How to Break in a Leather Wilson GST Football

In this video I go through our 8 Step Process For Breaking in a Leather Football (Wilson GST). The Wilson GST leather football is one of most popular and used footballs for high school teams, college teams and even flag football players.
When it comes to the Wilson GST a lot of times people didn't realize that the football needs to be fully broken in before using in a game or on the practice field to really get the maximum potential out of the football, and they don't realize how long that break in process can take.
Our team here at Ball Breakers is the leaders in the industry when it comes to broken in and game time ready footballs. Instead of having to go through that long break in process, our team does the work for you!
To learn more or to see what footballs we break in, head on over to our site ballbreakersinc.com/
We also have a written guide of our full 8 step process on how to break in a Wilson GST Leather Football
ballbreakersinc.com/blogs/edu...
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Our 8 Step Process Breakdown
2:18 - Step 1 Dye Removal
5:12 - Step 2 Shaving Cream
7:25 - Step 3 Removing Shaving Cream
11:13 - Step 4 Apply Conditioner
13:30 - Step 5 Drying For 24 Hours
14:34 - Step 6 Applying Mud
21:39 - Step 7 Wax On
24:39 - Step 8 Go Play With It

[@ballbreakers8102]

If you guys have any additional break in tips and tricks that you have used please feel free to share below, we love hearing all the unique things people have tried when breaking in a new leather football. Also, check out our written guide that outlines these 8 steps for you to easily follow bit.ly/3oWDNp7

[@Nettie107]

Hey I have a question I broke in my football and it’s not dark at all it looks like a brand new ball it has terrible feel the grip there is no grip it has no grip it is also very hard I have done dye removal shaving cream conditioner and wax but not mud yet

[@Lucas_Tulic]

Hello from Argentina! I recently bought a Wilson football. It's a cheap one, from synthetic leather, but I wanna modify it. What I would like to know is what is the white lace on top made of. Mine has one of those PVC laces which is old and britle and yellow-ish, but I would like to use the other type of lace (not leather) but I have no idea what it's commercial name is. Could you please tell me what's that lace is called? Thank you!

[@georgefloydspaceshuttlepro1839]

Is it possible to slowly break in a football with just hand rubbing it? I've broken in new baseballs after hand rubbing them for a few days.

[@evan88383]

@@Nettie107 Any solution I just completed the steps other than mud which I don't have and it's has no grip other than the stripes and laces and is not as dark. Got rid of most of the dye but no grip.

[@brkpge]

Was searching for a holiday gift for my son.. wanted to get the football and break it in for him... Watched many other videos and then found this one and decided to give ballbreakers a call... Called after hours and Dustin picked up the phone and explained the process.. Told me it took approx 2 weeks with his current backlog.. I had a short window and needed it sooner.. Dustin texted back the next day, told me he got one for me completed and shipped it out at no extra charge.. Arrived in 2 days just in time.. Ball looks great.. Service was great.. Highly recommend..

[@ballbreakers8102]

We appreciate the kind words & hope your son loves the football :)

[@bigcat369]

👍

[@paulbilger3782]

This has got to be a new thing. I’m 72 years old, played flag football, PopWarner, high school, and one year college. Never broke in a football. We just went outside and threw it and kicked it, and played.

[@Maxwell22231]

The process is spot on but super involved. Next time I will buy direct from y’all but it was fun to go through the process at least once with my son. Great concept and business model and great it all ultimately gets these kids outside. Keep it up

[@Idontknow-hl5mh]

I really appreciate it I got to break in my gst now I will recommend you if someone wants a leather football or wants to properly break it in

[@davidfoulke8791]

To speed up the dye removal process (Step 1) a little, I have had great success with a wet Mr. Clean Magic Eraser "Extra Durable" sponge. Start slow and light with the rubbing and rinse and rotate often. Then wipe with a damp cloth. Also Blue or Frogtape (green)Painters tape will help keep the stripes clean during the condition and mud processes.

[@FluxifyFN]

TYSM THIS HELPEDDD

[@hankikewoj8863]

with using a wet towel to wipe the mud down it essentially removes 70% of its purpose. I like to brush the mud until it’s off, and to make it shine just wipe it with a dry towel or cloth. it may take longer but it gives better results.

