What Is The Fastest Way To Break In A Glove

Breaking a new baseball glove is one of the most difficult parts when it is hard to even catch a ball due to its stiffness.

It is even more difficult when you don’t have proper guidance on how to break it correctly and it hurts your hand when you are trying it quickly without professional guidance.

There are many different ways of breaking in your mitt, and everyone has their own opinion on the what is the fastest way to break in a glove properly without hurting our hand.

Requirement

A premium oil helps to soften the layer of leather.
Glove conditioner (which is available easily).
A mallet for the break-in process.
A soft cloth.
Lastly, a fan or hair dryer to dry the glove quickly.

What Is The Fastest Way To Break In A Glove

Gloves are an essential part of baseball but having a new mitt will take some time to break in according to how much it has been already done by the factory standard.

Some mitts are ready to play which we see for the younger player and some require a serious break-in process.

Let’s begin our process with detailed information, but it will also require little patience to do the process correctly.

Applying Oil

First, there is the debate on whether to use oil or not. The most popular belief is that you should never use any oils because it will shorten the life of your mitts.

However, this isn’t necessarily true, as some players do like to rub a little olive oil on their gloves before they break them in to feel softer and look more in the curve shape.

Now it’s time to soften your baseball glove but don’t apply it directly on it because it will darken the color of the leather and also it will take more time to dry.

So, while using oil on baseball gloves, make sure not to apply too much oil on the glove. If you apply it too much then it might get inside, which later can make the glove feel really stiff.

Also, then you have to dry the inside of the oil in your baseball glove.

Remember, you can use baseball oil, but it will take more time to break in. Because after applying, you have to dry up the glove completely to use it for the next process.

This method is only applicable if you time more than a week and you want more stiffness and a proper break-in process. Also, the drying will take 24-48 hours or more.

Break The Stiffness

The best way to break in a baseball glove is to do it manually. After using the glove oil, you are encouraged to break in the glove as much as possible by hand.

This process makes an easy and efficient break-in process. Wear the glove which is used while playing the game and gently shape it how you want.

Does it feel any better? Do you think you need to continue shaping it? If everything is perfect, this will soften up and form the glove into a better shape.

Playing Some Indoor Catch

The next step would be breaking the leather in and practicing some catches with an air-filled or foam ball (not a hard, small rubber one).

Try to catch itwith at least 60+ balls to soften or measure its hardness. Also, if you don’t have an extra player for catching, you can throw the ball on the wall with one hand and catch that ball with the other hand wearing a baseball glove.

Use A Wooden Mallet

To make your glove more comfortable, it’s best to give it a shape. Use a mallet and start pounding from the padded areas of the glove all around to form its shape.

This will also soften up the leather. It is better to cover the baseball area and make sure there is nothing around the glove so that the process is done in a proper way.

No matter what you do, you can’t make your glove game-ready overnight through the break-in process, but there are some things you can do to make the process go faster.

The fastest way to break in a glove is by using it as a catching practice if you have more time and you need to do the process in a natural way.

Remember every break-in process will take time to make it comfortable for your hands to catch the ball easily.

FAQ

Can you do the break-in process with a hammer?

A baseball glove can be broken with a hammer, but it is not the recommended way to do it due to lots of reasons.

Breaking in a glove with a hammer can damage the leather and affect the glove’s performance. It is better to slowly work the glove in by playing catch or using it during batting practice.

Conclusion

There are many ways to break in your baseball glove, but these three methods are the quickest and easiest.

The fastest way to break in a baseball glove is by using oil, applying moisture, and pounding it with a mallet.

You can then use your hand or wear the gloves on an opposite hand you are comfortable for even more shaping until it’s perfect.

Author
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Derek

My name is Derek. I am a 2019 high school graduate who has been playing baseball since I was around 9 years old. Baseball has always been my passion, and it's the only thing that motivates me to get up early in the morning.

Baseball has given me so many opportunities in my life, and it's time for me to give back by helping others do the same.

It is something that not only brings happiness and joy to others but also brings out the best in me.

What Is The Fastest Way To Break In A Glove

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