Unveiling the Secrets: Why is Your New Baseball Glove Leather So Stiff?

For baseball enthusiasts, the allure of a brand-new baseball glove is hard to resist. However, the stiffness of a newly purchased glove can be frustrating and can hinder performance on the field. But fear not! In this blog post, we will delve into the reasons behind the stiffness of new baseball glove leather and explore various processes that can help break it in, ensuring a comfortable and responsive fit.

Understanding the Stiffness:

1. The Nature of Leather: Baseball gloves are typically constructed using high-quality leather, which possesses certain inherent characteristics. Leather is derived from animal hides, and during the tanning process, it undergoes a series of treatments to enhance its durability and strength. This process, known as curing, contributes to the stiffness of the leather.

2. Tanning Techniques: Various tanning techniques are employed to create different types of leather, each with its own stiffness level. The most common type used in baseball gloves is steerhide, known for its toughness. The tanning process involves treating the hide with chemicals to prevent decomposition and to improve its resistance to wear and tear. These chemicals contribute to the stiffness of the leather initially.

Breaking In Your Baseball Glove Leather:

1. Conditioning: The first step in softening your new glove is conditioning the leather with the right glove break in product. Normal Leather conditioners or oils lack the solids content (they are too thin) to be truly effective. The product specifically designed to break in glove leather is “Mitt-Spit Break In.” When applied, it will moisturize the material, making it more pliable. Use a small amount of Break In (about 1/4 oz) and apply it evenly across the glove, paying attention to the palm, fingers, and laces. Allow the glove to absorb the conditioner for a few hours or overnight. If the leather is gently warmed up ahead of time, the leather will absorb the softening active ingredient in Break In.

2. Playing Catch: The most enjoyable and practical way to break in a baseball glove is by playing catch. Repeatedly catching and throwing a baseball will help stretch and mold the glove to the shape of your hand. Focus on targeting the pocket area of the glove, as this is where the ball is intended to be caught.

3. Glove Mallet or Ball Techniques: To expedite the break-in process, additional techniques can be used. A glove mallet or a rounded object can be utilized to repeatedly strike the pocket area, encouraging flexibility. Another method involves tightly wrapping the glove around a baseball and securing it overnight. This technique promotes the glove's shape conforming to the ball's size and creates a deeper pocket.

4. Flexing and Bending: Repeatedly flexing and bending the glove's finger stalls, palm, and laces will help loosen the stiffness of the leather. Gently manipulate these areas to encourage flexibility while avoiding excessive force that could damage the glove.

5. Patience and Time: It is important to note that breaking in a baseball glove takes time. The more you use your glove during practices, games, or even casual catch sessions, the quicker the leather will soften and conform to your hand's shape. Be patient and consistent, and avoid rushing the process to ensure the longevity of your glove.

A new baseball glove's stiffness is a result of the natural characteristics of leather and the tanning techniques used during production. However, with proper care and the application of specific techniques, you can soften and mold the glove to fit your hand comfortably, allowing for optimal performance on the field. Embrace the break-in process, enjoy playing catch, and watch your new baseball glove become a trusted companion in your baseball journey.

A creative use of Mitt-Spit Break-in - put it on new laces before you lace up a glove.

Nate Petty of Magnolia, TX came up with a brilliant idea for using the Mitt-Spit Break-in product when re-lacing. Often the new laces are stiff, sometimes stiffer than the glove leather itself. What Nate discovered is if you apply the Mitt-Spit Break-in product to the laces before you start the lacing project, it makes a lacing job a lot easier. Try it. See if it works for you too. Thanks for the tip Nate. Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove.

Does glove oil plug up the pores of baseball glove leather?

There is a lot written on the internet about baseball glove care.  Much of it is wrong, for example, the clogging of leather pores with conditioning agents.  The general theme is that the "conditioner" blocks the ability of the leather to breath.  So let's take a look at the science of it.  

