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Keep the pocket as small a possible so you don't have to hunt for the ball once you catch. I think the best breakin advice I have seen is:
1: Keep the glove clean and oiled/vasolined often
2: Play catch to break it in, consistantly catching the ball in the same spot in the pocket (not the web!).
It will take a while to break the glove in. Short cuts can ruin gloves.
I think the goal is for a somewhAT stiff glove with a shallow pocket. A floppy glove with a large pocket will catch a ball ok but your pop time will suffer.
1: Keep the glove clean and oiled/vasolined often
2: Play catch to break it in, consistantly catching the ball in the same spot in the pocket (not the web!).
It will take a while to break the glove in. Short cuts can ruin gloves.
I think the goal is for a somewhAT stiff glove with a shallow pocket. A floppy glove with a large pocket will catch a ball ok but your pop time will suffer.
That Pro- prefered is one stiff sucker, isn't it? We got one about 2 years ago & it is just getting right. Don't worry, my son or I don't use it everyday. He used to catch more when we got it.
The hot oil treatment seemed to help it the best. I was a little leary to do it ...but after a season the glove seemed no better than when he got it. You catch a pitching machine or have the hardest thrower you know play catch with you. When you get done throwing instead of just having your glove sit around without anything in it, put 2 balls in the web so it forms the "box shape". That's what my son prefers and he likes it a lot. I would say that's the best pocket there is for a catcher's mitt.
The hot oil treatment seemed to help it the best. I was a little leary to do it ...but after a season the glove seemed no better than when he got it. You catch a pitching machine or have the hardest thrower you know play catch with you. When you get done throwing instead of just having your glove sit around without anything in it, put 2 balls in the web so it forms the "box shape". That's what my son prefers and he likes it a lot. I would say that's the best pocket there is for a catcher's mitt.
A few minor league players have told me that when they break in a glove they will.
-Play catch with it
-Turn on the Iron Mike Machine and catch balls
-Wipe Down Glove with a product called Lexol
Lexol is a leather conditioner that will not make the glove heavy. It will keep the leather soft and help with the break in. Good stuff.
-Play catch with it
-Turn on the Iron Mike Machine and catch balls
-Wipe Down Glove with a product called Lexol
Lexol is a leather conditioner that will not make the glove heavy. It will keep the leather soft and help with the break in. Good stuff.
Whether or not to put two balls in the glove depends upon you're style of catching.
My son had one of his Pudge gloves repaired and the shop stored it with two balls in it making the pocket bigger. He immediatly retired that glove to BP only work because he didn't like the bigger pocket.
My son had one of his Pudge gloves repaired and the shop stored it with two balls in it making the pocket bigger. He immediatly retired that glove to BP only work because he didn't like the bigger pocket.
CP,
I agree...to each his own.
Lexol sounds like a hot tip.
I agree...to each his own.
