Put at least one coat on to waterproof it and then naturally brake it in. Just catch with it. I like the wilson pro stock glove oil. I used a lot of it on my pro proferred catcher's mitt, maybe too much. All I can say it one coat should do the trick. You have to waterproof it some way at least once if you want to keep it nice. Just to waterproof it, not to brake it in. Brake it in by catching with it.