Breaking-in your glove is possibly the most important thing you can do for yourself pre-season. However one of the most commonly asked question about gloves is, “What is the best way to break-in a baseball glove?”.
There are many ways to break-in a glove that are circulating the internet. However there is one method that stands out as the most effective. This method is called the hot water method. It will break-in the glove to fit your preferences naturally.This method is a personal favorite of mine and it is endorsed by the Wilson glove guru Shigeaki Aso.
What Is The Hot Water Method?
The hot water method involves heating up water and pouring it on the web and palm of the glove. The hot water loosens up the leather and makes it softer and more pliable. This makes shaping the glove and breaking-in the hinges much easier, and speeds up the break-in process.
Materials Needed For The Hot Water Method.
- Hot water
- A pot to pour water into
- Glove Mallet or Baseball
How To Use The Hot Water Method
- Heat up water to 130˚-160˚F.
- Position the glove over the pot.
- Slowly pour the hot water onto the palm, web, and fingers of the glove.
- Then pour water over the outside of the fingers.
- Use glove mallet or baseball to beat the pocket/ webbing of the glove.
- Grab both sides of the glove and shake in opposite directions, to break in the hinge.
- Wait until glove fully dries, then repeat 2-3 times.
Why Use The Hot Water Method?
The hot water method has many benefits that make it the best way to break-in a glove. One reason is it is much faster than trying to break it in by just playing catch. This means that you won’t need to spend weeks, or even months practicing with a stiff glove. The hot water method also lets you shape the glove to your preferences. Breaking-in a glove to be exactly how you want it can be a challenging process. This is one thing that the hot water method does extremely well. However the best thing about the hot water method is that it can be done by everyone. It doesn’t require any advanced tools, and it can be done with things that are found around the house. This is why the hot water method is the best way to break-in a baseball glove.
Watch: Aso – The Hot Water Method
If you found this useful, consider reading Is it worth buying an expensive glove for my child?
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