How to Break In a New Baseball Glove

A new glove is stiff for a reason. Good leather is built to last, and that means it takes some work before it closes easily and holds a pocket. Here's how to break one in without shortcuts that damage the leather.

What you need

• A light leather conditioner
• A wooden glove mallet
• A baseball or softball
• A glove wrap or band

Step 1: Condition lightly

Put a dime-size amount of conditioner on a sponge and work it into the leather in small circles, focusing on the palm, the pocket and the hinge at the heel. Let it sit about an hour, then buff off the extra with a cloth. One thin coat is enough. Too much makes a glove heavy and floppy.

Step 2: Work the hinge

Open and close the glove over and over, folding it where you want it to close. Most players want the glove to fold between the pinky and thumb. Do this while watching TV and you'll be surprised how fast it loosens.

Step 3: Pound the pocket

Put your hand in the glove and pound the pocket with a mallet where the ball should land. Then take your hand out and work the heel and the fingers. A mallet lets you shape the pocket in a few short sessions instead of weeks.

Step 4: Wrap it overnight

Put a ball in the pocket, close the glove around it and hold it shut with a wrap. Leave it overnight. Repeat for a few nights to set the pocket.

Step 5: Play catch

Nothing beats catch. A few sessions finish the job and shape the glove to your hand.

Shortcuts to skip

• The oven, microwave or a hair dryer. Heat dries and cracks leather.
• Soaking it in water or running it through a sprinkler.
• Heavy oil. It breaks a glove in by breaking it down. Read why oil ruins a glove.
• Running it over with the car. Really.

The Glove Spa Kit includes lanolin conditioner, a wooden mallet and a glove wrap, so you can do every step with one kit.