How To Break In A Softball Glove? (5 Various Methods)

Using a softball glove that perfectly fits your hand is an asset. The fit is also directly proportional to the quality of your glove. Professional softball players prioritize the type and fit of the glove as it boosts their confidence. Does that mean softball gloves are made to order? Should we avoid purchasing readily available gloves? The truth is you can break in a readymade glove. 

Breaking in a softball glove is possible with direct pressure or impact to soften the leather and shape the glove to fit the hand. Alternatively, materials like a mallet, oil, shaving cream, and hot water are also used to moisten, soften, and condition the glove. 

The method to break in the glove differs based on the catalyst you use. Let us look at each of them in this article.

Related: Can You Use A Baseball Glove For Softball?

How To Break In A Softball Glove Fast & Overnight?

Applying pressure or impact is the best method to break in a softball in a short span. Playing catch is a wonderful way to adjust the shape and mold the leather to fit better. 

1. Playing catch

Playing catch regularly involves constant movements of forefingers and thumb. This approach can naturally give a better shape and size to the glove. It may need several hours or days of playing catch to mold it appropriately. This varies based on the rigidity of the leather. If you find this approach tougher, you can explore the kneading method. 

2. Kneading

Like kneading a pizza base, you can squeeze, pull, and stretch the glove, allowing the leather to loosen up. Remember that you do not have to knead it purposefully. Make regular movements and apply pressure on the glove. Your hands contain natural oils that can shape up the glove. 

So you have reshaped your glove now! What’s the next step? You need to make it more wearable, which is where softening the glove comes into the picture. 

3. Kick

Kick or stomp or hit your glove so that the thick leather softens a bit. In this process, you need to ensure that you do not trample on the delicate region. 

4. Sleep On It

Thinking of the easiest and most convenient method of breaking in a softball? Sleep on top of it! 

While it does not appear weird, sleeping on your softball glove helps mitigate its roughness and position it appropriately. As you roll on the mattress while sleeping, the body heat transfers to the glove and softens a bit. Sleep for a few days on the softball glove, and you can find it relaxing its toughness!

5. Wrap It

Wrapping the glove is a popular method to break in easily. You can fill the pocket with a ball too. However, this is only optional. 

Follow the steps below to wrap and break in your softball glove:

1. Close the glove (you can have a ball in the pocket too). 
2. Leave it in a closed position and secure it with a rubber band. 
3. Leave the glove wrapped for a couple of days. 
4. Unwrap the glove and check other regions requiring a wrap. 
5. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the fit. 

Glove wrapping is an excellent way to adjust fitness levels, but it takes a long time. Often, you may have to repeat the process, which can be frustrating. 

How To Break In A Softball Glove With Hot Water?

Take a bucket of hot water (that is not boiling) and pour the water on the glove. In general, the hot water technique controls rigidity and makes the leather more malleable. 

Caution: Never soak your glove in water in the name of breaking it in. 

Follow the steps below:

1. Place the softball glove in a bucket. 
2. Pour hot water on the glove. 
3. Take the glove out and knead as much as possible. 
4. If you find the pocket area more rigid, you can hammer on it with a mallet. 

Repeat these steps for a few days till you get the perfect fit. 

How To Break In A Softball Glove In The Oven?

You can quickly break in a softball glove in the oven at 300 degrees. Here are the steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 300-350 degrees.
2. Apply a conditioner-like oil to the glove. 
3. Leave the glove inside the oven for a few minutes. 
4. Take the glove out from the oven and let it cool. 
5. After some time, play catch with the glove to further enhance the fit. 

Ensure that you have a leather glove. If you have softball gloves made of different materials, you need to check if they are oven-safe. Otherwise, it can damage the glove. 

Breaking in a softball glove in the oven is one of the safest methods and works well for leather gloves in controlling their rigidity.

Related: Can A Softball Pitchers Use A White Glove?

How To Break In A Softball Glove With Shaving Cream?

If you have shaving cream at home, you can use it to break in your softball glove. Follow the steps below:

1. Apply a small pinch of shaving cream to a clean cloth. 
2. Rub the leather glove with a cloth containing cream. 
3. Repeat these steps till the glove is fully covered with cream. 
4. Let the glove dry for 8-10 hours. 
5. Wipe the cream off the glove.

Here are some common mistakes that can happen while using shaving cream. 

• Do not apply too much cream to the leather glove. It can moisten excessively and leave it soggy. 
• Ensure that the cream is spread evenly across the glove. Otherwise, rigidity can be uneven and interfere with the fit. 

Massage the glove with cream carefully can affect the lifespan of the glove. 

How To Break In A Softball Glove With Vaseline?

Vaseline is another excellent conditioner to break in a softball glove. Follow the steps below:

1. Take a small quantity of Vaseline with a rag or a cloth. 
2. Apply Vaseline using a cloth throughout the softball glove. 
3. Leave the glove untouched for a day or two. 
4. Wipe off the conditioner with a cloth. 
5. As the glove becomes malleable, you can hit or play catch to improve your fitness further. 

Using Vaseline offers a host of advantages:

• It protects the leather glove during rough weather conditions. 
• It maintains the moisture of the glove so you can adjust it even at a later time. 
• Vaseline gets your glove rid of dirt. 

A simple regular vaseline such as Blueseal Vaseline will work perfectly.

How To Break In A Softball Glove Without Oil?

You can break in a softball glove without oil in several ways – heat, mallet, and conditioners. 

Steaming the glove is a reliable way to break in a glove, and you can do this easily at home. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Steam water using a pot. (Ensure that you do not boil water.)
2. Place the glove above the pot. 
3. Gently get all parts of the glove exposed to steam. 
4. You can soften the pocket region by placing a ball inside it. 

You can try the aforementioned steps if you are breaking in a softball glove for the first time. As you get used to different types of gloves, you can break in by wearing them. 

Wear the glove and then expose it to steam. Keep changing the side so the steam spreads evenly and softens the leather. 

The primary advantage of this method lies in safety. It does the job of moistening the glove, softening, and shaping the glove without demanding tiresome effort.

Related: 6 Baseball Glove Oil Alternatives (#4 Will Surprise You)

How To Break In A Softball Glove With A Break-In Kit?

Commercial break-in kits are available to break softball gloves easily and professionally. It can be difficult for amateur players to source mallets and then break them in properly. In such instances, a break-in kit does the job effortlessly. 

Most kits include an applicator sponge, big ball, break-in formula, and glove wrap. Using these kits can quicken the process and ensure evenness in the fit. 

Here are the steps to follow:

• Use the elastic wrap and grab hold of the glove. 
• Apply break-in oil provided in the kit using a sponge.
• Spread the oil throughout the surface of the glove. 
• Leave it for a couple of days. 

You can then resize or reshape the softball glove like a pro. A key benefit of this kit is that you can use it multiple times for different balls. 

How Long Does It Take To Break In A Softball Glove?

Softening a portion of a softball glove takes a day or two. However, breaking in a softball glove completely can take anywhere between two days and two weeks, depending on the type of leather, size, and requirements. 

Breaking in a softball glove made of leather takes a few nights. Here are a few ways to fasten the process:

• Continue playing catch until you are satisfied with the fit. 
• Apply the steam method to loosen and soften the glove. 
• Allow the glove to be your sleeping accessory, and try sleeping on it for a couple of days. 

Irrespective of your chosen method, breaking in is not easy and needs genuine effort as the readymade leather glove is extremely rigid.

Related: How To Oil A Baseball Glove? (Step-By-Step)