Q&A for How to Break in a New Baseball Glove

Just pound it in with a ball. If it's a brand new glove and you got pretty firm leather, the better the glove, the more stiff it's going to be and the longer it will take to break in — but the longer it will last, too. So just throw a ball into the pocket of the glove over and over again. You can also use a little bit of oil, but not a lot; don't overdo it. Other than that, just play catch, and the better you get, the more you want to play with somebody that can throw hard. If you're playing catch and going hard and you're catching the ball in the pocket, then it will start breaking in.

Olive oil will deteriorate the leather. If it's an inexpensive glove, then that would work; however, if it's a higher-end glove, buy some glove oil.

You can, but put something in the pocket of your glove so it doesn't become completely flat.

No, as it might weight down the glove or harm the leather.

Yes, but with the same warnings as a microwave and oven. Do not leave it there for very long.

Use a baseball.

Not really, but people tend to use larger gloves for softball.

I have always marked my gloves on the inside finger part using a permanent marker. I never mark the outside leather.

Conditioner is mostly used for maintaining your glove, while oil helps more with breaking the glove in.

Soak it in warm water until the whole glove is wet. Let the water drain out, then wrap it with a softball. Let it sit for a day, then dry it in the sun. Add your glove cream, then shape it with a wood glove mallet. Throw it in the dryer and let it bang around until the leather is soft. Take it out and you're ready to play catch.

It will destroy the glove. There is a reason why baseball gloves are stiff. They are supposed to be that way. Over time using it, the glove will mold to your hand and "fit like a glove". Using oil, microwaves, boiling, or rubber bands will make the glove loose, but it will shorten the lifetime of the glove. It will make the glove floppy and unusable. Instead, try leather conditioner. Conditioner moistens the leather and removes the cracks.

Lighter gloves usually become darker with the use of glove oil, so yes, it’s normal.

It will not harm your microwave; just remember not to leave it in the microwave for too long.

You can, but it can dry out the leather and turn the glove stiffer once it dries.