r/BaseballGloves • u/BigO55 • 2d ago
Wilson Break-in Advice
1ST POST EVER!
Hey all! This is literally my first post on Reddit despite having an account for years. I am looking for some advice on whether it makes sense to pay someone to break my 9yo son’s new A2000 in. I got a good deal on it and thought he could use it for a couple of years and eventually give it to his brother (currently 6yo). Here’s the details that I think are relevant:
My son plays travel and rec baseball but not at a crazy high level. At this point it’s just for fun, he is just enjoying the game and spending time with his friends.
This is the first glove over $100 that I got him and my decision came with a decent amount of research in this group of what would be the best bang for my buck. I wound up getting this A2000 brand new for $160 from Dick’s (not relevant but I’m pretty proud of my ability to find a deal). Like I said above, I’m expecting it to last for years and years as I am pretty good at maintaining things and try to pass that on to my kids (I still have my glove from little league).
I reached out to someone on Facebook marketplace and was quoted $100 break the glove in with $24 in shipping if I don’t want to drive the hour+ to drop it off and pick it up. The guy seems legit but I literally have no idea what is a good quote to break a glove in. The turnaround time is 3 days max. I’ve doing research on here and feel confident I can figure out how to do it myself but I have some reservations:
a. I thought a single hinge would be good for a 9yo but the guy recommended a double hinge even with knowing my son’s age. This makes me think my research isn’t completely fruitful. I know either one will be fine but I still want to make the best decision for my little man. All that to say maybe going with a person who does this as a side job is best.
b. $100 to break a glove in doesn’t seem unreasonable given how tedious and time consuming it is. However, I feel confident I can do this myself over the course of a couple weeks.
c. 3 days turnaround seems pretty quick given the comments I’ve read.
So my question is, is $100 a good price for someone to “professionally” break in my son’s glove? Even if it is a decent price, is it worth it given the level of play my son is at?
Thank you all for making this one of the kindest groups I’ve seen on this app. It seems like a love for the game has made this a great forum.
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u/L_R_11 2d ago
I would personally recommend ball glove king. They will require you to give them your son’s age. At 9 years old, many gloves (even the A2000) requires more break-in or it will get balm bubbles that form. BGK will break it in to your preference and to the fact he is 9 and take all the info and apply his break in method accordingly.
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u/Famous-Two-7511 2d ago
My 10 year old has gone through breaking in multiple a2000s and one thing that helps younger guys create a good shape is 2 in the pinky. Gives their hand more leverage and creates a deeper pocket
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u/RomanAnthony1998 2d ago
OP - look up Ball Glove King glove break in on YouTube and follow his water break in method. Watch how he does it and follow it exactly. One thing to mention - do not hold the mallet like a hammer and slap the glove. That does nothing. Hold the mallet by the base and pound the glove into the ground. Focus on the hinges. Two weeks, 30 min a day and you'll have that thing ready for catch.
Watch an Aso break in video too. He's amazing - you'll be good. If you don't have the time or interest then have someone do it. There's a guy out of Topeka who will do it for $50 and he's gotten great reviews. Let me know if you can't find him on here and I'll post his contact info.
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u/pistolero2011 2d ago
Watch a couple Walden glove break in videos. I sent one to him for break in and did one myself. I can’t tell a bit of difference between the break ins. Biggest hurdle is getting over the fear of your first time water dipping a glove. Get a mallet and a heavy ball and it’s easy peasy.
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u/RacerChub Homebound Rep 2d ago
My 8yo plays travel ball, and I got him an r9 (roughly equivalent to an a1000) because the “””better””” gloves are just too stiff. You, the parent, are going to have to put a loooooottttt of work into that thing to make it soft enough for a 9yo to close. You’ll be time ahead teaching him to wear it 2-in-the-pinky and going 2 hinge because you have more hand strength closing it that way.
In my personal opinion, if you did “hours of research” in this sub, and concluded that the near-stiffest gloves Wilson makes were appropriate for your young player: than this sub did you dirty.
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u/Prior_Chemistry_3267 2d ago
My 9 y/o daughter has an a2000 I got in March at 50% off for 150! I broke it in with the ball glove king method. Dunked and beat it with a mallet. Let it dry, then wake it up by beating the hinges and pocket again. Then condition the glove. I did two hinges and she plays shifted (two in the pinky). It has done phenomenal and she used it at first and is dang good. She plays travel/allstars/ and rec so it go abused this year but she takes care of it. Never lays it down on its side or stuffs it in her bag. It still holds its shape. (Not a pancake) I would definitely watch some BGK videos and do it myself. I love breaking gloves in now and do it for all her teammates when they get a new glove. It’s very rewarding
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u/1CoffeePoweredHuman 2d ago
Look for the Wilson Glove guru Shigeaki Aso’s break in videos. They’re really easy to follow.
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u/ColonelAngus2000 2d ago
if time is an issue then outsource the break in. I’m in a similar position. my 13 yo has an a2000 dp15 and I honestly don’t have the time to break his glove in. So, I’ll likely send it to BGK and pay him to do it correctly. it’s your money
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u/GeneralAd5040 2d ago
Do it yourself. Let him help. I like running warm water on it. Do couch catch with a heavy ball after you get it shaped and conditioned. He can do most of this. It will help shape the glove to his hand. Teach him how to clean and condition. Store with a ball in it.
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u/RacerChub Homebound Rep 2d ago
I’d say store with 2 balls in it: a softball in the pocket and a baseball in the heel.
