Due to unforeseen circumstances I have just had to order a new glove for my son. With our opening high school game only 16 days away can someone pass on advice for a quick way to break it in.
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I like the Nokona glove jelly--but I'd recommend a whole lot of playing catch.
i say get some baseball glove softener or shaving cream. and the most important thing is to put a ball in the glove and tie the glove up and put it under the bed with the the heavies mattress(this is what i did for my glove). i have heard that some people roll over there glove with a car, i ahve never tried this though and dont know how it will work. let me know how the glove turns out.
I talked with a baseball instructor here in the Chicago area recently about this topic. This man was a shortstop in the Astros organization...his shop sells new gloves...Mizuno brand.
He recommended that no treatments...jelly, loogie, or such...be used on the glove...just keeping it cleaned up was his recommendation. He also advised to keep the glove rather stiff...so the ball can be grasped quickly from the glove. Makes sense to me.
He recommended that no treatments...jelly, loogie, or such...be used on the glove...just keeping it cleaned up was his recommendation. He also advised to keep the glove rather stiff...so the ball can be grasped quickly from the glove. Makes sense to me.
Especially if your son is a lefty or a catcher it's vital that he has several usable gloves. A kid shouldn't be allowed to take all of his gloves outside the house. A bag can disappear. Cars get broken in to. Keep one ancient but serviceable glove in a closet for emergencies.
Plenty of people swear that dipping the glove in water is the fastest way to soften it. I once accidentally left a rock-hard new glove outside over a rainy night. That worked great and didn't seem to damage the glove down the road.
At this late point, I wouldn't worry about the glove's long term prospects. You've got to get it softened somewhat and fast.
This topic comes up often. Look thru some of the many old posts on breaking in gloves.
Plenty of people swear that dipping the glove in water is the fastest way to soften it. I once accidentally left a rock-hard new glove outside over a rainy night. That worked great and didn't seem to damage the glove down the road.
At this late point, I wouldn't worry about the glove's long term prospects. You've got to get it softened somewhat and fast.
This topic comes up often. Look thru some of the many old posts on breaking in gloves.
Take a look at this web site http://www.sandalady.com/#breaking
I ordered a bottle and it works great.
I ordered a bottle and it works great.
I'd go to a used equipment store and buy an already broken in glove - Play it again Sam is popular in California. Ebay is another good source.
There is really no way to break in a top end glove in 16 days. Better to play with a used one and break in the new one gradually...
There is really no way to break in a top end glove in 16 days. Better to play with a used one and break in the new one gradually...
micdsguy - i could not agree more - keep an old glove around for emergencies... you never know...
On a different note, if you are flying, never check your glove... you can always buy shoes or bats - but never your gamer...
On a different note, if you are flying, never check your glove... you can always buy shoes or bats - but never your gamer...
I've used the following method with several gloves with great results...
1. take the glove to your bathtub and run hot water over it and inside it for a couple minutes until it's completely soaked.
2. Dry off excess water with a towel then place the glove in your clothes dryer. Run it for several minutes with no heat ("fluff" or "air fluff")
3. Use a bungee type cord or something similar and hang the glove up with the fingers pointing upward (don't let water drain toward finger tips)
4. Every 2-3 hours, take the glove down and beat it moderately with a bat (don't tap it but don't swing as hard as you can) to soften the leather. Don't spend too much time beating the pocket since you can stretch the leather if you do it too much. Try to work on softening the edges of the glove and the base of the palm.
5. The glove will the dry in a day or two and will be soft. You can start playing catch to form the pocket.
Some will say water will damage the leather but I haven't found that to be true. I would not do this with the cheap gloves because I think it would destroy them. But I've done this with a number of Pro Preferred and Heart of the Hide gloves with great success.
The first one I did I really pounded the **** out of it and stretched the leather pocket a bit too much. So my only caution is to not beat the pocket as hard as you can. Just take some moderate whacks at it to gently soften it. Playing catch will soften the pocket the rest of the way.
Jon
1. take the glove to your bathtub and run hot water over it and inside it for a couple minutes until it's completely soaked.
2. Dry off excess water with a towel then place the glove in your clothes dryer. Run it for several minutes with no heat ("fluff" or "air fluff")
3. Use a bungee type cord or something similar and hang the glove up with the fingers pointing upward (don't let water drain toward finger tips)
4. Every 2-3 hours, take the glove down and beat it moderately with a bat (don't tap it but don't swing as hard as you can) to soften the leather. Don't spend too much time beating the pocket since you can stretch the leather if you do it too much. Try to work on softening the edges of the glove and the base of the palm.
5. The glove will the dry in a day or two and will be soft. You can start playing catch to form the pocket.
Some will say water will damage the leather but I haven't found that to be true. I would not do this with the cheap gloves because I think it would destroy them. But I've done this with a number of Pro Preferred and Heart of the Hide gloves with great success.
The first one I did I really pounded the **** out of it and stretched the leather pocket a bit too much. So my only caution is to not beat the pocket as hard as you can. Just take some moderate whacks at it to gently soften it. Playing catch will soften the pocket the rest of the way.
Jon
Will, man you're breaking my heart! That maybe the reason why you have done this with "a number of" gloves and not just one.
A little Cornhuskers Lotion and some TLC, will give you a great glove that will last a long time.
The cool thing about breaking in a glove is this: Everyday you curse the glove cause you're thinking, "man this glove is never going to get broken in" and the you pick it up one day to work on it, and BINGO, it done.
"Hey honey, that new $300 leather jacket you bought me is too stiff, I'm gonna go soak it in water and throw it in the dryer" that'd be a quick way to get more than an earful in my house.
