Breaking in a new baseball glove can be arduous, but it does not have to be.

In this complete guide on how to break in a baseball glove, I will go over everything you need to know to make the process easier and quicker, including the best tools to use, how to take care of your baseball gloves throughout their lifetime, and more.

What You Need

1. A baseball.
2. Glove oil made for baseball gloves. A light coat is all you need.
3. A few rubber bands or a glove wrap.
4. A glove mallet, if you have one.
5. A throwing partner.

You will not need hot water, an oven or a microwave. Heat is a popular shortcut, and glove makers warn against it. More on that below.

Step 1: Work the Stiff Spots First

A new glove is stiffest at the two hinges near the heel. Hold the heel with both hands and bend the pinky down toward the thumb, then bend the thumb down toward the pinky. Repeat until the top of each finger can touch the base of the other.

Next, work each finger back and forth and flex the wrist opening. You are loosening the laces and padding so the glove can close with one hand.

Step 2: Apply a Light Coat of Glove Oil

Rub a small amount of glove oil into the palm, the pocket and the backs of the fingers with a soft cloth. Go easy. The leather should still push back a little when you flex it, so wipe off anything that does not soak in.

Step 3: Shape the Pocket

Set the glove on a soft surface like a carpet or pillow. With a glove mallet, tap the spot where the ball lands, then the heel and the base of the fingers. Firm, steady taps work better than hard swings, and hitting from different angles keeps hard spots from forming.

No mallet? Play hand catch instead. Toss a ball into the pocket from your throwing hand and squeeze the glove closed around it, over and over.

Step 4: Wrap It With a Ball in the Pocket

Place a baseball in the pocket, fold the glove closed around it and hold it with rubber bands or a glove wrap. Leave it in a cool, dry spot for a day or so. This teaches the glove the shape of the ball.

Step 5: Play Catch as Often as You Can

This step does the most work. Every catch shapes the pocket, and the oils from your hand keep softening the lining. Start with short, easy throws and back up as the glove loosens. Premium leather has a tighter grain, so a high-end glove can take longer than a starter glove.

Step 6: Check the Fit

You should be able to close the glove with one hand and hold a ball securely with no pain or pinching. If one finger still feels tight, work that finger back and forth again and keep playing catch.

How to Keep Your Glove in Shape

Store your glove in a cool, dry place with a ball in the pocket, and keep it out of hot cars and wet bags. Check the laces every six months and replace any that fray. After a season or so, give it another light coat of oil so the leather does not dry out.

The Wrong Methods for Breaking in Baseball Gloves

There are many ways you can break in your baseball glove.

Some people say the best way is by taking it out and throwing a ball against a brick wall, steaming the glove, or rubbing in shaving cream or petroleum jelly, while others say you should soak it in hot water, bake it or put it in the microwave.

But these methods are not the most effective ways of breaking in your glove.

Do not try these methods. Rawlings' official break-in guide says it does not recommend steaming, boiling, baking or otherwise heating a glove, or using oily products like petroleum jelly, because these shortcuts can damage the glove and affect its warranty.

Benefits of Breaking in Your Baseball Gloves

Whether you are a baseball or softball player, breaking your baseball or softball glove is an incredibly satisfying process that can take a long time, depending on how often you play.

Here are just some of the benefits you will experience when you break in your brand new baseball glove:

1. Your glove will mold to your hand for the perfect fit.
2. You will have better control over catching and throwing.
3. It will be easier for you to close the glove with one hand.
4. You will be able to make quicker decisions on the field.
5. The glove leather becomes softer and supple, so it does not wear out quickly. 

Wrap Up

There you have it, folks! Follow these steps to know how to break in a baseball glove, and you will break in like new.

Remember that the more time you spend with your new baseball glove, the easier it will break in and the better it will feel on your hands!