Baseball players have searched for ways to break in their outfield gloves. And this article will address and give the best steps to take in learning how to break in an outfield glove.
Understand that, unlike infield gloves, outfield gloves are easier to break. And although you can use the outfield gloves as stiff as they are, it is advisable not to beak in so much that the glove does not begin breaking in during your game.
You must take care if you want to successfully learn how to break in an outfield glove because if you make it very floppy, the baseball will pop out.
While there are many videos you can watch online to get this done, allow us to give you the correct steps that the baseball glove guru Shigeaki Aso suggests.
Table of Contents
Breaking in an outfield glove
The aim of breaking in the best outfield glove is to ensure the pinky and thumb areas are stiff with pockets and fingers that are slightly loose.
Since breaking in an outfield glove is to make it easier to use, you don’t need to completely break it in. Our four step process of breaking in an outfielder glove ensures that it matches your preference perfectly. So, the steps to follow as you learn how to break in an outfield glove include the following:
- Pour warm water
- Squeeze the outfield glove
- Stretch the glove
- Use a mallet to deepen the pocket
Now we will be going into more detail with each of the steps. You won’t need anything crazy for how to break in an outfield glove. So, let’s start right now!
Step one: Pour warm water
The first thing to do is to pour warm water into the pocket and palm of the glove. It is not boiling water, nor is it hot water. Lukewarm water is perfect for this step.
Just get warm water into your glove as it will soften the process you are to allow the glove to go through. You must pour this warm water through the finger sides also.
Step two: Squeezing the outfield glove
With the glove positioned towards your chest, ensure they face backward with their fingers, then take its thumb and pinky finger before squeezing it. Feel free to squeeze it, as it is needed at this point.
You must keep moving the pinky and thumb back and forth in push and pull motions. It will lead to the heel pad having a softer feel.
Due to this back and forth, the outfield glove will get closer to the state you need before your big game.
Step three: Stretching the glove
You must stretch the glove from the top to its laces in this step. And as you do this, remember that the tops and laces may start coming undone, do not panic, as this is sometimes expected.
And when the glove begins drying out, everything will return to its initial condition. Once again, only stretch it a little if your plan is not to make the laces and finger top very loose.
Step four: Making use of a mallet
Once stretching is completed, start forming the pocket of the outfield glove the way you want it. You should pick up the best baseball glove mallet at this point to get the job done.
If you want a shallow or deeper pocket, make up your mind beforehand, then begin swashing the glove’s pocket for a specific period.
The mallet will be used to pound the glove effectively. The outfield glove will be positioned vertically to the side of your thumb before punching its thumb side with the mallet.
More so, you will pound the pinky finger side. You should fold and unfold the glove continually. With this pounding, you can easily wear and remove the glove.
Ensure you do not wrap your glove using a rubber band whenever you round up. The rubber band will only curl the pinky and thumb toward some another before it shrinks the catching sections.
You must note that you can break in the outfield glove by using it in playing catch. Therefore, while playing catch, it is best to move to the finger position known as 0-1-1-2.
In this position, the ring and pinky finger will be placed in the pinky finger while the index finger of your glove will turn into the pocket extension.
All these enable the glove to close strongly and have an increased pocket section.
Conclusion
While we have provided you with the necessary steps to break in an outfield glove, you should read up on this article, so you can avoid making mistakes like floppy the glove. This is an important part of being a good outfielder in baseball.