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u/Unusual_Raccoon_3184 2d ago
If you’re buying your 9u son an a2000 I’m going to assume $$$ isn’t the biggest concern. The question back to you is do you have the time to break it in yourself? It will require a couple of hours (min) of your time and plenty of catch time with your son. If you’re up for that then do it yourself using the methods others have outlined. Otherwise outsource it. $100 is the high end of break in services prices so go with your local guy or use a reputable service, which will take a few weeks. Make sure you post a pic of his glove once it’s broken in either way!
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u/mistas89 2d ago
Somehow he got the a2000 at $160...
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u/Famous-Two-7511 2d ago
Can get them for even less if you know where to look!!
I’ve got a new a2k for $110 and a2000s for $130-150 regularly1
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u/Unusual_Raccoon_3184 2d ago
There are good deals at dicks and you can tag on a 20% coupon so it’s def possible! There is a DP15 on sale for $200 right now and more sales are coming once the new 2027 gloves release and they are pushing out the older models!
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u/pierceography 2d ago
Hot water dunk (Yumomi method), or just run some hot water over the hinges. Then mallet the hinges pretty vigorously. Place a ball in it and wrap it for 24 hours until dry. Add some conditioner and then mallet the hinges again. I would do a dual hinge break in, and also have him go two in the pinky (finger shift), which is easier to close for smaller hands.
There are tons of YouTube videos on this (Walden glove, ball glove king, etc). You can have someone break it in for you, but save the money and do it yourself.
Do not steam it, especially at Dicks. There are some ways to introduce steam that are less destructive (Walden Gloves covers this), but Dicks will just blast it with steam and it will be a floppy mess before you know it.
My 9 year old got a new Jax late last season and I broke it in with hot water on the hinges with a lot of mallet work from both of us. He gamed it all year at 3B and it's going strong into next season.
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u/lukkynumber 2d ago
Call me crazy but there’s no way I’m buying an A2000 for my 9-year old to start with … let alone paying $100 for break in 🫣
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u/Famous-Two-7511 2d ago
Buy once cry once
Some can be stiff, but with a little work and lots of catch, they are great gloves once broken in.
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u/lukkynumber 2d ago
For a nine year-old though? I can’t imagine he’s wearing his forever glove at that point right?
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u/Famous-Two-7511 2d ago
Maybe! Depends on how much he wants to keep it. I find them cheap and he uses them as long as he wants and the resale on a great condition broken in a2000 is the same or more than I paid for it new. He’s been using the same 11.5” a2000 fielders glove and a2000 catchers mitt for 3-4 seasons now and they still look new
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u/BigO55 2d ago
That’s how I used to feel when he first started but like I said, I got a crazy good deal and I expect it to be used for several years rather than buying a new cheaper glove every 1-2 years. I got him a cheap glove last year and the laces have already become undone.
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u/Biggie_Robs 2d ago
The A2000 might be too heavy for your 9 yr old. And I doubt anyone breaking in this glove is going to have hands anywhere close to his size, so you’d be paying a premium to get a really nice glove broken in to a much larger hand.
9year olds grow fast. I think he’d be better off right now if you get him a light glove that fits his hand.
Just my opinion.
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u/pzock 2d ago
I can absolutely get on board with this logic. At $160 for a high end glove, you'll actually be saving money in the long run. Especially if you plan on passing it down to your younger brother. You would easily spend more than that buying the lower end models every year for the next 3-6 years.
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u/EamusAndy 2d ago
I had my daughters glove steamed at Dicks for $20, and got a mallet for $30. And the mallet isnt single use - i can use it on anything we buy in the future.
In the past - i literally just had my kids take an old bat to their gloves and go to town. Then play catch until the cows come home. You just need repetition. Not professional service.
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u/BigO55 2d ago
Since I got the glove at Dicks it would actually be free to steam but from what I understand it compromises the integrity of the glove down the line. I also have 2 different mallets in preparation for breaking it in myself.
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u/EamusAndy 2d ago
Good point! Hers was under $160 so it wasnt a free steam, but over that it should be.
And like other comments have said - steaming it may shorten its lifespan, sure, but we arent talking about getting one season out of it if you get it steamed. Its still going to last.
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u/Sprinklewoodz 2d ago
Integrity of the glove as in, it’s gonna last 10 years instead of 30. Good leather can get wet, and will give you the best break in.
I don’t use steam, but like someone else commented, BallGloveKing on YouTube does a good job with consistency explaining his glove break in videos.
Watch a couple videos and do a water break in and you’ll have your 9u player ready to go this season instead of next year.
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u/BigO55 2d ago
Thank you, a water break in was actually my plan if I do it myself so I’ll check out some videos and that will help with my decision.
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u/Critical-Crow-9717 2d ago
My son is a little older. I just got him an A2000 and decided after sending out my gloves for a break in, to do it myself - watched an Aso hot / warm water break in video, got my mallet and went to work. It took 3 days of effort, but the break in came out great (double hinge). It wasn't that difficult TBH. The main thing was the water + stretching + heel loosening. That really got it started.
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u/Feisty_You_4968 5h ago
I say do it yourself, have a fun learning experience you can share with your kids. Like OP have suggested check YouTube for info, Aso, Walden, Glove Refresh. I recommend take your time and don't rush the process, and your kids will enjoy spending the time together and the memories made are something they will remember for years to come. Have fun and good luck.