[@snomo3397]

Wait so do you just skip the wet towel process whole and just brush it dry? Does this affect the ball? Thanks in advance

[@Guss1188]

@@snomo3397 I just finished the mudding process on a ball right now actually. I decided to skip wiping the mud off with a wet towel and just go straight into brushing it off dry. It does take a lot longer. But I like how the ball feels. Most other videos I have seen say to just brush it off also. I dont know any science behind wiping the mud off wet versus brushing it off dry. But from personal experience I think brushing it off dry is the way to go. Tho I dont think you could go wrong either way.

[@snomo3397]

@@Guss1188 thank you for your response I will definitely take this into account. I just ordered the mud and it should be here any day now.

[@quinlanhackel6098]

True. Using the wet towel makes the ball red again. Brushing was taking forever so I thought it would speed it up, but I ended up having to re-mud parts of the ball because of it

[@kennyehm2004]

Great video! Worked like a charm! Never knew about the shaving cream.

[@wrpgaming2296]

i dont have the wilson brush the mud or wax but i just used mud from a lake and a hairbrush and skate wax and it still worked incase you dont have any of that stuff

[@henryshoemaker7321]

Perfect Video

[@benfranklin352]

I put blue panters tape on the strips it helps keep conditioner and mud off of them

[@user-vt1ep3bg8j]

Does the tips of the football soften after time? Did this process and they're still hard.... hope everyone catches correctly with their hands

[@matthewjesson4667]

Great video 👍

[@stevenguerra8210]

The best!

[@FlyingFish42]

Is it ok if the laces get yet while you wipe down the ball at the beginning of the process

[@Desired_AqeZ]

Will the ball turn darker if u just only mud and brush the ball firmly

[@Indy711]

I know this is a stupid question but can I use surf board wax on my ball i know it won add as much grip as the actual wax but could I use it to try to get a little bit more grip???? Or will it ruin my ball

[@corysilseth9123]

Conditioned my first two footballs and a few panels have very different coloring. Is this this typical?

[@riotxl8503]

do i have to use the brush to wipe off the shaving cream or can i just use a rag

[@eatingmywheaties]

Legend

[@ChuckNaZty29]

Do you have to put on the mudding

[@uphillbattle5827]

Does it hurt to wipe the excess shaving cream off with a wet washcloth after brushing? It would seem to remove excess residue.

[@chrisallen1051]

@ballbreakers8102 Do you repeat this entire process from time to time or is it a one time thing?

[@Swayze1997]

Can I use any leather conditioner? Wilson conditioner not in stock

[@DallasDaKidFelder]

So do you have to purchase the tack spray??

[@ballbreakers8102]

Happy New Year Everyone! We wanted to give a big Thank You to the overwhelmingly positive and great feedback everyone has provided, and going into 2022 we want to start creating some new content that you guys find helpful. With that being said the best way for us to create content that is actually helpful is by listening to our great community and their feedback. So if you have anything specific around breaking in footballs, different types of footballs, products, tips, football reviews etc. that you would like to see more on, leave a comment down below and we will make sure to give you a shoutout if we make a video around your question.

[@littleshadyify]

Hey guys, i'm from Austria and unfortunately there is no way to get any similar muds over here. Would it be possible to use sea mud musk as an alternative?

[@drob759]

@@littleshadyify I would recommend if you want to test a different type of mud, put a small amount on a small area on the football, let it sit for 24 hours then see how it comes out when you remove it.

[@SurtainProductions]

One question, does it matter which leather conditioner you use??

[@TMAUGHAN24]

I have got the dye off and conditioned a couple times.. my ball is still VERY hard. Where do I go from here?? Condition again? Too late for shaving cream?

[@yannikwerdin9413]

I accidently put the prep Conditioner First on the Ball is that Bad for the Ball or can i Start over with the towel again???

[@3D205TV]

Thanks

[@loofy26]

Befroe game, APC + tooth brush on laces and stripes. perfect routine GG

[@justinmartinez9912]

Apc?

[@jukkes-sl7co]

When removing the paint from the ball with the towel, do you also go over the stripes and laces or is that untouched throughout the entirety of the process?

[@turtle6k543]

Untouched the entire process

[@ballbreakers8102]

Don't use conditioners or anything on the stripes and laces

[@masonfine5518]

If I don’t have the conditioner how much will it effect the ball

[@derekmaldonado5547]

Can we use any other type of conditioner?

[@colbycrawford4776]

Is there a reason you didn't use the tack spray and should you use it?

[@coreyarendt3303]

I was wondering the same thing. You can find the answer a few more lines down. @kb24alldamnday81

[@pepsi8855]

Can I use any kinda conditioner?