A little Cornhuskers Lotion and some TLC, will give you a great glove that will last a long time.
The cool thing about breaking in a glove is this: Everyday you curse the glove cause you're thinking, "man this glove is never going to get broken in" and the you pick it up one day to work on it, and BINGO, it done.
"Hey honey, that new $300 leather jacket you bought me is too stiff, I'm gonna go soak it in water and throw it in the dryer" that'd be a quick way to get more than an earful in my house.
I can see doing that to a lesser glove - but to a H of the H or a Pro Preferred - like gloveman said - you're breaking my heart!!!! 
It might work - but that glove is going from a 10 year expected life span to a 1-2 year lifespan...
I have three boys playing ball, my own gloves, and friends' gloves. Including regular gloves, first base mitts and catchers' mitts I've broken in at 21 over the last 5 years. A couple times a year they get cleaned and lotion is applied. They're all in great condition. That's enough evidence for me. If you want to put a rubber band around yours and just toss until your glove is broken in then have at it.
08Dad, please don't do it to a lesser glove. They will fall apart. You can only do it with good leather.
I learn something new on HSBBW everyday... I have always been one for the slow, steady break in - lots of neatsfoot (sp?) oil and lots of catch.
How did you get the nerve to dunk a $250 glove in water? I guess it is like the first guy to eat an Oyster - someone had to do it
How did you get the nerve to dunk a $250 glove in water? I guess it is like the first guy to eat an Oyster - someone had to do it
My $250 glove doesnt come close to anything. I do nothing to my gloves. There are a ton of different ways to break in a glove. The one thing i think we can all agree on is LOTS OF CATCH.
My oldest son's Mizuno glove was stolen and we had to get another one quickly. I bought a Heart of the Hide glove on-line and had it overnighted. I used this break-in method and had it game ready in less than 48 hrs. Worked out great. That was about 5 years ago. This particular glove is still being used and is in great condition. Today's gloves are apparently more durable than the ones we played with as kids. Perhaps that's why many of us are reluctant to do anything that doesn't involve a large rubber band and a mattress. I remember getting a Rawlings wing tip glove at age 12...that was a popular glove in the early 80's (along with the A2000). Even with throwing every day it took forever to soften up.
I'm not disparaging anyone who gets enjoyment of breaking in a glove over a 3 or 4 month period. I have better things to do. I'm breaking in a Nokona glove right now. Man I love the smell of a new glove.
The manufacturers are now going to a lot of non-leather materials in their gloves to make them lighter. Perhaps it will be easier to break in gloves with synthetic backings. ???
I'm not disparaging anyone who gets enjoyment of breaking in a glove over a 3 or 4 month period. I have better things to do. I'm breaking in a Nokona glove right now. Man I love the smell of a new glove.
The manufacturers are now going to a lot of non-leather materials in their gloves to make them lighter. Perhaps it will be easier to break in gloves with synthetic backings. ???
i heard at the nike factory they have a machine that does it in under 5 seconds but nothing is better than good ol fashion country hard ball.
i also am dismayed at the **** people do to beatiful gloves
although a little glovolium or neats foot is ok i find it best to wait
go to a batting cage the ones with those heavy yello balls and catch instead of hitting
these will pound any glove and speed up breakin substantially 40 or 50 of these at 60 mph is like ten games takes 30 min or an hour
although a little glovolium or neats foot is ok i find it best to wait
go to a batting cage the ones with those heavy yello balls and catch instead of hitting
these will pound any glove and speed up breakin substantially 40 or 50 of these at 60 mph is like ten games takes 30 min or an hour
I use a little bit of a lanolin-containing product and then wrap it when not in use with 8" bungee cords (available at Wal-Mart).
I would stay away from anything that involves water. I had a glove ruined by my son leaving it out in the rain too much.
I would also stay away from Neatsfoot oil or petroleum jelly. They have been proven to not work in the long run.
I would stay away from anything that involves water. I had a glove ruined by my son leaving it out in the rain too much.
I would also stay away from Neatsfoot oil or petroleum jelly. They have been proven to not work in the long run.
If we use the same method to break in a new car as some do breaking in a new glove this is what it would look like after the 500 mile "new car break-in"!
Fungo:
That's a real bang up job...and a Volvo at that!
That's a real bang up job...and a Volvo at that!
From my personal experience, a glove is something you just have to be comfortable with. If your son feels comfortable with the glove, I'm sure he'll be able to deal with it.
quote:He recommended that no treatments...jelly, loogie, or such...be used on the glove...just keeping it cleaned up was his recommendation. He also advised to keep the glove rather stiff...so the ball can be grasped quickly from the glove.
AGREE!!
Rush it and you ruin it! Don’t try to break in a baseball glove. Just use it.
Thanks folks for all the tips. Soaking the glove was told to me by a friend of mine who played college ball, but 300 dollars is 300 dollars and I can't bring myself to do that. I suspect the neighbours will here popping sounds late into the night for the next two weeks.
quote:Originally posted by pappy:
go to a batting cage the ones with those heavy yello balls and catch instead of hitting
these will pound any glove and speed up breakin substantially 40 or 50 of these at 60 mph is like ten games takes 30 min or an hour
I just picked up a Nokona AMG1200W-CW last night and was thinking about that. Anyone do this?
quote:Originally posted by pappy:
go to a batting cage the ones with those heavy yello balls and catch instead of hitting
these will pound any glove and speed up breakin substantially 40 or 50 of these at 60 mph is like ten games takes 30 min or an hour
That is creative