How To Break-In a Baseball Glove [2023]

[@chrisfalkner7216]

Thanks for not over complicating this with impractical stuff that’s not common around the house. Didn’t feel like spending more for the glove accessories than I did for the glove itself.

[@ryanserrano2531]

Fantastic video. My son and I passed on paying the $30 for the store to break it in. We got it feeling almost as good as his 2 year old glove in 2 sessions of breaking in with your methods!

[@ballgloveking]

Love hearing that!!!

[@sssquirrelyalt]

Bro that $30 break in won't do anything but disappoint

[@chadkcmo]

Breaking in your own glove is the best part of buying a new glove

[@brandonjones6386]

@@ballgloveking hey breaking in my sons glove for a couple of days now the pointer finger near the web when closing the glove slides behind the middle finger and you can feel it and see it rub and tuck behind the middle finger is that normal

[@NotExerLol]

@@brandonjones6386yea my other a2000 did that either tighten the laces pretty tight or loosen them

[@CrabbyOldLady]

This is very straightforward and very helpful. I'm a 77 year old woman with a season ticket for my local Double A baseball team. I didn't buy a glove to catch a foul ball. I bought it to slow them down before they conk me in the head. I saw a guy near me get hit in the side of the head by a foul line drive when he was ignoring the game while chatting up his date.

[@CMB15]

Interesting

[@weirddingus4620]

lol

[@MrDeezh]

Out of all the break in videos there is the king of all: How to break in a glove

[@vsapdan6032]

Yup

[@robertpowell5216]

This video is very helpful for me and my son. Got him a size 11 and they said it’s game ready but it’s not. I had not experienced in breaking in gloves but this video helped me a lot.

[@VegasGuy1975]

I’ve seen all your glove break in videos, and this one was the best for infield/outfield gloves. I LOVE the Japanese break in for the catchers mitt video and I’m in the midst of breaking in my new catchers mitt in that style. I figured it would be a 2/3 day mitt beating to get it pliable enough to want to work with. It’s been a week, and I’m still hammering it daily. Past experience breaking in field gloves is DEFINITELY NOT a good indicator on how long it’s going to take to break in a catchers mitt. 😂

[@ballgloveking]

Lol catchers mitts are crazy bro 😂

[@VegasGuy1975]

@@ballgloveking you aren’t kidding. I feel like my arm may be broken in before this catchers mitt is. 😂🤣

[@jeffepley2351]

Nice little refresher before my A2000 break in. Thank ya, sir!

[@pieces2k2know69]

My a2000 jus came in today and was watching your old breakin videos, thank u for this 🙏

[@ballgloveking]

Yes sir 🫡

[@HakuShounen]

Great video! I love the follow along style, and the position specific tips for infielders and outfielders is a great addition.

[@alyssalz21x]

My kids my my new gloves were broken in in no time. Thanks for the great video.

[@ManoaBlack]

I absolutely love the way you break in your gloves. Your one of my favorite content creators. Keep up the good work

[@ballgloveking]

You made my day 🙏

[@spencerfugate6130]

Chris, you’re the man!!! Keep up the great content!!!!

[@ballgloveking]

Thank you bro!

[@BlackAirforcesgaming]

Back in DR we used to break gloves in but putting Vaseline over the pocket and seams then wrapping it around a softball in a warm oven for like 30mins

[@Raisingthreearrows]

Thank you so much bro im starting Minor's in march bro this helped so much thank you you the goat at breaking in gloves

[@ballgloveking]

glad I could help my guy 🙏

[@jdnewton09]

Thank you so much for this video!! My youngest will be starting baseball this year, and your method above was perfect for breaking in his glove. It went from not closing at all to closing so nicely. And, he super enjoyed helping with the beating using a 3-lb weight! 😂 Major thanks again!!

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

This is very helpful for my oldest son’s glove. I bought him an elite golden glove and it’s soooo stiff. I took a couple once’s of neetsfoot oil and only loosened it a little. I will attempt this once I get home this evening.

[@DozenDeuce]

Phenomenal vid. Went through the steps twice, now my son’s new mitt went from stiff as a board to game-ready in ~15 minutes.

[@michaelwong8613]

The glove felt better after 15 minutes of pounding ! Thanks.

[@GeeSly7]

Another Banger video bro! Best in the business! Your camera guys pretty good as well!!!

[@jackesposito1923]

only video you need for breaking in a glove. got my 44 pro stiff game ready in 2 days by following this

[@proedgebiker]

Bought 2 new 24' A1000's for my kids.A Fastpitch 12.5" and a Baseball 12". The Fastpitch was perfectly flat on the palm, whereas the baseball already had palm/finger bubbles. I thought the glove was used, so I returned it and ordered another. Needless to say the replacement also had the same bubbles. I guess it is what it is.