[@briancsehoski8854]

If you don’t get the desired darkness are you able to mud again or should the ball still be good?

[@ballbreakers8102]

You can absolutely mud again to make the football darker. Also, using another round of conditioner will help as well. Keep in mind with pure leather footballs, as you use them on the field and in games they will get darker overtime.

[@kb24alldamnday81]

Great video! Thanks for the help. When do you use the tack spray though?

[@ballbreakers8102]

You can use the tack spray when you feel its needed before a game. I like to spray a small amount on a rag or towel and then wipe it on the ball before a game just to add a bit more tack, that is if you feel the ball needs it.

[@controlando8059]

Out of curiosity. In this video you never used the tack spray. Do you ever use it? If so when in the process do you use it?

[@comicbookprodigy995]

The tack spray is just a liquid form of the wax bar, but faster. 2-3 spritzes per panel and wipe it down with the brush. Perfect for using on your ball before playing with it.

[@Hankersonphotography]

Where can I get the mud from..I'm from Belle Glade, FL. Can I use the Muck we're famous for.or is there something special about this "MUD"?

[@t_llesh3621]

Where do you find that type/brand of mud? I've seen other videos where the mud they use looks like the same container and everything. I thought it was baseball mud, so I've googled that too and still didn't see anything like the one your using. I have used Big Game USA's "Red River Mud" which is more sand than a mud, regardless, it worked very well. Still, I'd like to try the type of mud used in this (and many other ball prep) videos. Do you just use literal mud from your back yard? Or, if anyone is familiar with "Red Rive Mud" is it ok to mix real mud with it to make it less sandy?

[@ballbreakers8102]

If you Google Lena Blackburne baseball rubbing mud you will find it. It is known mostly for being used as baseball mud but works great on leather footballs. Also, we have tried the Red River Mud and it doesn't work nearly as well as the Lena Blackburne mud.

[@johncarroll1379]

what wax can i use if i don’t have the bar

[@flxsh_x7736]

I don’t know if u said this or anything but where did u get that mud

[@byuking4589]

Are you able to just put normal mud on it so do not have to buy it?

[@moosehussaini]

hi guys can it be any shaving cream or it has to be foaming?

[@poopy-butt17]

Can it be the same with a NFL ball?

[@vincenthao6686]

Alternatives for the tack bar?

am i able to use just regular mud from my backyard?

[@MichaelGarza-ui5ds]

What’s the tack spray for? Didn’t see you use it

[@seanhylind7486]

Confused on starting wax step 7. Video shows waxing right after brushed off damp mud. No dry time before wax? Isn’t waxing right after trapping water in if it’s not totally dry?

[@kmunny19]

Great detail! With parts of the process like dye removal, or mud removal when using a wet cloth, could the ball simply be rinsed thoroughly in a utility sink or outside, etc? Also, on a more theoretical note, why is the ball dyed in the first place, if it is of notable benefit to remove the dye anyway? In part I ask as looking at Wilson's blog tutorial, they mention nothing of dye removal, which would stand to reason as they are the ones who dye it in the first place.

[@falconshock3677]

Its not actually a dye, its a tanned in tack which is built into the leather. Wiping it down with a wet towel is actually a terrible first step as it just strips away all that tack, what you really want to do is brush the ball for about a couple minutes per panel and this infuses the tack into the leather. Then when you condition and mud the ball, the tanned in tack is actually able to work like its supposed to. Putting any kind of water/plain shaving cream on the ball just speeds up the drying process. If you want to use a shaving cream for conditioner use barbasol aloe based shaving cream.

[@greoalano4504]

is this the same for real leather basketballs?

[@tooraw_toni1245]

one question i have is does this process also work for the wilson gst prime? or is it different steps?

[@ballbreakers8102]

Yes it does work with the GST Prime. We actually break in a lot of GST Prime footballs with this same process.

[@user-nc2nn4ci2l]

Im curious is this is the process of making the ball better for actual use. Why does wilson add all the dye in the first place?

[@byan4003]

Great video! Followed it step by step and got great results. However, the nose of the football is like a rock still. That's after multiple rounds conditioner and shaving cream. Any insight?

[@ryanparker4099]

Find the round edge of a counter top and press it in until it’s as you want it to be. That’s what I do for mine and it works pretty well

[@byan4003]

@@ryanparker4099 I'll give that a shot

[@comicbookprodigy995]

​@@byan4003For future reference, after you've prepped your ball, deflate your ball a 1lb or 2 so there's some give and then press it against the floor or wall for a minute each. Then inflate back to your desired psi.

