How to Break in a Glove: The Best Way to Get Your Baseball or Softball Glove Game-Ready

Breaking in a new glove is a crucial process that ensures it forms properly to your hand, pocket, and playing style. For example, an outfielder will need a bigger outfield glove with a large pocket, while a shortstop would need a smaller glove. While some methods promise a quick fix, not all of them are good for the long-term durability of your baseball glove. In this guide, we’ll cover the best way to break in a glove while avoiding common mistakes that can make your glove floppy or damage the leather.

Why Shaving Cream, Steam, and Hot Water Aren’t the Best Methods

Many players and coaches recommend using shaving cream, steam, or hot water to break in a baseball glove, but these methods have significant downsides.

• Shaving cream contains lanolin, which softens the leather, but it can also make it too pliable, leading to a floppy glove that lacks structure and durability.
• Steam might seem like a great way to soften a stiff glove, but it will pull the oils from the leather. This breaks down the leather’s natural fibers and weakens the glue holding the padding together.
• Hot water can be effective (Ball Glove King swears by it), but it’s not my preferred method because it can still compromise the leather’s integrity over time.

Instead of these methods, I recommend a more controlled and effective process using a high-quality glove conditioner, a glove mallet, and regular use.

The Best Way to Break in a Glove

The best way to break in a glove while maintaining its durability and shape involves three key steps: conditioning, mallet work, and playing catch.

1. Apply a Light Coating of Glove Conditioner

Using a high-quality glove conditioner (Wilson’s is my top choice) helps soften the leather without making the glove heavy or overly pliable. Follow these steps:

• Apply a light coat of conditioner to the palm, pocket, and laces.
• Rub it in using a clean cloth or your fingers.
• Let the glove sit in a dry place for a few hours to allow the conditioner to absorb.

This step softens the leather just enough to start working the glove into form without over-saturating it.

2. Decide on Your Playing Style (Traditional vs. Two-in-the-Pinky)

How you wear your glove affects its break-in process. Most players use one of these two styles:

• Traditional: Each finger goes in its designated finger slot. Best for shortstops, secondbase, and third base gloves.
• Two-in-the-Pinky: The ring and pinky fingers go into the pinky slot, allowing for a deeper pocket and easier glove closure. Best for outfield gloves, pitching gloves, and first base.

Choose the method that feels best for your hand and position before fully breaking in your glove.

3. Use a Glove Mallet to Soften Key Break Points

A glove mallet (a wooden handle with a baseball-shaped head) is an excellent tool to break in a glove correctly. Here’s how to use it for working new leather:

• Pocket: Pound the pocket repeatedly to help form a deep, natural catching area.
• Heel and Back: Strike the heel and back of the glove to loosen the stiffest parts of the leather.
• Fingers and Thumb: Pound around the fingers and thumb to make the glove more pliable without damaging the laces.
• Fold and Squeeze: After using the mallet, fold the glove where you want your break points to be and squeeze it firmly.

4. Play Catch – A Lot

The most effective way to continue softening and shaping your new glove is to simply play catch. Catching real baseballs helps mold the glove naturally to your hand and playing position. Try to:

• Play catch for 10–15 minutes daily.
• Focus on catching the ball in the pocket to reinforce its shape.
• Use a regulation baseball or softball to break in a baseball or softball glove correctly.

5. Extra Tips for Catcher’s Mitts

A catcher’s mitt is much stiffer than a fielder’s glove, requiring extra effort to break in. A great trick is to use a pitching machine:

• Set the machine to a moderate speed.
• Catch 50–100 balls to repeatedly flex the pocket.
• This method helps break in a glove while simulating real-game use.

What to Avoid When Breaking in a Glove

Avoid shortcuts that could damage your glove or shorten its lifespan:

• Microwave or Oven: Heat dries out the leather and ruins the padding.
• Boiling Water: Makes the leather brittle and weakens laces.
• Car Dashboard: Leaving your glove in a hot car (or some other method of introducing heat) might soften it temporarily, but it dries out the leather over time.
• Overuse of Oils: While some oil is helpful, too much can make the glove heavy and ruin its form.
• Rubber Bands Overnight: Some players wrap their gloves with a ball in the pocket and secure it with rubber bands, but leaving it too tight for too long can create unnatural folds.

Maintaining Your Glove After the Break-in Process

Once your glove is game ready, maintaining it is key to its longevity:

• Store it in a dry place when not in use.
• Occasionally apply a light coating of conditioner to keep the leather supple.
• Avoid over-wetting the glove, as moisture can lead to stiff, cracked leather.
• Re-tighten laces when necessary to maintain structure.

Conclusion

Breaking in a new glove takes patience, but the right method ensures it remains durable, comfortable, and game-ready. Avoid shaving cream, steam, and hot water, and instead, rely on a light coating of glove conditioner, a mallet to soften key areas, and playing catch to shape the pocket. With proper care and maintenance, your glove will last multiple seasons while giving you the best performance on the field.