How do you break in a pro preferred catcher's mitt?

Answer 1

Rub glove oil over the entire glove, paying special attention to the inside, palm, and pocket. Find a spot where the ball feels most comfortable to your hand inside the pocket and put a ball there (Some people heat it up in the oven at 350 for 5-8 minutes) wrap shoelaces around the glove so that it holds the ball tightly and let it sit for about 24 hours. Next, open it up and work the glove in an open and close motion over and over, and take it out and play catch with it a lot before your first game. Keep the whole glove oiled, especially the inside and laces ( they dry out and break ) and always store it with a ball inside so it remembers that shape. Never lay your glove down flat, open the pocket and put it on the ground when taking hitting practice, a flat glove is next to useless. A lot of professional major league ballplayers use Lanolin instead of glove oil to work their gloves in. Lanolin will keep the glove supple, and its waterproofing properties will keep the glove from drying out. Lanolin (Hydrous) is an ointment that is sold to treat dry skin, and can be purchased by the pound at your local pharmacy, Walgreens, Rite-aid etc.

Answer 2

What I would do is oil it, also just play catch with it a lot and catch bullpens. that's about it. We used lanolin-based shaving cream repeatedly and it still took the better part of a year before the mitt was ready to be used in a game. Now, two years after that, the mitt is like butter! My son plays tournament ball so the mitt gets plenty of use. Don't be surprised if you are re-lacing the web within a year or so. I think all the lanolin really softened the original lacing. If you have access to a batting cage, use that to catch balls. As you sit around watching your favorite movie, constantly work the glove. It is a real labor of love, but it is worth in. Nothing performs like a well-broken in Pro preferred.

Answer 3

Oil it very well with a quality leather conditioning oil. Available at harness shops/tack shops/hardware stores. Work it into the leather, rubbing hard enough to get the leather warm to the touch. Now put the glove on and seat a ball just the way you would catch it. In the webbing, in the palm, inbetween, your choice. Now remove the glove with the ball still in place. Stuff both of them down a boot, locking ball and glove together as one. Don't have a boot? How about an old nylon? Wrap it in a good rope. Anything non-sticky to lock that ball in place. Put it in a moderately warm spot NOT HOT(next to a radiator/stove/under your electric blanket) out of the sun, for 12 - 24 hours. Take it out and play catch with it. How does it feel? If not perfect, do it all again.

Answer 4

If you want the circumference of the glove to increase, you should stuff tennis balls into the netting and tape them there. Maybe leave it overnight.

If you want your glove to close more easily, you can open up the back part of the glove and clamp it into the closed position with a large clamp. Before using the glove for a practice or game, you may want to wet the inside of your glove. Not damp, soaking wet. (Sorry if that sounds kinda gross). Another thing you could do is to simply open and close it repeatedly in free time.

Answer 5

Either put a ball in it, wrap rubber bands around it and put in under a couch or mattress, run over it ten times with your car, or put it in the microwave for 2 minutes. (Careful it will be hot)

~Hope this helps~

Answer 6

what i do is: either use glove conditioning oil and rub it in everyday, or use shaving cream. make sure you oil it everyday, and throw with it everyday.

and when you go to bed, put a Baseball in the pocket you want to form, and wrap it up with a belt or rubber bands and put it under your mattress.

Answer 7

play catch & oil it do not put it in a oven put vasaline on it

Answer 8

you wear them everywhere