The glove is the ultimate defensive weapon of a fielder and although infielder and outfielder gloves are different in size, and the first base glove and catcher mitt is in a league of their own, there are certain basic methods for breaking a new glove in.There are many factors which affect the methods and quickness of breaking a glove in, such as quality of leather, softness and type of leather, web design and what the fielder feels they require in order to maximize its effectiveness.Although every one seems to have a secret formula, or knows someone who has a secret formula for breaking in a glove, we’ll explain the two most common methods in this article.The first method is of to follow the manufactures’ directions and follow their instructions, but for some reason we don’t think, that includes me most of the time, they know what they’re talking about.So we’ll proceed to the next method. The softness of the leather is directly associated with the cost of the glove, as a $500 glove will be much softer than a $100 glove. The reason I mention this is the first thing a player wants to achieve when breaking in a glove, is to create a pocket, which only use will accomplish, but the softness of the leather hastens the procedure.Here is a partial list of products which help soften leather, there are probably more, but these will suffice and are readily available.* Foaming Shave Cream
* Vaseline
* Saddle Soap
* Mink Oil
* Tanners Glove OilOne thing to be conscious of More is not always better, as some players will slop the oil all over the glove which only quickens deterioration and makes a slimy mess. Rather use a soft cloth and wipe small amounts of whatever leather softener you’re using into the leather until it disappears, then wipe off any excess which is not absorbed.Forming the pocket is the next step and there are several methods for accomplishing this. Playing catch, using the glove, is by far the best method to use, but sometimes it may be difficult to locate a throwing partner, which is why I include the following alternatives.* Use the batting cage. As the name indicates the original intended purpose of a batting cage is to help learn to hit, but it’s not the sole reason. There is nothing better than catching 50 – 100 70 mph fastballs to help form a pocket and do it quickly.* There is an old fashioned method, which is also effective in producing a pocket, and that is to work the leather softening agent into the leather, place a baseball (or softball if that’s your sport) into the pocket, fold the glove and tightly tie it together with a shoestring or rubber band. This may sound a little bit like baseball voodoo, but they do make devises specifically for this purpose.Remember, “more is not better” and use of the glove, no matter the grade of leather, will produce the desired results.