It took about 2 hours to break in my DD's 1b Liberty Advanced. It wasn't long at all.
Use the Aso method.
Breaking in Rawlings Liberty Advanced
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It took about 2 hours to break in my DD's 1b Liberty Advanced. It wasn't long at all.
Use the Aso method.
This all day
And its not like Aso doesnt know his sh!t...if there is a process you can be 100% sure works...ITS HIS.
If major leaguers trust you with their gloves, you are something special
If major leaguers trust you with their gloves, you are something special
I'm usually not big on rapid break in processes for gloves and mitts. The faster the break in, the faster it wears out. Big leaguers get away with it because it is either comp'ed and/or justified to ensure a steady supply of game ready equipment. That being said, my daughter's Liberty catcher' mitt is one of the few items I've steamed. They are just stiff as a board. Tall pot of water, 1/4 full, over the stove to a medium boil. Placed a bread rack on top. Place the mitt on the rack and a cardboard box over the top. Just monitor to ensure it isn't getting overly wet. Do in small sessions and have your player pound a ball in it in between. You want it broken in to fit her hand. I've also been known to turn inside out to get the hing properly formed. I would make sure you have some good glove leather conditioner handy for after. Let the "don't do that" comments ensue. 
- May 16, 2016
- 946
- 93
My method. Give the palm and inside of fingers a light coat of Mizuno Strong Oil or other conditioner. If you have a light color glove with dark laces, be careful to keep conditioner off laces, as this might make the laces bleed into the glove leather. Fold glove where you want it to hinge, and pound it with a mallet begin forming the hinge. Then, Ball in pocket, wrap it with glove locker, or other elastic band. If you are not throwing with it, it's wrapped with a ball in pocket. This worked with my Liberty Advanced Catchers Mitt as well as fielder gloves. It may take a few weeks to be "Game Ready".
DD's LA is going strong after 3 years. It still stays open if it is laid on it's side. One relacing job a year ago. Though at this point nobody can tell it started life as a white glove.
Break in was a light coat of Glovoleum followed by slamming and rolling a ball in it and vigorous rolling of the ball in the palm and pocket, i.e. put ball in pocket, grab thumb and pinkie sides in opposite hands and pull one side while pushing the other, back and forth, letting the pocket kind of roll around the ball. Also just open-close ad nauseum while watching a show. Then lots of catch. Took about 3-4 weeks before game action.
Break in was a light coat of Glovoleum followed by slamming and rolling a ball in it and vigorous rolling of the ball in the palm and pocket, i.e. put ball in pocket, grab thumb and pinkie sides in opposite hands and pull one side while pushing the other, back and forth, letting the pocket kind of roll around the ball. Also just open-close ad nauseum while watching a show. Then lots of catch. Took about 3-4 weeks before game action.
At least I'm not alone. We've been working on my daughter's LA mitt for 2 years now. It was bought big knowing this was the year but it's still not 100% there yet. I've done hot water twice, thousands of hits with a mallet and countless pitches.I'm usually not big on rapid break in processes for gloves and mitts. The faster the break in, the faster it wears out. Big leaguers get away with it because it is either comp'ed and/or justified to ensure a steady supply of game ready equipment. That being said, my daughter's Liberty catcher' mitt is one of the few items I've steamed. They are just stiff as a board. Tall pot of water, 1/4 full, over the stove to a medium boil. Placed a bread rack on top. Place the mitt on the rack and a cardboard box over the top. Just monitor to ensure it isn't getting overly wet. Do in small sessions and have your player pound a ball in it in between. You want it broken in to fit her hand. I've also been known to turn inside out to get the hing properly formed. I would make sure you have some good glove leather conditioner handy for after. Let the "don't do that" comments ensue.
This is so strange to me. My daughter's Liberty advanced catcher's mitt was broken in within a couple weeks just by a pounding with a mallet and catching for pitchers. Never steamed it or used water. After using it for 2 years it definitely needs to be replaced.
Same here. The Liberty Advanced is their lowest level glove/mitt that girls use for HS and TB. My daughter's lasted about 2.5 years before the padding broke down when catching for faster pitchers. The Pro Preferred, and to a lesser degree, the Heart of The Hide, are much harder to break in.
