If you find a glove that is not broken in, there are several remedies. Glove manufacturers make a variety of oils to soften the leather, shaving cream with lanolin, vaseline, etc. There are even wooden mallets specifically made to pound the pocket. A rubber mallet will also work.

The bottom line is there are two parts of the glove that are hardest to flex initially:  Down on the bottom where the fingers meet the palm (hinge) and up on top of the pocket (web). If you can get those areas soft and pliable, it will make catching a baseball a more fun experience for your child. It may be as simple as working the glove open and closed with your hands (a lot).

When using oils and such, stay away from over-oiling the fingers and the thumb portion of the glove. These are two areas that you want to remain stiff so the glove won’t bend back on contact. Instead, focus on applying to hinge, pocket and web. Over-applying oils may also add weight to the glove.

Of course nothing breaks in a glove faster than using it. Play catch!

Strange ways to break in a glove that may not be beneficial:

1. Running over the glove with your car.
2. Microwaving it.
3. Dunking it in water.
4. Keeping it under your mattress
5. Heating it in the oven.

Gloves need to remain firm yet flexed at the right spots.

Glove Care
Once you get your glove broken in how you like it, some tips to keep it in good shape and extend its use:
1. Keep a ball in it when in your bag. Being crushed by your baseball gear is the quickest way to flatten the usefulness out of your mitt.
2. Bring it in the house when it gets damp
3. Lightly clean the mitt to get dirt and mud off of it.
4. I have some players who swear by storing their mitt inside out inside the house during the offseason. Keeps the pocket open and the leather won’t be put through changing temperatures.

Baseball Zone’s Memberships [1] give parents and coaches access to more information on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching and defense as well as a lot of material on practicing, training and equipment.

Baseball Zone’s Practice Planner [2] makes creating practice plans quick and easy. With over a 150 different drills to choose from, creating a well thought out plan is only a few clicks away.

Learn More
How to Choose a Baseball Glove [3]
How to Choose a Bat [4]
Playing Catch and Proper Throwing [5]