseball
• Rubber Band(s)

Instructions

1. Review the baseball glove label or glove markings. Many baseball glove manufacturers give specific instructions on how to best break in their product. Also, check out the material of the glove. Most quality baseball gloves consist of leather or synthetic leather. These types of glove create a customizable material that can conform to your hand.

2. Apply glove treatment or conditioning oil to the outside surface of the glove. Do not apply the oil to the interior of the glove. The oil does not absorb easily into the interior of the glove, leaving a residue for up to several years. If you wish to condition your glove without purchasing treatment oil, household products such as shaving cream or Vaseline effectively produce the same result.

3. Let the glove soften for several hours or overnight. Test the firmness of the glove. If the glove remains stiff and inflexible, apply for treatment or conditioner until you achieve the desired flexibility. Once prepared, place a baseball in the pocket of the glove and tightly fold the glove thumb and fingers around the ball. Secure the position with a heavy-duty rubber band or several rubber bands to prevent the glove from expanding outward.

4. Keep the glove wrapped up for several hours or overnight. Check glove condition by playing catch. Test the reaction of the glove to hand movements. If the glove does not respond well to hand movement, it requires additional conditioning. Keep in mind that glove conditioner continues to work and soften the leather for the first few days after initial application. If necessary, apply additional conditioner to further soften glove.

5. Continue the conditioning and wrapping process until you obtain your ideal glove condition. Frequent use of the baseball glove further accelerates the breaking in process. Within the first few days of use, continue to wrap the glove every night even when used during the day. Forming the proper pocket in the glove is essential to optimum performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Baseball gloves must first be softened and then formed to the proper hand structure of the wearer. The fastest way to effectively break in a glove is to apply the conditioner or oil first and then form the glove fit. Under normal use, a baseball glove may take months to properly break in. Using the steps above, a glove can be used almost immediately and be in ideal condition within a matter of days instead of weeks or months.

• Do not crease baseball glove when conditioning. Placing the glove under a stack of books or folding it in half without a ball in the pocket will create an unnatural fold and decrease the effectiveness of the glove.

• Glove conditioners soften leather. Apply conditioner sparingly in accordance with instructions on the bottle. Excessive conditioner may damage the glove or reduce effectiveness.

• Do not run over the baseball glove with a car. Although a popular method of breaking in a glove, it is likely to damage the leather, potentially tearing strings and damaging the pocket. It also creates the possibility of forming a crease in the baseball glove.

References

• Baseball Gloves: Breaking In