Breaking in a new glove

Saddle Soap!!! Stop bending the glove inwards.....the glove should funnel to the pocket!!!

 

Hilarious!!!

Now thats funny!!!

I got my son a nice little Rawlings mitt and a corrisponding bottle of glove oil couple of years ago. A few days later we are out side playing catch. He's 10 years old or so.

I noticed the glove was well broken in. Wondering a little I walked over to him and talked with him about his mitt. I asked to look at it. He gave it to me.
Hmmmm. It was as soft as a babies butt and just as nimble as could be.

Wow. I was envious.

But it was a little heavier than I recalled it to be when we bought it though.
I asked how he did it. He told me he used the glove oil.

hmmmmm....?uh how much glove oil did you use son?" "All of it, " he replied.

But of course.


Ive used saddle soap, and glove oils etc.. never used the shaving cream though. I wonder what is in shaving cream that would cause the leather to get soft or what ever it does to the leather.

Anyone ever try mayonaise?

 

Bump...good time to bring this back up

 

From the Rawlings website:

Break It In? Repair It? Have It Restored?

Take care of your glove as much as it takes care of you. Rawlings offers the following tips and services:

Glove Break-In Tips

• There really isn't an overnight solution to breaking in your glove. Taking the following steps, however, can make the process easier.
• Rub in Rawlings Glovolium. Start with the palm of the glove and work outward. Be sure to cover the entire glove. (DO NOT SATURATE, JUST COAT IT) Some people like to use shaving cream (with lanolin) in this step.
• When glove has dried, play catch with someone. The more catching you do, the better the glove will form to your hand and fingers.
• When you are finished playing catch, apply a light coat of Rawlings Glovolium. Then put a baseball or softball in the pocket of the glove. (We prefer using a softball to increase the size of the pocket). Then close the glove around the ball. Using a string or rubber band, tie the glove tightly with the ball in place. Repeat this step whenever you are not using the glove until the glove is broken in the way you want it. This will help hold the shape of your glove's pocket.
• Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the glove is broken in. The more you use your new glove, the faster the glove will break in.

Notes: Keep a ball in your glove when it is not being used to prevent the glove from getting flat and losing its shape. Use Rawlings Glovolium on your glove a couple times a year, maybe more depending on how dry and dirty your glove is.

Glove Repair Do's

• Do keep a ball in your glove when it is not being used.
• Do condition your glove occasionally to prevent drying and cracking.
• Do wear a batting glove to keep sweat from drying and cracking the leather on the inside of your glove.
• Do tighten your laces routinely. Occasionally leather will loosen.

Glove Repair Don'ts

• Do not submerge your glove in water. Some believe this is a quick solution to breaking in your glove. All you are doing is ruining the leather and running a risk of cracking and drying out your glove.
• Do not put your glove in the oven or microwave.
• Do not dry your glove using a heat source such as a hair dryer.
• Do not buy a pre-broken-in glove. They are not as durable and will not last as long.

 

My kid's Fr year we followed the steps below and he played outfield the day after the glove was purchased. I am a believer of the vasoline & dryer , it works !

To get started, you'll need a jar of vasoline, a pillow slip, a shoe string, and old baseball, and your new glove. First, dip two to three fingers in the jar of vasoline and get a good amount on your fingers. Use your fingers to apply the vasoline to the entire glove surface, front and back, with just a little extra amount applied to the glove area where it flexes/bends. The amount applied to the glove should be just a little more than just a light film covering. After applying the vasoline, place the old baseball in the glove pocket to help form the glove and secure it in place wrapping/tying a shoe strong around the glove.
Now, place the glove inside the old pillow slip and tie a knot towards the top of the pillow slip opening to keep the glove from coming out. Put the pillow slip/glove into the clothes dryer, place on moderate heat setting for approx 20 mins (enough time to allow the vasoline to soak into the leather). Remove the glove from the dryer and pillow slip, rub in any undesolved vasoline, and you're ready to play with your new broken in glove!

 

I've tried everything, but now I sorta agree with what Coach27 said over 2 years ago. Start breaking in the replacement glove by catching with it. It lasts longer. Get it ready before you need it. You never know when something might happen to the glove he's playing with.

 

Cool!...

 

Not only does your kid get a "broke-in" glove, he gets a cool nickname his freshman year of high school... "Slick"!

Just be sure you're not around if momma happens to dry one of her nice silk blouses, or unmentionables, right after you do this. If it comes out with vaseline all over it, and she knows where it came from, you and your boy are gonna get a lot of "quality time" together... in the doghouse!

 

^ this definitely works but will shorten the life of the glove. I did this for years... learning it from a former Dodgers bat boy who claimed to have learned it form Mike Scoscia. When we stopped paying $100 for gloves and hit the $200 + mark I decided to go with the beat the heck out of it with a baseball bat approach and no oil, cream etc. It will then require just a bit of practice and game play to make right. Clean your glove with a high quality leather cleaner that you would find at an auto parts store to avoid adding weight.

 

Prepster said it best.
We have used various methods to break in gloves and firstbase mitts.
Hot Glove will decrease the life of a good quality glove.
Glove oil (or a linoleum based shave cream) and use is the best bet.