[@CODMAN_14]

dude this really helped me because my glove was SUPER stiff

[@DaytonFagan99]

thank you this is my first time I getting ready for baseball so thankyou

[@whoisjohngalt11]

We have always bought the break-in service at Dicks in the past but those were little league gloves and we had tons of trouble with laces breaking. Just bought our first pro-stiff 44 and followed this video. It was practice-ready in 1 session. A couple of uncharacteristic drops, so will continue to work it, but this is the best method I've ever used. IMO, an 8 lb hand weight is better than the mallet.

[@Joel.Luna.14]

Yeah I just got my a2000 today I went to dicks it didn't really do anything at all it's still super stiff

[@DexterPlayz]

Thanks for the tips! My boy is starting baseball in a couple weeks and the poor little guy can’t close his glove. I’ve been working it, but not beating the crap out of it.

[@ballgloveking]

Absolutely bro!! Good luck to you and your son!

[@moorelaughs3136]

@@ballgloveking No glove oil?

[@eitanpaster5692]

@@moorelaughs3136 glove oil is bad and doesnt help the break in process but just worsens the glove

[@Slomo-Man]

@DexterPlayz I had the same experience at Dick’s sporting goods and they completely ruined my Rawlings Pro-DJ2 with the steamer and pounding so I switched to doing it by myself and it’s so much better

[@normified]

Thank you for this video. I just got into baseball my jr year after not playing for nearly 9 years and wanted to make sure I was breaking in my glove the right way since it's new

[@AceTrainerNoel]

Perfect timing for my new Pro 44 that’s coming in in a few weeks!

[@ballgloveking]

Love to hear it

[@AceTrainerNoel]

You make amazing content man! I’ve been telling my boys about your channel for a while now, I have a couple rec league guys that watch now!

[@TheWrassler]

Same bro

[@Collin_Smeltzer]

Thanks for the video as I just ordered my first 44

[@keltik9187]

This is awesome and detailed. I'm a hockey player & trying to figure out how to break my kids' gloves in. Thanks for the details! Question: where do I fold the thumb to? Ring or ring/pinky? Thumb above or below fingers, or in a straight line? Thanks.

[@ballgloveking]

Very glad it’s helpful! Try to make it go thumb to ring/pinky. At a younger age a deeper pocket is typically the best thing for them

[@softballscoop]

Great Videos.... you have inspired me to create a channel with specifics to the game of softball and content related to that. I'll be giving your channel and methods credit. Thanks !!!

[@OfficialTylerHerro]

Been waiting for this for a year

[@ballgloveking]

Lol

[@bg8807]

2:03 was funny had me spitting coffee.

[@chadsproshop]

What was funny

[@bg8807]

@chadsproshop He went ham on it. Lithen up looser.

[@wildfan9730]

Never broke in a glove before and this was perfect

[@ballgloveking]

Love to hear it!

[@dezmartin6286]

Thank you this video really helped me out. I love your content.

[@TheEditor17584]

Thank you for this video I don’t have any gloves that are new but I’m hopping I get a new glove for my birthday and when I do I’ll watch your videos

[@declanspanko7688]

love your vids your my favorite youtuber!!!

[@ballgloveking]

Thank you bro 🙏

[@declanspanko7688]

@@ballgloveking of course i could watch you all day and i follow you on insta

[@owdraper]

Worked awesome! Thank you

[@Noh8editz]

You posted this the day before my new ask z9 came lol Great vid 👍🏻

[@GolfSux]

I bought a mizuno varcity as I just started playing slowpitch. Havent played since high school. I got it because it felt broke in brand new, but after 3 games and 6 practices, it is insanely floppy. Too the point where if a ball slightly hits the top of a finger, it folds it over and I lose the ball. My wife will flip if I get another glove after 3 games, but next season I think I am getting a stiffer glove with better leather (this one feels kinda like suede) and break it in properly.

[@ninjazxd]

I drilled a hole in a baseball and epoxy a stick into it and use it as a mallet. Works great.

[@Presto_Clipz]

Love the vids dawg keep it up

[@ballgloveking]

Thanks bro 🙏

[@josephpadilla91]

Absolutely good information. Much appreciated

[@adamrhoffman]

@ballgloveking Need some advice. Love your videos, been watching here and KZbin for awhile! My son got a new 44 glove about a year ago. Recently we noticed that it has “flattened out” quite a bit and he asked about to make it back to being a little “deeper pocket”. Any ideas/suggestions on how to deepen his pocket? Hot water treatment? Mallet? Thanks so much!!!

