{"id":7219,"date":"2023-01-19T05:35:48","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T05:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americansportsplanet.com\/?p=7219"},"modified":"2023-01-19T05:35:49","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T05:35:49","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-break-a-baseball-glove-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americansportsplanet.com\/how-long-does-it-take-to-break-a-baseball-glove-in\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take To Break A Baseball Glove In? (Find Out Here)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Getting a new baseball glove is always exciting! The smell of fresh leather and that anticipation of those first few catches and the feel of it on your hands \u2013 but how long does it actually take to break in a baseball glove?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To break in a new baseball glove can take anything from three weeks to a few months or even a year before the glove is game ready, and the best way to do it is to play catch! Trying to break it in sooner can damage the glove and dramatically reduce its lifespan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s examine the best ways to break in a baseball glove and what NOT to do to avoid irreparable harm to your glove. After all, good gloves take time to break in, and doing it right will bring you years of enjoyment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Play Catch To Break In A New Baseball Glove<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the various methods we will look at, one of the easiest and safest methods to break in a brand-new baseball glove is to play catch with it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All new gloves will be stiff, but playing catch over a few months will develop the pocket of the glove that matches your hand, and the glove will mold in the shape of your hand over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the glove and flexing the stiffer parts, like the thumb and fingers, as you work is a great way to mold the glove to your hand. While it can take a few weeks to a few months to get the glove game ready, it\u2019s worth the time to do it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are going this route, don\u2019t allow other people to use your new glove. Remember, this glove has to fit your hand, and if other people use it, it will change the fit and the molded shape over time- rather, keep this one just for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the great benefits of this simple and age-old method of breaking in a baseball glove is that using it for the catch will not harm the leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though the first few catches may see the ball bounce out of the pocket due to the stiffness of the leather and fingers, over time, the glove will soften and mold perfectly into your hand shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I Use Oil To Break In A Baseball Glove?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Adding oil to leather is an age-old practice, and you can do the same with your new baseball glove, but this should not be used as a breaking-in strategy. Rather add oil to parts of the glove that start to show dry spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to oiling your glove, less is always more, and if you apply too much oil, this can have the opposite effect and make the leather too soft too quickly. Too much oil will saturate the leather, which can ruin the glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oil is more to protect the glove, so using a light coat of oil over the leather will extend the life of your glove while making it a little softer in the process \u2013 but note that this is NOT a method of breaking it in, rather one that is designed to protect the leather and extend its lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrap A Ball In The Glove Pocket To Break It In<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While some methods, like using hot water and a glove mallet to break the glove in sooner, are being done by professionals, there is much debate about the efficacy of this method and its effects on the leather. So unless you are very experienced, this method is NOT recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, let\u2019s look at a method of breaking in a baseball glove that does work and will not cause any harm to your glove, and that is to wrap a ball inside the glove using elastic bands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a baseball and place it in the pocket of the glove. Then take some sturdy elastic bands and wrap them around the glove to enclose the ball in the pocket with the thumb and pinky touching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use string, elastics, or any other binding that will keep the glove in position with the ball in the pocket. This method will gradually stretch the leather around the ball over a few days. Then unwrap it and repeat the process till the glove is game ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How NOT To Break In A Baseball Glove<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The methods of breaking in a baseball glove described above are safe and will allow the glove to stretch naturally to fit your hand and the ball, but there are also a few ways to avoid it at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n