If you're one of those people who likes to break in your baseball gloves a little too much, then you're probably familiar with the problems that come with soft gloves. While they may feel great at first, overly-soft gloves quickly lose their shape and start to feel floppy. This makes them less effective at catching balls and puts extra stress on your hands and arms.

How Does A Baseball Glove Get Too Soft?

A baseball glove can become too soft in a few different ways. The most common way is simply from use. When you catch a ball in your glove, the leather stretches just a little. Over time, this stretching adds up and makes the glove feel much looser than it did when it was new.

More commonly, new players improperly break in their new glove and find that it becomes floppy over time. The usual culprit is soaking the glove in water, which makes the leather expand. While this may help the glove fit your hand better initially, it will quickly cause the leather to lose its shape and become too soft.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Using A Soft Glove?

The primary drawback of using a soft glove is that it's less effective at catching balls. When a ball hits a floppy glove, it has a tendency to bounce out or slip through. This can be extremely frustrating, especially if you're trying to catch a hard-hit line drive.

Another issue is that a soft glove can cause the ball to get buried n the palm, making it harder to retrieve and throw. Slowing down the player response time.

Softened gloves also tend to place extra stress on the hands and arms. When you have to squeeze harder to grip the ball, it can lead to fatigue and even injuries over time.

How Can You Prevent A Glove From Getting Too Soft?

You can do a few different things to prevent your glove from getting too soft. First, be sure to break it in properly. Avoid soaking the glove in water, as this will cause the leather to stretch too much. Instead, just work the glove regularly with a baseball.

Another thing you can do is to condition your glove with a quality leather conditioner regularly. This will help keep the leather supple and prevent it from drying out and becoming brittle.

Soft gloves may feel comfortable at first, but they quickly become a liability on the field. Be sure to take care of your glove and it will take care of you. By following these simple tips, you can keep your baseball glove in good condition for many years.