Glove breaking in

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Apr 20, 2015
961
93
Has anyone ever used the glove whisperer break in service...new glove is coming for Christmas and just don't have time or knowledge to break it in properly ourselves. So much bad information out there on what and how to do it. Glove is an A2000 h web middle infielder 11.5

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May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Do a search on YouTube for "Wilson Aso". Shigeaki Aso knows his stuff, especially when it comes to Wilson gloves.

Personally, I'm not such a fan of using water, but the beat-down process is definitely required for an accelerated break-in.

Or, you could just pay catch.
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
We followed Sensei Aso's method for two DD's catcher's mitt A2000 and A2000 Infield glove (that she never gets to use except for HS). If you follow this method the glove will ready to use fairly quickly. The warm water used simulates the player's sweat.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
I know some places will steam them while you wait, not sure if this works.

My DD catcher had her's steam broken-in at Dicks. It was very effective way of getting her new mitt ready in the middle of a rec season.
 
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Mar 1, 2016
195
18
It has NEVER taken me longer than 3 days to break in a catchers mitt, working on it for about an hour or two each day. Here's what I do.

Start by cleaning the mitt with saddle soap according to the directions. This gets rid of the light coat of wax that some manufacturers apply to the mitt as a protectant and prepares it for the next step. Put it in the car to dry and get warm.

Next, use an old t-shirt to rub a coat of neatsfoot oil into the entire mitt. Don't overdo it. Too much oil makes the mitt heavy and attracts a lot of dirt. Wrap a ball in the pocket and put it back in the car for a couple of hours.

Massage the mitt very aggressively, paying close attention to the hinge point and the pocket. Beat on it with a ball mallet both while wearing it and laying on the table. Be sure to use something behind it while you beat it on the table, like a sand bag or a flat glove like the kind you use for "soft hands" drills.

Play catch. Massage the mitt and beat on it some more. Play catch some more. Always keep a ball in the pocket while it's in the bag so the mitt doesn't pancake. There's no substitute for the old fashioned method of breaking in a mitt. Don't be silly and pay someone else to do something you can do yourself.


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Mar 20, 2014
918
28
Northwest
My DD catcher had her's steam broken-in at Dicks. It was very effective way of getting her new mitt ready in the middle of a rec season.

We did too - even if you didn't buy the glove/mitt at Dick's they will still steam and pound it for $25...
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Here is my torture device of choice, an old cheap 5lb. metal dumbbell with one end taped up to keep from marking up a new glove. A few things.....and this is purely personal preference. I don't buy cheap gloves, I think it's worth it in the long run to buy high quality, stiff, tough to break in leather. Again that's just me. Having said that, I'd never take a glove that I just paid good money for to DSG to have steamed, not happening!!

Easy enough to beat all the break points to the way your DD closes her glove, especially work on the heel, the break at the thumb and pinkie, pound a good pocket and beat the base of the web.....and then play catch. Repeat as often as necessary. As far as water, I don't use it that much, I have poured hot water in the palm/pocket before and played catch right then, and it does works.....I don't like dunking a glove or actually pouring water inside of a glove but one trick that I do know works well is, have a bowl of warm/hot water handy, if your DD is a right hand thrower (RHT) have her put her left (glove) hand in the warm water and then put the glove on and play catch, repeat several times and have her really concentrate on really squeezing and wrapping the glove around the ball. It'll help the liner form to her hand. Let it dry and then put a thin coat of Jobsite or Obenauf's beeswax to seal it, Vaseline will also work.

Most gloves these days already have oil infused into them unless it's a dry horween leather which I doubt anyone on here would buy their DD a glove that stiff! I usually don't condition a new glove until it starts showing signs of being dry midway or later through a season. I used to use several different conditioners but now I only use Lexol, great stuff! All this information applies to Heart of the Hide, A2000, and Vinci Kip leather type gloves, not gloves like the Mizuno Classic, which I could make floppy in a week.
 

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