Breaking in a Glove

[j24jags]

So I just bought a brand new first baseman's glove (Rawlings Heart of the Hide). It's a very nice glove, but it is very stiff. I want to know the best way to break it in. The guy at the store said that the oils do not damage the glove, but my coach and teammates all say breaking it in naturally is the way to go. My dad wants to oil it up and put it under something heavy. I'm just confused as to what is actually the best way. I'm leaning towards breaking it in naturally except it may not be ready for months. Any ideas? What have you done that has worked or that has not worked?

Thanks

[alec03]

put it under the couch or something that is heavy, that usually works great. i havent played baseball in for ever but i hear that oil is a great way of breaking a glove in. i would go for the natural way break it in by playing!

[Old_Style]

I never used oils. I did it the old fashioned way by putting a softball in the pocket of the glove and tying a shoe string around it. It worked fine for me.

[mrider]

Don't use oil. I hear oil really screws up gloves and doesn't do much. First thing you should do is put a ball in it and use an elactic to form your pocket. Then just play catch a bunch if you play catch for a couple of hours it will be worked in fine then a couple of games and it will be perfect.

[j24jags]

Don't use oil. I hear oil really screws up gloves and doesn't do much. First thing you should do is put a ball in it and use an elactic to form your pocket. Then just play catch a bunch if you play catch for a couple of hours it will be worked in fine then a couple of games and it will be perfect.

Elactic?

Sorry, but is that the elastic like band to stretch it?

As for the putting it under something heavy, I think I'm going to do that.

[da1chipo]

I never did anything with my A2000 except play catch....lots of catch. It took a few weeks to break it in, and 4 years later it's still perfect.

[tuff_gong]

I would put a softball in the pocket and use a shoestring/rubberband to tie it, then after a while take it out and play LOTS of catch with it.

[statsman88]

putting a ball in it and tying something around it is good. I would also suggest throwing it in the microwave and dryer as well

[J35J]

bend it, twist it, beat the hell out of it. And play lots of catch. If you have someone that can throw hard that helps "beat it up". If you have a lead ball "or another ball that is heavy" that works even better.

[Mugrila]

I never did anything with my A2000 except play catch....lots of catch. It took a few weeks to break it in, and 4 years later it's still perfect.

Word to that. I never used oils on my Pro Preferred catchers mitt; it took a while to break it, but now it's nearly perfect.