Breaking in a double-hinged catchers mitt

Trying to break in an All-Star CMW-1010 for a 10U player. Another catcher on the team also has a double-hinged mitt, but it folds as a single crease.

The whole shape of the glove just seems off, but I think that’s just me not being used to a glove like this.

Does anyone have pictures of a similar (but game-ready) mitt that I could compare this one to?


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A single break is all I’ve used for the last 3+ years with my CMW3000. The mitt you posted will be pretty straightforward and easy to manipulate with the cutout reliefs that’s already there. Just some hand shaping and folding along the break points and hitting it with something weighted like the dumbbell we talked about yesterday.

We have a girl on the HS team that has a dual hinge All-Star CMW4000, it’s broke in with a single break just like the glove you posted, she just naturally broke it in that way.

Here is DDs back up JCV VM (5 years old). Casedawg started the break in on this one. It appears to break a little more even than yours, but that could be the difference in manufacturers. She did her gamer VM just catching lessons and it breaks the same as this one.

Thanks. Looks like most double-hinged gloves get broken in (intentionally or otherwise) as a single hinge.

I’m trying to keep the heel s little stiffer than the hinges - or am I’m just not understanding the purpose?


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Double hinge gloves are meant to be broken in like fielders gloves by breaking down the heel. It looks right, but your hand is way too deep into the glove. It will never close down the middle like that. Gloves close by using your fingers only like you're waving good by not like you're squeezing an orange. Double hinges are great for first base and fielders gloves but terrible for catchers mitts in my opinion

A little more flexion of the thumb side hinge should help. Fold thumb to pinky while working the glove. It’s close, but a little too much pinky bend.

625ender said:

Double hinge gloves are meant to be broken in like fielders gloves by breaking down the heel. It looks right, but your hand is way too deep into the glove. It will never close down the middle like that. Gloves close by using your fingers only like you're waving good by not like you're squeezing an orange. Double hinges are great for first base and fielders gloves but terrible for catchers mitts in my opinion

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I should have clarified when I posted, as it's not clear from the picture - my hand is barely in the glove. For the second picture (with the ball), I was trying to show how the heel wants to flex and fold as a single hinge (thumb to index). I've applied one coating of the Vinci glove conditioner to the black leather (it darkens the tan leather - I'm holding off on doing the backside for now), and have been using a 12" ball mallet on the pocket and hinges.

Per AnnasDad tip, I'm going add a 3lb hand weight to my arsenal.

To clarify - this is a low-end All-Star mitt, it already flexes fairly easily for an adult, but needs a little work for the eventual 10U user. As Jdaddy referenced, I've been working the thumb side, rolling/folding it in as shown in the Aso videos. But I think that works best on single hinges.

So I think my next step is to try to add a crease that would go from the bottom-left heel hinge to more of the middle of the webbing. Current efforts to go from bottom left hinge to top-left of the webbing may be leading to the lack of thumb-side flexion spotted by Jdaddy.

625ender - are you saying the heel should be worked on the same as the hinges? So the heel should be more of a "U" shape than more of a box shape (flat heel, 90-deg corners)?

Thanks again for the helpful replies.

(Note: I must be hooked - I just used the term "flexion" in a discussion related to breaking in a ball glove!)

Just curious, is it possible for her to wear this mitt two-in-pinky? The finger shift would definitely help with it closing thumb to pinky and cause the heel to maintain that square shape.

But honestly Gags, with her being 10U, and her using an 11” ball, I’d let her use it where it naturally breaks / closes for her and is the most comfortable whether that be a single break or a dual.

I have to say, I have around 5 gloves here I’ve broken in TIP, all fielders gloves. I’ve never used a catchers mitt TIP, but I have seen it done!

Gags said:

625ender - are you saying the heel should be worked on the same as the hinges? So the heel should be more of a "U" shape than more of a box shape (flat heel, 90-deg corners)?

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Yes sir that's how you do it. It should conform to the heel/palm of your hand. Since she is young you can also remove the laces around the heel and thin out the padding in the heel because you don't use it anyway and it will allow it to flex easier.

I'll try to explain my technique. Turn the mitt upside down with your index fingers right by each hinge. Wallow the heel back and forth (like you're rubbing your knuckles up and down) for several minutes at a time with good conditioner on it. I prefer Lexol there's nothing better.