To answer the question directly --- the right glove oil chemistry does not clog leather pores.  However, a heavy, viscous chemistry can.  For example, Vaseline slathered across a piece of leather will NOT soak in, but just sit on the surface.  All it does is add weight to the glove and block the leather (skin) from breathing.  So,  you end up with a greasy, gloppy mess that does in fact block pores.

A good starting point is to ask: Why does leather need regular glove oil anyway?

Here's some background:  Leather has natural moisturizing agents that have been infused into the leather at the tannery.  This is what makes the leather pliable, not stiff as wood.  A average of 25% of the leather's mass is moisture.  Because leather is porous, it breathes.  So, it loses moisture through evaporation.  As leather loses moisture, it stiffens and actually can shrink (loses mass).  Therefore, it's important for the long term life of glove leather, to keep the leather moisture content at the proper level.  This is accomplished by using a properly chemically engineered glove oil.

What then is the right chemistry for a leather glove?  

A baseball glove oil should have the following attributes:

1.  A softening agent that the leather will absorb is essential.  If it doesn't soak in then it's useless. The glove oil should be absorbed deeply, migrate into the internal leather fibers, not just the surface.

2. Baseball glove oil should be engineered specifically for baseball glove leather, not cross marketed from other intended uses.  There are many different types of leather.  How the leather is tanned (processed) at a tannery determines its characteristics.  The products developed for treating that leather, once in the hands of a consumer, should take that into consideration.

3. It should be made with quality ingredients that will have long lasting, positive effects on leather.

4. Glove oil should be pH balanced to the leather.  If it isn't, then it can actually be harmful, (i.e. saddle soap) break down the leather, shortening the life of the leather.  More on this point in another post.

5. It should be easy to apply and creamy in texture so you can see it as you apply it.  

6. It should NOT leave a sticky or oily residue on the leather.

7. A thin coating of glove oil should dissipate into the leather rapidly.

8. It should leave a smooth, leather-like feel to the glove after it has been applied.

9. It should have a pleasant, new leather aroma. 

These are the attributes Advanced Leather Solutions engineered into Mitt-Spit Glove oil.  With 35 years experience working with leather as a leather restoration company, Advanced Leather Solutions know what's good for leather and what can be harmful.  We understand the chemical engineering behind quality leather care products and have applied this knowledge to Mitt-Spit Solutions, a whole class of products that you can count on for the long term vitality of your baseball glove. Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove.

Great Break-in Process for a New Glove

Once again a great idea comes from our customers.

This is also from Walt H. in the Mobile area.  Using our Mitt-Spit Break-in product on a very stiff A2000 baseball glove, Walt came up with a brilliant strategy for speeding up to break-in process.

Using two socks filled with rice that was warmed up in his microwave oven (about 30 seconds), Walt put one warmed rice-filled sock on the bottom of a small soft-sided insulated cooler.  He applied Mitt-Spit Break-in to the glove and then put the second warmed rice-filled sock into the glove pocket and laid the glove on top of the rice-filled sock already inside the cooler.  Then closed the cooler.  About 3 hours later, he pulled the glove out and was ready to play ball!

So here's how that works.  The break-in oil is very viscous.  So it's loaded with the right ingredients for softening the leather.  Because it's so viscous, it takes a long time to be absorbed by the glove.  However, the gentle warming of the glove with the warmed-up rice -filled socks reduced the viscosity of the critical ingredient in Mitt-Spit Break-in allowing the leather to rapidly absorb this essential ingredient, rendering the glove fully broken in.  Genius!

Thank you Walt for this great idea.

Additional thoughts...  Never put a glove in the microwave directly.  The microwave function warms something up by agitating the water molecules (H2O) in the target.  If you use a microwave to heat food, you know it heats unevenly.  If you use it on a glove, then some areas of the leather will dry out much faster than others.  You risk permanently damaging the leather.  Once damaged, it cannot be recovered.  Whereas the rice-filled sock approach gradually and gently warms uniformly.  go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove.