Old Time Way of Breaking in a Glove

The best way to break in a glove is by playing catch.  Over time the glove breaks in. Todays gloves are pre-oiled and there isn't a great necessity to oil right away. The following is from the book "Glove Affairs". It is a interesting read on their opinion on how to break in a glove.

1. Put a game on the TV. Turn down the sound and tune in the broadcast on the radio.

2. Put a light coat of glove oil everywhere on your glove.

3. Put another light coating of oil at the hinge. (See Picture 1) Do it on both sides, front and back, and make sure you don't miss the layers of piping and the laces on the edge.

4. Add another light coat of oil in the pocket, from the hinge all the way up to the web. (See Picture 2) Then add a bit more to the web, front and back, hitting the laces that encircle the top. (See Picture 4)

5. Whale on it right in the catching zone with a ball or the fat end of a bat or a glove mallet. (See Picture 3) Unless the glove's a cheapie, it'll stand up to everything you give it.

6. Hit it at other tough spots: the front and back of the web, the top of the web, the backside where the web meets the pocket, and the fingertips. (See Picture 7)

7. Knead the web and hinge in your fingers until one of the other cries uncle. Give lots of attention to the stiff area where the web is laced to the pocket. (See Picture 5)

8. Put your hands on the back of the glove and pinch the leather closed here, as if you're catching a marble in the pocket. (See Picture 6) Do this until you're really bored.

9. Close the glove the way you want it to close, lay it on the ground, and pound down on the closed hinge to loosen up the leather, the laces, and the tightly sewn thread. (See Picture 1)

10. Turn off the TV and the radio. Go outside and play a lot of catch, closing your hand around the ball in the way -- vertical or horizontal -- that shapes the glove to suit your hand and your position. 

11. Between throws, keep shaping the glove with your throwing hand.

12. Repeat the above steps as necessary, but don't oil again.

13. You know your glove's broken in when you're going for a tough backhand and the ball hits your glove at the very base of the palm and sticks, even though you couldn't get a firm grip on your own.