breakin in a glove

Hey AParent’s son. Thanks for posting on the High School Baseball Web...and best of luck in your freshman season. What’s the toughest thing about HS baseball? Hitting will always be the toughest part of the game of baseball at any level. Take a few lessons from a good coach and get as many reps as possible. While hitting will remain the most difficult to master, pitching and hitting will both be the two most important aspects of high school baseball. High school baseball is a great time. It’s a time that players that are serious about their game can make an impact. It’s a time that separates the men from the boys.
How do you break in a glove? The best way is to use it. Like many things there is no instant solution. Some try to rush the process and break down the leather with heat, moisture, chemicals, and abuse. This drastically shortens the life of the leather and the glove becomes floppy too soon and “dies” before its time. Keeping the glove clean and using a proven glove conditioner sparingly will ensure a proper break-in. Long toss will help.
Again, best of luck and may your journey be a rewarding one!
Fungo

By the way, it would be nice if you would kinda keep us informed as how baseball is going for you. We can learn from you too! Oh, I almost forgot...you have to keep up the grades too!
Fungo

Aparent's Son;

I play first base and have a glove bla bla bla: However i am juniors level i am to become a freshman too. I reccomend being able to play and position becaue if they have too many kids at first id hate to see you not play due to that. And all be able to HIT like no other. That is the purpose of a Firstbaseman is to hit it is not the most difficult position and it is meant for the bigger men on the team. Me i am 6' 2" and i play first and can hit really good.

As for breaking in the mit. Like already said by Fungo just use it and what i did was put glove oil on it and put it under my bed for about 3 days and then used it. But i have heard that there are quicker ways such as Water Dunking (DONT TRY BECAUSE THERES A SPECIAL WAY!!!!!!). Theres a kid on my team his dad is the Rawlings Distributer for Alaska and he put his sons mit in water (some special way) and then it was heavy for about 3 days after but then it got light in weight and it is a nice glove. So get some info on the net about it and see!

Best of luck to both of ya'll in your seasons..
(When tryouts come just remember your practice, and hustle, it gets noticed)

For the glove, you just have to use it a lot...play burnout with it...Something that I do, but you probably couldn't do in the frozen north, I stick my glove in the winshield of the car when its outside...(It gets over 100 in texas so that softens it up)

Hey,
Thanks for the advice to my question, i am using the glove as much as i can and it is doin really well,

Fungo
mom is always sayin that about my grades as well

I do have my own name now, it is 09slugger, and again thanks for the replys

the best way to break in a new glove is to just go and play catch with it. don't bake it or anything like that just go out in the backyard with your bro or dad and throw. That's the best way.

obviously the best way to break it in is just to play catch (preferrably with someone who throws hard), but my method also includes shaving cream. Just work it in all around the glove and laces and it really softens it up. This also works VERY well with dried laces. It really moisturizes them back to new. best of luck!

The quickest way I've seen is standing in front of a pitching machine (seriously) and have someone feed balls to you. Drop them in a bucket as you catch them and start over. Obviously not everyone will have access to a machine but if you do it doesn't take long.

Yes, especially if your school has an iron mike, go out and take a half hour, and your glove will be well on its way to being game ready. As for the post before, I have just started using shaving cream, and it really has made my glove softer. On my catchers mitt, on the toe it was starting to crack, but after a good shaving cream treatment (be sure it has lanolin in it, very good moisturizer), it has become almost like new.

my sure fire way to form a good pocket, not really breaking it in, but forming a perfect pocket, is literally sleeping on your glove. put some conditioner on it and toss a ball in and sleep away...

oh, i forgot to say, put it under your matress, not right under you

Get a leather cleaner for car seats. Tht worked for all of my gloves. If that doesn't work, use the foamy shaving cream thats in your dad's glass cabinet