After one old-school guy ripped me for saying the ol’ glove in the bucket of water was a terrible idea, and another faithful reader telling me I never REALLY said how to break in a glove/mitt… I had no choice but to add one more post on Glove Love 101.
So far we covered the “preparation phase,” or what you needed to do to get your glove “break-in-ready.” We ran through the type of glove you should be looking for based on your position and how you should position your hand in order to “foolproof” the break in process. I briefly touched on the way I would like to see everyone break in their gloves/mitts, and it’s decent alternative.
But I’m being asked to go into more detail…
Here’s the thing.
I know there’s “other ways” to break in a glove. You can sit in your room in front of the television and pound on the pocket with your fist. (My Dad has repetitive and probably unconscious “slap, bang, bang” method that I somehow inherited.) You can get one of those baseball-shaped mallets specifically designed to whack the stiffness out of any baseball glove. (I’ve seen players try the same thing with the barrel of a bat. I’ve tried it too, and was a little too awkward for my taste.) You can sit in front of the same TV set and slam a baseball into the pocket of the glove.
Or you can step away from the boob tube (or XBox, computer screen, and incoming text messages) and get your behind outside and…
Have a catch!
At the end of the day, this is the best way to get it done right.
Sorry. There’s no magic potion. No instant gratification. Just good ‘ol time and effort.
What’s that? It’s ice cold outside? Then head over to your school’s gym, or your favorite hitting facility. If you might recall, I mentioned in the last post, how you can break in your glove by having a catch… even if you have nobody to have a catch with.
If you don’t recall, I recommended using a few tokens for the batting cages, and using them to have a catch with the cage’s pitching machine.
It’s a little different, don’t get me wrong. The cage you like to hit in, is probably NOT the cage you want to have a catch in if you plan on using a machine, because it might be a touch faster than the speed your teammates throw. (That is of course you are a catcher. Then you should use a pitching machine that throws at a speed you think pitchers on your team, or in your league reach.) You may have to ask someone to raise the height of the “pitches,” or you could take a knee. If you do leave the height the same as if you were hitting and you are an infielder, I’d like to see you simulate making a tag. (Outfielders, well, you’ll just have to make due… or bring a friend next time!)
But when it’s all said and done, nothing, and I mean nothing replaces having a catch.
Again, remember: If you want a big pocket, press down on the glove right where the webbing meets to first finger. If you don’t, pull the thumb back towards the radial side of your wrist. Hand/finger position is important, and adds to the overall success of your glove-breaking-in experience. But makes sure to do these things… while you have a catch.
Now that it’s on the cusp of being fully broken in, how do you intend to take care of your glove?
Well, let me give you my take on that… next time.
Coach Bones
P.S. – To be fair, I’ve included a clip from The Baseball Network where Harold Reynolds demonstrates how he broke in his glove. He uses water, but he does not leave the glove in a bucket of H20 overnight. Actually I like how he recommends the way to let your glove dry out. I would do the same if I got stuck playing in a rain-soaked game. To see the clip, Click Here.
