How To Break In Your Baseball Glove

Step 1: Warm it up

Fill up with some warm water (not boiling) and pour it into the pocket or palm of your glove, keeping the finger side up so water doesn’t sneak into the finger stalls. The warm water softens the leather, making it easier to shape.


Step 2: Get it in position

Hold the glove with the back fingers facing your chest, pointing up. Grab it by the thumb and pinky, and give it a good squeeze. Wiggle it back and forth to soften the heel pad – a key step to making it game-ready.


Step 3: Stretch it out

Grab the glove by the pinky and thumb and gently pull them apart. This will stretch the finger tops and web laces. They’ll tighten back up a bit when the glove dries, so don’t overdo it if you’re not into loose laces.


Step 4: Form the pocket

Open the glove and grab your mallet. Start shaping the pocket where you want to catch the ball. Think about your position and whether you need a deep or shallow pocket before diving in.


Step 5: Pound it out

Close the glove and use your mallet to pound the thumb side near the logo, shifting it back and forth. Then flip it, fold the pinky side, and pound the back. This sets your break points, making the glove easier to open and close.


(Optional) Step 6: Loosen the web laces

Want an easier close? Form an "S" shape with the web top and squeeze it for 5–6 seconds. This loosens the web laces, giving you that smooth close every time.


Step 7: Break it in with some catch

Take your glove out for a game of catch to finish the break-in process.