Almost all softball players get excited when they get a new glove, before they put it on and notice that their skin feels stiff. The tough, stiff leather of the glove will make it difficult for players to move and catch, and you probably won't have time to loosen them up naturally. Fortunately, there are a few common ways to make new softball gloves softer, pliable, and gripping tighter. Try these methods so that your glove can now catch the ball like a magnet.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Loosening Gloves Using Pressure or Impact
Step 1. Use gloves to play catch and throw
The surest way to loosen new softball gloves is to wear them as often as possible. Thus, gloves are used according to their function and there is no risk of the material being damaged by using unconventional methods. The disadvantage of this method is that it takes a long time for the gloves to become soft enough.
When catching a softball with your new glove, focus on wrapping and squeezing the ball with the area around your thumb and index finger to form what's called a pocket. This step contours the glove's natural softball size and shape and makes catching the ball easier
Step 2. Squeeze the glove by hand
Use both hands to bend, pull, stretch, squeeze, and roll the glove. Loosening gloves manually takes time, but you can make up for it with other activities. Eventually, repeated contact will soften the glove's skin.
- Try squeezing new gloves while watching television, chatting with friends, or waiting for a traffic jam.
- The natural oils on the hands are also great for conditioning stiff gloves.
Step 3. Roughen the gloves
Unleash your aggression into a new glove to loosen it up. Hit, kick, stomp, hit with a bat, or throw a new glove against a wall. It may look like you're breaking the glove, but this method mimics the impact the glove will take when you play it. Just make sure you don't damage any weak areas of the glove, such as the seams.
Softball gloves are made of thick and strong leather so they don't break easily as long as you don't go to extremes, such as running over them with a car or dropping them from a high place
Step 4. Sleep with gloves on
One traditional way to loosen new gloves is to fold them around the base of your fingers, tuck them under the mattress, and sleep them for 1-2 nights. This method is effective thanks to prolonged constant heat and pressure from the body. As it warms up, the gloves begin to form into a ball, and your body mass will loosen the tension from the new skin.
- Insert the ball into the glove before you screw it to create a pocket on the glove instead of flattening it.
- Play catch and throw with new gloves during the day and sleep at night. If you do it regularly, the gloves will soften in a short time.
Method 2 of 3: Softening Gloves Using Other Tools
Step 1. Apply oil to soften the gloves
Purchase a bottle of conditioning oil to put on the gloves. Pour a coin-sized amount of oil onto a washcloth or sponge and rub it over the palms, fingers, and seams of the gloves. The glove oil will soften the skin, and once it settles down, can protect it from harsh impacts, dirt, friction, and other elements during hard play.
- It is important to treat the seams and netting of the glove with oil as this part absorbs most of the stress when catching and gripping the ball so flexibility must be maintained.
- Don't waste oil. Use enough oil to coat the gloves, and wipe off any excess oil that appears on the skin. Too much oil will drench the skin, making it heavy and prone to movement.
Step 2. Wrap the glove tightly with the rubber strap
Place the softball in the glove pocket, fold it around the ball and tie it with thick rubber bands, twine, or old shoelaces. Stretch or tie the string in an “X” shape so that the glove is stuck at the top (near the fingers), and the bottom (at the base of the palm). Store gloves overnight. Over time, the glove will relax and begin to conform to the shape of the ball.
Since you're loosening a softball glove, make sure not to wrap it with a ball that's smaller than a standard-sized softball
Step 3. Hit the glove with a wooden hammer or bat
If you don't have a friend to play with to play with, and you don't want to throw the ball into your glove over and over again, use a wooden hammer, bat, or other similar object to mimic the impact of the ball. Hit the center of the palm and the gap between the thumb and forefinger of the glove (where the ball will be) using the tool of choice. Oil gloves when not in use to protect them from repeated impact.
- In professional baseball, this is called “manhandling” and can be used to soften a new glove and keep it flexible when not in use.
- Grip the bat firmly when hitting the glove so that the skin gets used to squeezing around objects, like when catching a ball. This step will also stretch the seam a bit.
Step 4. Leave the ball in the glove when not in use
Whenever gloves are idle because they are not being used for play or training, put a softball in your pocket and store it. If you do this regularly, the glove will eventually conform to the shape of the ball permanently. This is a basic way to soften new gloves and maintain them as the leather tends to change shape and texture over time
You can still wrap gloves and balls with rubber when they are going to be stored. If it is soft, the gloves do not need to be wrapped. Keeping the ball in your pocket is enough to help keep it in shape
Method 3 of 3: Softening Gloves Using Heat
Step 1. Put the gloves in the microwave
Soak the new glove in water, shake it or wring it out to remove any excess water, then place it in the microwave. Set the time to less than 1 minute at a time to prevent the glove skin from burning, melting, or bending. This method is odd and has the potential to damage the glove, but it is recommended by some of the top MLB players.
- Although it is recommended by professional players, if you are worried about the condition of the gloves in the long term, you should not use this method. Heating can cause the glove to shrink or move, and the result is that it breaks down more quickly.
- Do not use the microwave method if the gloves have metal parts.
Step 2. Heat the gloves in the oven
Preheat the oven to about 300 degrees. Rub some oil or shaving cream into the gloves to condition them. Place the gloves in the oven for about 3 minutes, just long enough for the skin to soften and the oil to soak in. Once the gloves are out of the oven, let them cool to the touch, then put them on and try a game of throw and catch a few times.
This heating method is safer than a microwave, but will still damage the leather if it stays on high heat for too long
Step 3. Vaporize the gloves
Steaming is said to be the safest and most reliable way to warm up softball gloves. Take your gloves to a professional to have them done safely, or simply do them yourself at home. All you have to do is fill the cauldron with water, boil it, and hold your gloves over the cauldron to let the steam hit. Gently rotate the glove so that the steam hits every part, and ensure that the ball stays in the pocket so that the glove adjusts to its shape.
- Wear gloves when steaming to help them conform to your hand, and also protect your hands from the heat of the steam.
- Evaporation will gradually introduce moisture into the gloves, without the need for soaking so as not to damage the skin.
Step 4. Put the gloves in the hot car
If you soften new softball gloves during the summer, wait until the weather is hot and leave the gloves on the dashboard or the trunk of the car for a few hours. The heat will soften the skin, and the humidity in the atmosphere will loosen the gloves and increase their elasticity. This is the easiest way to loosen gloves without heat, and the risk of damaging the leather is minimal
Maybe the gloves should be dried in direct sunlight because the intensity can indent and wrinkle the skin
Tips
- Use the same gloves for playing and training so you get hit more often.
- Every time you catch the ball or hit the glove to loosen it, focus on squeezing the area around the pocket so it's soft enough and fits into the shape of the ball.
- Don't waste your money buying a new glove "relaxing" kit. These devices usually contain only ordinary oil and expensive rubber used to wrap gloves.
- When oiling gloves, you should only use baby oil, lanolin, or other oils designed for baseball and softball gloves. Manufacturers usually include recommendations with new gloves.
- Even with this method, the gloves will take some time to fully limp. Do not rush and be patient so as not to damage the gloves.
Warning
- Never leave gloves in the microwave for more than 30-40 seconds at a time. If the microwave method doesn't work, stop and try another method. You can damage your new gloves even more if you continue with the microwave method.
- Monitor the gloves while they are in the microwave or oven. In addition to damaging the leather, heating the gloves also poses a risk of fire if you forget them.
- Be careful not to burn your hands or wrists when wearing gloves while steaming over a pot of boiling water.