[@alexeiromanov827]

you should make a video on breaking in an outfeilders glove

[@baileysmith4744]

with the amount of break-in videos you do i would have thought there was a new method by now

[@ballgloveking]

Lol I like doing a new one every year with a slight different approach to the video itself. This year I tried to make it way less complicated. Hit the glove till you can practice with 🤷‍♂️

[@fatless333]

Please make a video on how to properly flare a glove correctly. Not to many of those videos out so it’ll definitely be great for views

[@Paytonwatterson21]

I love watching your videos

[@ballgloveking]

Thanks bro 🙏

[@robertbenson3474]

i find that breaking in using 2-in-the-pinky is immensely easier than traditional. there is simply more leverage to close the glove. do you agree? im working on an A2000 1786 right now... closes easily 2-in-the-pinky but still will not close traditional. if i force close traditional, i can see a bubble developing between the pinky and ringer finger on the glove. do you have any advice?

[@Braedynlee87]

I’m did everything you did and it didn’t work my glove didn’t change so doesn’t work

[@ballgloveking]

lol what glove do you have?

[@Braedynlee87]

@@ballgloveking and 2023 a2000

[@ballgloveking]

So I can’t help much over text but make sure you mash it don’t smack it. You need to force the leather to move in new ways and kneed it. Smacking it doesn’t help so smash it instead! If you’re already doing that then you likely need to just do it more and more. As soon as you can squeeze enough to hold the ball in there just play a ton of catch!

[@Braedynlee87]

@@ballgloveking ok got in thanks

[@luisdavidbatista5528]

Can I repeat the same process over and over until it feels good or should there be a certain amount sessions for the glove to be preserved? I've tried a couple times but the glove seems to still be very stiff. I have the Wilson A2000 Superskin.

[@ballgloveking]

yeah man keep on repeating the process. I wouldn't use hot water more than once maybe twice if you're dong that. buty everything else needs to be repeated. Once you can play catch that is by far the best thing. Just use it once you can!

[@luisdavidbatista5528]

@@ballgloveking Thank you for replying. I'm afraid of the hot water process since it is my first time breaking in a glove from the beggining. But, I'll consider it if I don't see much improvement. Thank you again.

[@gottamaintain46]

The song that started at 6:50 I like what music do you use?

[@mikegarcia7743]

Thanks! In your other "short"' video, you said not to break in the heel area to keep it stiff?

[@TAXYN-bl6zr]

What will happen if I break it in 2 in the pinky but I use it traditional

[@ohiogyattrizzlerfanumtax]

Thank you! Where did you get the mc26 in that color? I can't find it

[@ballgloveking]

It’s old You can only get it second hand

[@kle2217]

Could I use a dead blow hammer? I have a big orange colored one in my garage.

[@Marylandterpenes831]

I made a mallet drilled a hole in a baseball n stuck a wooden handle in there! I need one of them lil weights!

[@The_Chunku]

Thank you for the very informative video! You did mention flaring the finger tips, but you did not demonstrate that in the video. Is it done the same way as just hammering it into position? Or is there a different method that is more effective.

[@AaronSilva-jo9oh]

And the outfield glove is quite shallow and show is the first base glove. But the infield model has a in between medium and deep pocket.

[@rich1958]

Should you oil before or after the glove beat down?

[@redline102]

Most high end gloves have some oil retained and I believe the recommendation from most glove makers is oil after breaking in, and after a season

[@Jman1213]

I ordered an ssk z5 today same web and stuff, I’m saving this video. The glove says it’s going to come jun 13-17 I have a tournament in Ohio were leaving jun 16 hopefully it comes in on time if not I’m gonna watch this vid and do it in the car 😅

[@jeffcornelison888]

Great video!

[@bmarsh4444]

Thank you for this video. I enjoy watching all of your content!! As a parent of a 9u baseballer, I wonder if you could address breaking in and/or choosing the best glove for a young/intermediate player. You mention the little league break-in in quite a few of your videos but I'm still unsure if that's a good or bad thing. I know they have smaller hands and aren't as strong as older players. I'm wondering if the type of glove or how it's broken in could help them be more successful and confident. Thanks for all the great content!

[@big_boi_13200]

Thanks you this I have a new glove coming

[@ballgloveking]

Yes sir! 🫡

[@stratmaster8]

Thanks for the video. Is it bad if my pinky side hinge is a little lower than in between the 2 laces? The hinge starts where the bottom laces is.

[@ytube0412]

Would you make the pocket in the same spot for an outfielder glove? Nice video. Would be great to see a full outfielder glove break in like this.

[@ballgloveking]

Yes sir you would

[@destroso]

I would like to know what you do differently for two in the pinky…

[@sehrc9278]

do you suggest having the glove close from thumb to pinky ?

[@-LEMING-]

Could you please do a review on Harrison Bader's glove

[@Reply124]

We’re did u get the ssk z9 from cuz I have been trying to find it and I can’t find it anywhere. Please tell me.😂

[@Marylandterpenes831]

Thoughts on R2G HOH? Just ordered a Mizuno pro select the Tatis is on sale ! Not the Kip one, the steerhide!

