How long does it take to break in a baseball glove?
It depends on the leather. A game-ready glove is soft out of the box and usable the first day; one with some break-in needs a week or two of catch and shaping; a stiff pro glove of kip or steerhide can take weeks to months, and a young player may not be able to close one at all at first.
Game-ready
Soft out of the box and usable the first day. Made with softer leather that will not last as long as a stiff pro glove, which is fine for a growing player.
For most players under 12 this is the right answer.
Some break-in
Needs a week or two of catch and shaping before it closes well.
Stiff (pro break-in)
Pro-grade leather such as Japanese kip or steerhide. Can take weeks to months to break in and a young player may not be able to close it at all at first. Lasts for years once broken in.
Do not buy a stiff pro glove for a player under 12 unless you are ready to break it in for them.
Where this comes from
- Our explainer: Game-ready
- Our explainer: Some break-in
- Our explainer: Stiff (pro break-in)
Every rule, with its source, is on How the fit works.
More in glove guides
- What baseball glove size by age?For ages 7 to 12, 10.25 to 11.5 in for the infield and 11.5 to 12.25 in for the outfield.
- What size glove for a 6-year-old?A 6-year-old takes 8.5 to 10 in at every position; JustBallGloves puts a middle infielder at 8 to 10.5 in.
- What size glove for an 8-year-old?An 8-year-old takes 10.25 to 11.5 in for an infielder and 11.5 to 12.25 in for an outfielder; JustBallGloves puts a middle infielder at 10.5 to 11.25 in.
- What size glove for a 10-year-old?A 10-year-old takes 10.25 to 11.5 in for an infielder and 11.5 to 12.25 in for an outfielder; JustBallGloves puts a middle infielder at 10.5 to 11.25 in.
- What size glove for a 12-year-old?A 12-year-old takes 10.25 to 11.5 in for an infielder and 11.5 to 12.25 in for an outfielder; JustBallGloves puts a middle infielder at 11 to 11.5 in.
- What size glove for a 13-year-old?A 13-year-old takes 11.25 to 12 in for an infielder and 12 to 12.75 in for an outfielder; JustBallGloves puts a middle infielder at 11 to 11.5 in.
- What size glove for an infielder?Infield gloves: 10.25 to 11.5 in for ages 7 to 12, and 11.25 to 12 in for 12 and up; JustBallGloves gives 11.25 to 11.5 in for older players.
- What size glove for an outfielder?Outfield gloves: 11.5 to 12.25 in for ages 7 to 12, and 12 to 12.75 in for 12 and up; JustBallGloves gives 12 to 13 in for older players.