[@notmeplease3700]

the conditioner makes the football soft?

[@Rocket-zs1ir]

This works for the duke as well right?

[@justinmaurer94]

Is the Barbasol original the only type of shaving cream you can use? I’m unable to find any locally and was wondering if you have any other brands that you would suggest using. Thanks

[@ballbreakers8102]

We only use the Barbasol original, but you don't have to do the Barbasol. Instead you can just use hot wet towel on the ball at the beginning once or twice to get all that dye off and then move to the conditioner steps instead.

[@ballbreakers8102]

Some other people have said they did like using the Purple Barbasol, so you could also try that if you want.

[@justinmaurer94]

@@ballbreakers8102 Thanks for the help and prompt response!

[@falconshock3677]

@@justinmaurer94 Use aloe-based barbasol to avoid drying out the ball in a counter-intuitive process. Also dont put any water on the ball it just fucks things up

[@joseluisaispurobeltran8268]

Does the football have to be 100% leather or can it be synthetic leather?

[@PrimeTimeJayyy]

Can you use shaving Gel for this ball?

[@taivo2520]

Can I do this with NBA official game ball?

[@juanfossatti]

Hi! What would you recommend to do when the ball gets wet, what should i do to take care of the ball?

[@ballbreakers8102]

Do you mean when you are using the football in a game and it gets wet?

[@juanfossatti]

@@ballbreakers8102 after a rainy football game

[@ballbreakers8102]

@@juanfossatti If you are having issues with tack after a rainy game, then you could buy the wilson tack bar/brush and use the tack bar and brush on the ball every few games to help keep grip. If you are having a different issue with it getting wet and ill see how I can help

[@juanfossatti]

Thank you guys! Final question, my football still have a white layer, when it gets cool the ball looses all the grip, what should I do?

[@ballbreakers8102]

@@juanfossatti one thing you can do on cold days if you are struggling with grip on the ball is, you can purchase tack spray from Wilson.com and just spray a small amount on the ball before gametime.

[@thanoscraft7756]

100th sub!!!

[@gobirds1111]

Do any other types of mud work besides the Lena Blackburne one? I am having trouble finding it for sale

[@maddogbilly]

Yes, any silt based mud will work. You just have to strain it to get bigger particles out. There’s good articles out there about the Lena blackburne mud family where they do concede they are just selling mud. People try to say there are special minerals in that mud and whatnot that get absorbed but I don’t buy it. I do mud footballs though, just use topsoil from the garden store and strain it.

[@DragonFury88]

I don’t have access to the mud in my country. Could I substitute with some ceramic mud (used for pottery making)? Thanks in advance .

[@jdc9318]

Everything I've read says it needs to be silt based mud.

[@r-rod8116]

Can you do the same thing for the Duke official nfl game ball?

[@mikew9788]

It is the same process

[@lucasminske4343]

Can I use the water process with the Nike vapor one??

[@drob759]

Yes you can, we have broken in many Nike Vapor ones.

[@lucasminske4343]

@@drob759 yeah thanks bro. I just broke mine in

[@kentoncrosby6796]

And now I know why I loved old used footballs and hated new ones as a kid. The new wasn't broken in.

[@tonynelson7405]

Can you use shaving gel?

[@benblaster2140]

do composite gst work?

[@green3214]

can i use a baseball glove conditioner if i don't have the football conditioner?

[@jaykopf7266]

That’s what I did and it works the same

[@mario.6959]

So I did everything and when i was putting on the football conditioner there was still some paint do I just wet a rag and wipe it down again and put more conditioner on it or can i not do that?

[@ballbreakers8102]

Not sure what you are referring to when you say paint? Do you mean there is still some dye that is on the football?

[@donny3156]

To get the mud off do I have to use the Wilson brush. Or can I use one that I have

[@Lostinfo132]

Any brush will work I use a grinding wheel with a soft brush attachment

[@zekecastillo5021]

Does this work on the youth composite leather footballs?

[@ballbreakers8102]

This method is for leather footballs only and will not work for composite footballs. However, if the youth football is pure leather then yes it will work.

[@tylerscott3192]

If you don’t have a second brush is it ok to use it still?

[@LucasWilson-126]

Yeah👍🏻

[@TylerrFTW]

Would this process work without the mud step? It's hard to find for sale in my area.

[@ballbreakers8102]

Absolutely! Just follow these steps without the mud process and the ball will still come out great

[@Korbin.Delozier]

What’s the tack spray for?