[@_skyhawk]

Im a 13u outfielder. I go 2 in the pinky Should I try to close my glove thumb to ring?

[@OfficialTylerHerro]

Should I break in and form a ssk training glove?? PLEASE RESPONG

[@Talkative_Ducky]

Just got my new 44, very excited about this since I got the pro stiff package so, its really really stiff.

[@ballgloveking]

Let’s go, love to hear it

[@koln7824]

can you do all the stuff you did with the weight with the mallet?

[@brandonjones6386]

Have a idea of starting a company that’s a third party for glove companies. Where players can rent/test out different glove companies, sizes, webs and types of leather. In order to decide what’s best before someone drops a ton of money on a glove. Would love to get your feed back on the idea and possible problems along the way

[@andrewking1414]

Hey! Got a 44 in my son made and started working it in same as you do here and it wound up with a bad palm crease barely broke in it just refused to break in without that crease. Is that a 44 issue? They are willing to refund me and my son is thinking a2000 or ssk z9 . I don't want that to happen again just curious if you think it would be the 44 brand or way I did it? Just never had this issue before

[@zeDDy03]

have you found breaking in Wilson a2000 gloves to be hard? I just got my Superskin Spin Control a2000 and MAN is it stiff!!! Does this method work on superskin gloves?

[@PumpkinHeadOfc]

Thank you so much it worked so good

[@ThomasBeuning]

What is the best glove for a third baseman and a shortstop

[@DotSick]

Any different approach when breaking in a Japanese style glove like an Asics, Kubota Slugger, Etc?

[@ballgloveking]

Definitely some differences Gonna be doing an Asian Style Break In video soonish

[@granycakes39]

Hi Is having wrinkles in the palm and near the fingers a bad thing . If so how can I fix it

[@blackchackoo6770]

I’m gonna assume breaking in a men’s softball glove would be a little different? Looking at getting a 44 pro, any advice. Was never really good at breaking in gloves lol

[@2GoodR.J.]

I used a bat for the first part and it worked like you showed with a 5 pound weight

[@adamngremlin.]

Just wanna know will a glove mallet work instead of a five pound weight because I don’t have a weight

[@ballgloveking]

Glove mallet will work perfect! 👌

[@Rustyfilmcheese]

You should make a vid of all the budget gloves from each brand. All gloves under $150, what brand provide the best budget glove for players who aren’t beginners, but not all in yet.

[@adamrhoffman]

Great video! Can you do a video on glove care?

[@jjush11]

Would you recommend the “Hit and Roll Over Method” for infielders? Also, should I mallet an H-Web?

[@ballgloveking]

I’d work on the web a little bit yeah And yeah I use it with all my infield models. If you want a thumb to pinky close I’d do the roll over a lot

[@OfficialTylerHerro]

I have a a2k 2022. I’m breaking it in according to your video. I have had it for 4 months. When I catch the ball, it goes straight to the web (even though that’s not where I broke in the pocket). I am asking you because u are the best baseball glove you tuber. Please help. Need advice. Or is that normal

[@gaberaids2081]

its normal at least for an outfield glove

[@ballgloveking]

It’s just a guess but it may be a combination of how you catch the ball and hire you close the glove with your hand Once again just a complete guess 🤷‍♂️

[@TheRonPaulGirls]

What type of conditioner do you use?

[@tomashu0074]

As you started to say "do not hit your fingers"... I f'd up my thumb. See you next season.

[@rhettf2811]

I know this video was awhile ago, but i’m having trouble with my a2000. I use this method, it works great, then within an hour it feels stiff again. Any tips on how or what i need to do to fix it?

[@gameingdeluxe]

love youre vids

[@NRB_75]

Bought my 11yo a size 11 Rawlings. (He is a 2nd baseman) I dont have a 5lb weight but i have a big mallet at home. Would that be suffice?

[@E._jaych]

does a hammer work i dont have any weights or a mallet

[@rockylopez1371]

3 in the pinky is great for outfielders

[@ParkerG397]

So you’re talking about a slight color change, I just got a blonde 44. Will it change the color?

[@ballgloveking]

No When I say color change I just mean you can see a little wear and tear from me hitting it. It’s just slight scuffs that go away over time

[@ParkerG397]

@@ballgloveking ok thanks

[@noahhobson7518]

I have a question, so the padding on the catchers mitt does it matter if it’s wide or not

[@tylerferrell6247]

What if we do two in the pinky and finger out at the same time?

[@justincregar2883]

Can i use generic leather conditioner and cleaner for my glove

[@yourfriendlyneighbor-x3x]

Great video. What do you suggest to do when one of the finger stalls is too tight for your finger on a new glove? Thanks!

[@Christopher-oi9jo]

You can pour hot water over the glove then put your hand in the glove, that should stretch out the finger stall.