When you first get a new baseball glove, the leather is usually hard and inflexible, which can make it tough to open and close during gameplay. This can also make it harder to catch the ball without some mistakes here and there. However, there’s a trick you can use to speed up the breaking-in process: apply shaving cream to your glove. The shaving cream can help soften the leather, making your glove more comfortable to wear.
Here’s How To Do It:
- Squeeze a small amount of lanolin-based shaving cream onto a soft, clean cloth, like a washcloth or dish towel. Rub the shaving cream into the leather using circular motions. Keep adding shaving cream to the cloth until you’ve covered every inch of the leather.
- Once you’ve massaged the glove with the shaving cream, let it dry overnight on a shelf or table. In the morning, wipe the glove with a dry cloth to remove any excess oils or wet spots.
- To form a deeper pocket in the glove, place a baseball in the webbing of the glove and close it around the ball. Tie the glove shut with shoelaces or a belt, leaving the ball inside. This will help the leather become more flexible as it molds to the shape of the ball. Leave the glove tied up with the ball inside for two to three days, then remove the ties.
A couple of tips to keep in mind: the shaving cream will continue to soak into the leather over time, so your glove will keep softening with use. Also, be careful not to overdo it with the shaving cream or any other leather softeners. Too much can actually weaken the leather and shorten the life of your glove.
