http://baseballbytheyard.blogs...ng-in-new-glove.html
Any other tips to add?
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All good tips. I laugh now at all the stupid things I did to break in a stiff new glove. As a kid I did all that plus oiling the glove up and putting in it the oven. I also remember standing in the street and throwing the glove up in the air and letting it hit the pavement over and over. I also remember beating it over and over again with a bat to 'soften it up some'.
For my kids,over the years, I bought almost every oil and foam product on the market. Nothing ever worked really. The best thing we do now is shop around till we find that glove that is already closer to just right and then break it in by just using it. Unfortunately they always seem to be a few dollars more.
For my kids,over the years, I bought almost every oil and foam product on the market. Nothing ever worked really. The best thing we do now is shop around till we find that glove that is already closer to just right and then break it in by just using it. Unfortunately they always seem to be a few dollars more.
I've finally resorted to Vaseline seems to be pretty good.
I used to put two balls in the pocket... wrap the glove in an ace bandage... dunk it in hot water.. hang it to let it dry for 7 days and then rub vaseline all over it melting the vaseline with a hair dryer. Does this work? yes.. as a matter of fact it was taught me by a former bat boy for the Dodgers. It does however shorten the life of the glove.
I now simply take a baseball bat and beat the glove until it is starting to break in and from that point work it with my hands and a weighted ball. I clean with only a high quality leather cleaner you can buy at an auto parts store. This type of product will not soak into the leather and add weight like vaseline.
I now simply take a baseball bat and beat the glove until it is starting to break in and from that point work it with my hands and a weighted ball. I clean with only a high quality leather cleaner you can buy at an auto parts store. This type of product will not soak into the leather and add weight like vaseline.
The article covers things quite well. I would add two things...
1. For break in, use a glove mallet. This accelerates the "just play catch" process while properly forming a pocket. The glove mallet is basically a wood tool in the shape of a bat handle with a softball size ball shape on the end. Akadema makes one. We have the old Nokona version and it's constantly being borrowed.
You can beat the glove pocket with it. You sometimes have to hold the perimeter of the glove to avoid palm bruising.
2. Use leather cleaning wipes for quick and easy maintenance. This cleans and conditions, keeps supple.
Oh yeah, and I prefer conditioners that are not liquidy so they don't add as much weight. Nokona and Pro Prep are a few good ones. Hard to find but worth it.
1. For break in, use a glove mallet. This accelerates the "just play catch" process while properly forming a pocket. The glove mallet is basically a wood tool in the shape of a bat handle with a softball size ball shape on the end. Akadema makes one. We have the old Nokona version and it's constantly being borrowed.
You can beat the glove pocket with it. You sometimes have to hold the perimeter of the glove to avoid palm bruising.
2. Use leather cleaning wipes for quick and easy maintenance. This cleans and conditions, keeps supple.
Oh yeah, and I prefer conditioners that are not liquidy so they don't add as much weight. Nokona and Pro Prep are a few good ones. Hard to find but worth it.
.
Wow meachrm...you sure left that one over the plate for me!
I rummaged through my "Glove Care Tips" file and the only thing I found that wasn't already mentioned by others was this photo sans any instructions...
Best I can remember about this picture is the glove should be placed in the box as indicated by the red arrows. I know I used this 'Glove Box' method with all of our gloves...even oven mitts. You leave them in there until the season starts or when you get pulled over for listening to Dwight Yoakam with your 15" AQ HDC3's cranked up to eleven! Whichever comes first. For me it was always the traffic stop.
And the arrow to the right? That's for any of these you find in there...
Just pitch it out the passenger side window. And it's important to remember to do this before you get pulled over. After flailing away looking for my registration and uncovering that pink mitt the officers would razz me. Not once did they let it pass. They'd tell me it'd be good to get seat covers to match. Just gimme the ticket!
And lucky you, since it's Sunday I'm not even going to comment on showme's remarks!
Seriously meachrm...welcome to the HSBBW.
.
- "Any other tips to add?"
Wow meachrm...you sure left that one over the plate for me!
I rummaged through my "Glove Care Tips" file and the only thing I found that wasn't already mentioned by others was this photo sans any instructions...
Best I can remember about this picture is the glove should be placed in the box as indicated by the red arrows. I know I used this 'Glove Box' method with all of our gloves...even oven mitts. You leave them in there until the season starts or when you get pulled over for listening to Dwight Yoakam with your 15" AQ HDC3's cranked up to eleven! Whichever comes first. For me it was always the traffic stop.
And the arrow to the right? That's for any of these you find in there...
Just pitch it out the passenger side window. And it's important to remember to do this before you get pulled over. After flailing away looking for my registration and uncovering that pink mitt the officers would razz me. Not once did they let it pass. They'd tell me it'd be good to get seat covers to match. Just gimme the ticket!
And lucky you, since it's Sunday I'm not even going to comment on showme's remarks!
Seriously meachrm...welcome to the HSBBW.
.
See http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...691035341#3691035341
I might add your son's postion and style of play will dictate how he breaks in his glove (i.e. a very soft catchers glove with a big pocket would not work for my son).
The best thing you can do for a glove is to keep it clean. Dirt in the glove will weat it down. Dirt is like sandpaper to the glove.
I might add your son's postion and style of play will dictate how he breaks in his glove (i.e. a very soft catchers glove with a big pocket would not work for my son).
The best thing you can do for a glove is to keep it clean. Dirt in the glove will weat it down. Dirt is like sandpaper to the glove.