To break it in the right way, both Capen and Rembielak said the most important factors to customise a new glove to your hand are time and use. So, when it's correctly broken in, your glove should have a great space in that spot for the ball to fit, rather than being smashed down like a pancake. If the glove is flat, you have to strain your fingers to keep it open, Rembielak explained, which doesn't welcome the ball in easily for a catch. I like to flare the thumb a little bit, and on the fingers, I like them to have a little bit of a curl [inwards]. So when I'm playing catch and I'm breaking it in, I make sure I keep that a priority—manually bend that leather on the thumb and on the fingers", he said.

I like to break in my glove by playing catch with it and working the leather with my hands", Capen said. This method allows you to customise the glove to your position or play style. Breaking in a glove by hand and by playing catch takes time. At first, the glove will feel stiff. Rembielak said it can take between three weeks and a few months for a glove to become game-ready. If you use it in certain drills in training, Rembielak recommended telling your coach you're breaking in a new glove. If the ball pops out, they'll "know if it's you making a mistake or if it's your glove. If your mechanics are great and the ball pops out, that's OK", she said.The priority should be softening up [the glove] in the right spots", he said. "The worst thing that can happen is that you break it in so it's soft and usable, but you're not happy with the way that you're receiving the ball or the way that it feels in your hand". A new baseball or softball glove is an exciting investment: it's a piece of equipment that may be worn for seasons to come. As any player knows, it's important to break in the glove properly before play. You want it to feel like a natural extension of your hand, capable of easily cradling the ball. But don't rush to manipulate the leather just to get the glove to shut, said George Capen, pitching coach at Georgetown University and former minor league baseball player.