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Breaking In A New Glove
by Chris Greco, Sr. |
Well you've done it; after all the
looking, trying and debating you've purchased the baseball glove you always wished you had
for yourself for your son or daughter. Fresh out of the bag it sits there: clean, shiny,
tight and unfortuantely, stiff as a board. You probably heard or tried dozens of different
methods. Some of these methods may break in the glove quickly but will reduce the life of
your investment.
So, how do you go about breaking it in to ensure that the glove will work well and last a
long time...
| The Don'ts... Do not try to break in your glove
by:
- Soaking it in linseed oil or other oils
- Saturating it with water
- Heating it in the oven or microwaves
- Beating it with a hammer or bat
Driving over it with a car
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The Derek Jeter Model from Rawlings |
The Do's
Three methods that seem to produce the best results are also the simplest.
USING GLOVE OIL
Rub a small amount of glove oil with a cloth only in the pocket,
on the hinge and the base of the webbing. Using too much oil or pouring the oil
directly on the glove will damage the glove's leather and shorten the life of the glove.
Put a couple of baseballs or a softball in the pocket. Or you can use a small
rolled up towel. Tie the glove closed with some string, a cord or even a flexible
ace bandage. Allow the glove to remain wrapped for the next 24 hours so the oil will
be absorbed. The final stage is the most fun... Just play catch, with a
friend, off a pitch-back or just throw a ball in the air and catch it. Within a
couple of weeks (providing you've had enough fun) your glove will be broken in and ready
to PLAY BALL!
USING SHAVING CREAM
Simply follow the steps in as method number 1 except substitute a little shaving
cream (NOT GEL) for the glove oil.
THE SPRINKLE METHOD
Sprinkle a small amount of water in the pocket just enough to dampen it.
Put a rolled up towel in the pocket and wrap the glove as in method 1. Now,
toss it in the dryer for five minutes on low heat. Remove it, and
play plenty of catch.
TOP
Also See: Caring For Your Glove
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