Wilson A2000 Break In

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Mar 9, 2015
321
18
DD got a new Wilson A2000 for Christmas. We will be using it as much as possible, but what are some ways to help speed up the break in process?
 
Mar 1, 2016
195
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Rub some neatsfoot oil into the glove by hand. Wrap a ball in the pocket and leave it overnight. Get a mallet (specifically for breaking in a glove) at Dick’s or Academy or online. Use the mallet to beat the crap out of the pocket while you’re sitting around watching tv. Best if it’s on your DD’s hand and not yours. Work it rigorously back and forth by hand, turn it inside out and then right side out again. Play lots of catch and throw hard. It’ll come in a few days or weeks. I’ve never come across a glove I couldn’t get game ready in a week or less, and I’ve never put it in the oven or hot car or used water or got it steamed or any of that silly stuff.


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Last edited:
Nov 18, 2015
1,585
113
While I would agree that using water sounds silly, when I watched several videos put out by Wilson, their head glove maker (Aso?) would use water on the gloves he was breaking in personally for major leaguers. They’re on the Wilson website - and iirc, he even specified the best water temp to use (somewhere above room temp, but below 200F - helpful, I know!)

Understandably, I’d still be hesitant. Even if the leather spent most of its life on a cow, getting rained on, I’d probably have to hold a glove broken in this way in my own hands before attempting it on something like an A2000.

I did make my own mallet using a handle from a plunger and an old softball. It was ridiculously easy - the hardest part was coming to the realization that the only threaded dowels sold in HD are in the plumbing dept. Now I just need to find a use for the leftover plunger base (hmmm....new batting tee component?).


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CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
That guy knows how to break in gloves and does it for the best players in the game, think you can take his word for it :)

Now doing it yourself, may take more time than he takes...haha
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
I agree with everything here except the neatsfoot oil. That new A2000 really doesn't need any product on it, especially oil! ALL new gloves have plenty of oil already infused in them from the start. The only product I would recommend now, this early into the process is beeswax, either Jobsite or Obenauf's. For this upcoming Spring/Summer season, put a thin coat inside on the palm liner and inside the finger stalls to seal out sweat!

As far as break in, as Tex said a ball mallet or a dumbbell (my weapon of choice) to hit all the break points and form a pocket. But mainly just good old fashion catch and throw and work the glove with your hands. Seriously, stay away from the oil, if you feel you just HAVE to put something on, go to Walmart or Autozone and get a brown bottle of Lexol, and then do NOT spray it directly onto the glove, spray it onto a microfiber towel/rag and wipe it on the glove very sparingly! Lexol is awesome stuff!
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
That guy knows how to break in gloves and does it for the best players in the game, think you can take his word for it :)

Now doing it yourself, may take more time than he takes...haha

Shigeaki Aso's method works about as good as any out there, I've used very warm water before and it works and there's absolutely no harm to the glove. I still use his method except for the water cause I never need to break in any gloves I buy that quickly....when Aso is breaking in a glove, it's probably for a high profile MLB player and he wants to hand it to them ready (or close) to go!
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
Not to mention the MLB guys get as many gloves as they want. I am not a proponent of any water on gloves. Water and excessive heat are two of the worst things to use while breaking in a glove, IMO.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Not to mention the MLB guys get as many gloves as they want. I am not a proponent of any water on gloves. Water and excessive heat are two of the worst things to use while breaking in a glove, IMO.

Jdaddy, I'm 100% in agreement with you on the heat issue, but water does not hurt a glove. Of course I talking pouring warm water in the pocket to wet the leather, not soak through to the padding and weigh the glove down. Water temporarily delinks leather fibers, they relink as the glove dries. Two very effective ways to get a glove to form to your DD's hand.......go outside, pour warm water in the palm, plus have another container of warm water that she can put her glove hand in, have her put her warm wet hand inside the glove and just throw, play catch and throw hard for 30 minutes. That's the best way to get a glove to form to her hand! Let the glove dry and then do it again, several times if necessary. Once dry, if the glove actually feels dry, put a light coat of Lexol on it.

I'm old school like you and I haven't done this in awhile, but it does work really well with no harm/damage to the glove. But I absolutely do NOT steam, bake, microwave, deep fry, or broil a glove.......ever! I hate it when I have to keep a glove in a hot car in the Summer. Heat & sweat are glove killers, especially sweat!!
 
Mar 24, 2014
450
18
I use Lexol leather conditioner. I have been using it for my leather car seats and am very happy with it. I also use a wooden mallet to break it in.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
Shigeaki Aso's method works about as good as any out there, I've used very warm water before and it works and there's absolutely no harm to the glove. I still use his method except for the water cause I never need to break in any gloves I buy that quickly....when Aso is breaking in a glove, it's probably for a high profile MLB player and he wants to hand it to them ready (or close) to go!

That's why he is one of the best and can trust what he does...he is giving it back to use asap. So the method has to be pretty darn good
 

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