[@Irkrgzidjexuakkavdi]

Are you using 4oz or 16oz of mud

[@mauricehicks6754]

Hello, do you have a link for the mud you use to purchase?

[@ShowtimeDerrick]

I know im late but do you still need it

[@Juan-ie2or]

Hello I don’t know if you will answer but where do I get the rubbing mud ?

[@drob759]

If you search online for Lena Blackburne baseball mud you will find the site you can order it from

[@Scribblescrabbly]

I like to mix some conditioner with the mud before applying it.

[@grantroberts4231]

I have a Wilson Junior sized GST. I am pretty sure it is “composite.” Will this process work on my ball?

[@LucasWilson-126]

No only for a real leather ball

[@marcosarreguin2310]

I added shaving cream to each panel of my leather football, but I'm still getting dye when I applied the leather conditioner. Am I doing something wrong?

[@ballbreakers8102]

Did you start with using the hot water and rag at the beginning to get the dye out before using the shaving cream?

[@marcosarreguin2310]

@@ballbreakers8102 i did, yes. Perhaps I may not have wiped thoroughly enough with my rag.

[@abnyc5424]

Can I buy the products?

[@ramsfan1812]

I didn’t put leather conditioner on before the mudding process is that fine, and can I do it after?

[@ballbreakers8102]

Hey there, you can absolutely put conditioner on after the mudding. We recommend putting conditioner on the ball before and after the mudding but if you missed it before the mudding, I would maybe just do a few coats of conditioner to soften it up even more.

[@ramsfan1812]

@@ballbreakers8102 awesome thank you! So maybe 3-4 layers of conditioner or is that over the top?

[@ballbreakers8102]

@@ramsfan1812 1-2 coats of conditioner should be plenty, and then you can maintain it overtime with using the wilson tack bar and brush

[@itsetm1032]

Could I skip the mud step and go from conditioner to the tack bar?

[@ballbreakers8102]

Yes you definitely can

[@natenicolas9457]

Will this all work on an NFL “duke” game ball?

[@ballbreakers8102]

Yes this actually works Great on Duke footballs. We actually have a video coming out in the next few days which goes through our process on breaking in NFL Duke footballs aswell

[@user-gv3rm8vz4f]

@ballbreakers8102 *2y ago*

[@calebhogan7295]

Will this process work on the Wilson TDY 1300 leather ball?

[@boobler2626]

Yes

[@Kam_Kam26]

You think I can put the mud on before the conditioner

[@ericivory2606]

Will this work without the mud??

[@ballbreakers8102]

Absolutely, you do not have to put the mud on it and the ball will still come out good and keep in mind as you use the football on the field etc. it will get even more broken the more you use it.

[@FreziS]

Brush and wax is out of stock everywhere. Can I just use the hot water and towel and let it dry?

[@PhoebeBikes]

Does this work with any leather Wilson football?

[@grantroberts4231]

doesn’t seem as if they answer any of their comments on here. : (

[@judeyang4136]

how do i get my ball to be smooth

[@VanillaMonkey9]

How do I get my ball to be shiny again after using it?

[@nicoelliott8936]

can we have the links to where you bought all the stuff (mud, wax conditioner, brush, ect.)

[@ronaldontiveros08]

I can also help you with the links, if you still need them

[@nicoelliott8936]

@@ronaldontiveros08 good now, but thanks

[@ColinStRomain]

@@ronaldontiveros08can I get the mud link?

[@cashforrest9450]

can you use just regular mud from outside?

[@ballbreakers8102]

We have tried using just regular backyard mud but the results were not even close to the same. With that being said you are welcome to test it out yourself.

[@jayvoorhees8011]

You didn’t use the tack spray ?

[@andrewfernandez4658]

Can I get mud from outside or do I have to order it ?

[@ronaldontiveros08]

I tried using my backyard mud the first time i ever tried breaking in a ball, definitely order Lena Blackburne lol

[@isaacwigart5716]

Where do you get the footballs from

[@amandadavis9359]

You can order them direclty from Wilson on their official website. They ship direct to consumer.

[@isaacwigart5716]

@@amandadavis9359 but I can’t find youth size

[@turiipipip1920]

@@isaacwigart5716 Wdym there a youth size

[@turiipipip1920]

@@isaacwigart5716 but buy a full size because it will be more grippy and you will grow.

[@user-ni8do7km3x]

Do You have to apply bud