I just unboxed my brand new baseball glove. It is a premium product of high-quality leather, superior stitching, and non-parallel finishing. When I tried to wear them, I felt an issue with their breaking in.
Then, I figured out how professionals and experts break it. I will describe a step-by-step guide to break in and other essential details. Read the blog to know the details.
Why Should You Use Conditioner for Glove Break-In?
Baseball players and coaches recommend using a conditioner to break in your gloves. According to expert experience, it will help you due to the following reasons:
Safe and Secure Softness of leather
The new leather gloves have premium quality thick leather threads that make them hard. Therefore, a conditioner is needed:
◈ To make the leather fibers lose.
◈ Decrease the break in the period.
◈ Increase leather life.
Intact Shape and Structure of Glove
The break-in leather gloves with heat or water, but these two sources can damage the shape of the glove fibers. Therefore, the breaking in with conditioner is necessary because:
◈ It will maintain the shape of the glove pocket.
◈ It will keep the stitching of gloves intact.
First Preference of Professionals
From professional to ordinary city club players, everybody prefers to use a conditioner for break-in. Its easy use, zero side-effects, affordability, and positive results for glove lifespan make it a winning choice.
If you want trusted results for breaking in your gloves, trust the experts and professionals. Therefore, value their experience and use a conditioner.
A Complete Guide to Breaking in a Glove With the Conditioner
You can break into the glove in different ways. But, doing this task with the conditioner is super easy. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Dust the Glove Surface
Using a wet cloth, remove dirt, dust, packing residues, and other unwanted materials from the glove surface. Preparing the surface is important because it can trap the conditioner and affect the glove's softness.
Step 2: Spread the Conditioner on the Glove
Next, put a small amount of Eagle Baseball Glove Oil Conditioner on a cloth or a sponge and gently rub it into the glove surface in a circular motion. Focus on high-use parts of the glove, such as the palm, pocket, and webbing.
Tip: Do not use excessive conditioner on fingers and the back of the glove because a large amount can make the glove greasy.
Also Read this Blog: How to Clean Stubborn Stains on Baseball Glove?
Step 3: Help Conditioner Absorb into the Glove
Move your glove wearing on your hand for 5-10 minutes with the following activities:
◈ Stretch the fingers inward and outward.
◈ Bend the fingers and the pinky nearest to each other.
◈ Fold and open the glove like you are playing in the field.
All these activities will help the glove fibers to become soft and absorb the conditioner easily and smoothly.
Step 4: Mold the Pocket of the Glove
Now, put a baseball or a small ball in the glove pocket to shape the key areas, such as the pocket, heel (base of the glove), and webbing. The purpose of this activity is to shape a perfect pocket and break in the hardness of glove fibers.
Note: If you do not have a baseball, you can do it with a wooden spoon.
Step 5: Wrapping and Resting Period
In the final step, wrap the glove tightly around a ball by binding with a rubber band or a glove wrapping material. Next, leave it for a period of 10 -20 hours in an environment with room temperature. It will improve the glove shape and make it supple after drying.
These steps will remove the glove stiffness. However, the process repetition is required if it does not become soft after the first treatment.
Conclusion
Breaking in leather gloves is not difficult or frustrating. Using the right conditioner and application approach, you can do it easily. Try this strategy and share your experience in the comment section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can hot water break in a glove?
Yes, hot water can break in a glove, but at the same time, it can also damage the fibers of the glove.
Q2: What is the fastest way to break in a baseball glove?
Playing catch day and night is the fastest way to break in a glove without using a conditioner and oil.
Q3: How can I soften leather gloves after washing?
Apply a leather conditioner while they are wet and then air dry them on a flat towel.
Q4: What is the best alternative to baseball glove oil?
The lanolin and beeswax are the best alternatives for baseball glove oil.
Q5: How can I soften leather motorcycle gloves?
Soak the gloves in warm water for a few minutes, then apply leather conditioner and wear them for a regular ride to break in.
