how can you break in a catcher's mitt?
372376
To expedite it,I learned in Boy Scouts that olive oil softens the leather. Then you just use it and as the oil evaporates, you'll have a nice glove that is adjusted to you hand.\n\nBut ultimately, the normal way is to use it often.
447432
Put some shaving cream in it and rub it in real good.  Put a baseball or softball in it and tie it up tight so it is folded almost even.  Put it under your mattress or something kind of heavy.\n\nThen just play lots of catch with it.  Good luck.
672950
The basic idea is to avoid splinters and bits breaking off the edges by gently tapping the bat with a mallet.Otherwise skip the following excellent advise. \n\nWhen you buy a bat, it is only lightly pressed at the \nfactory and the fibres are still really soft - if you \npress your fingernail into the surface you'll see what \nI mean. 'Knocking in' is the process of compressing and \nbinding these lose fibres together to allow the bat to \nwithstand the constant impact from the ball. You're \npreparing the bat to be HIT.Your aim is to 'bash' the \nsurface of the blade - not the back or the bottom of \nthe bat (that can be disastrous!) You can use an OLD, \nGOOD QUALITY ball in your hand or put it in a sock or \ntry different types of 'knocking in' mallets - my \npreference is for the solid wood version. Any good shop \nor mail order company does them for around a fiver - \nbuy one, you'll need to make use of it many times. \n\nStart 'knocking in' by gently working on the edges and \ngradually knocking them into a rounded, compressed shape \nonce you get started you'll soon see the change in \ntexture. Then keep working on the edges and the area \naround the toe of the bat - not the bottom of the bat - and think of trying to use glancing strokes that resemble \nyou edging a ball to gully, then 3rd slip, 2nd slip, etc. \nwhile all the time gradually increasing the strength of \nthe impact.Don't forget to give the middle a good going \nover but the priority should be the outside inch or so \nof the bat round both edges and the toe. \n\nHow long do you have to go through this mind numbingly \nboring routine? Slazenger recommend 6 hours - now that \nis a long, long time. If you try to do it in good 5 \nminute blocks it becomes more manageable. Essentially \nyou don't want to think about using the bat until it's \nhad at least 2 hours(24 x 5 minute sessions) but ideally \nif you can manage double that then all the better. If you \nhave the time and space and tolerant neighbours then the \nprocess can be done in a week or so - most of us need a bit \nlonger! But there's no point going to the other extreme - \nbuying a bat one season and not using it until the next. \nAnyway, such self-denial would be way beyond the likes \nof me or most cricketers I know! So use the bat but be \nsensible. \n\nAfter the initial 2-4 hours 'knocking in,' try using it \nfor hitting short catches and then in the nets against \nOLD, GOOD QUALITY balls and only against the spinners/ \nslow mediums first. A new or cheap ball can do a lot of \ndamage to an under-prepared bat and digging out a fast \nyorker in the nets can spell doom and destruction for \neven the best prepared bat! So try and middle the ball \nand play the bat in - resist the wild slogging for once! \n  \nThen do some more 'knocking in' and then some more and \nthen some more and then some more... \n\nRemember, SOME bats need a LITTLE linseed oil - but no \nmore than a couple of teaspoonfuls per season! However, \nALL BATS NEED KNOCKING IN. Gunn & Moore now provide this \nservice for around 10 pounds in their GM NOW range. For \nmost people that's 10 lbs well spent. But don't forget you'll still need to keep 'knocking in' throughout the life of your bat, knocking out indentations, evening out dead \nspots in the bat, strengthening area around glued repairs \netc. A cricket dealer I know recommends that the day you \nstop 'knocking in' is the day you throw the bat in the bin.
812326
Place the ball in a ball holder, keep out of direct sunlight and when you must handle the actual ball, wear cotton or latex gloves
625829
alright ur stance nothing matters stand however u want but before the pitch comes get into a hitting position so you are ready for a fast ball and so you can keep your hands back on a off speed pitch o ya and ur grib should be loose and ur knuckles should be lined up
938551
The first step is to establish a proper grip, putting two fingers (index and middle) around a seam of a baseball. Then pull back behind your head and during the act of throwing pull down on the ball to produce the rotation, releasing the ball at the proper point.\n(the two links are alternate grips for a curveball)\nhttp://www.hellbored.com/uploader/uploads3/DSCN1761.JPG\nhttp://www.hellbored.com/uploader/uploads3/DSCN1762.JPG
584721
Tape the lower part of the bat at the knob, then lower your hand on the bat so your pinky is curled under the bat this cocks your wrist and increases bat speed as you get used to it you will enetually drop a seconed finger you will be surprised. many pro's do same
81549
1.   Hide the ball in your glove.  \n  \n2.   Grip the ball with your middle and index fingers perpendicular to the seams at their widest point, with your thumb underneath the ball.  \n  \n3.   Spread your top fingers apart slightly and keep your ring finger and pinkie tucked into your palm. (Image 1)  \n  \n4.   Hold the ball firmly, applying pressure with your middle finger and thumb. Try not to let the ball rest in the palm of your hand, and keep your index finger relaxed. (Image 2)  \n  \n5.   Wind up into the pitch. Use the same pitching motion as in your other pitches so that the batter cannot predict a curveball. (Image 3)  \n  \n6.   Keep your wrist relaxed. After drawing back the pitch, hold your wrist so that the back of your hand points toward your body. (Image 4)  \n  \n7.   Roll your wrist downward and to the right (if you are right-handed) or to the left (if you're left-handed) immediately before releasing the pitch. (Image 5)  \n  \n8.   Release the pitch and follow through by bending your wrist. A right-hander should finish with the palm facing in toward the chest. The top of your thumb should be facing up.  \n  \n9.   Throw the ball between the batter and home plate if you're a left-handed pitcher facing a left-handed batter or if you're a right-handed pitcher facing a right-handed batter.
151756
Just keep taking grounders.  Get in front of the ball.  Keep your glove down.  Watch the ball all the way into your glove.  Use two hands.  Don't worry about making the throw; you have to field the ball first. Don't get nervous. Just keep practicing and work on the fundamentals that I described.
266251
1.   Hide the ball in your glove.  \n  \n2.   Grip the ball with your middle and index fingers perpendicular to the seams at their widest point, with your thumb underneath the ball.  \n  \n3.   Spread your top fingers apart slightly and keep your ring finger and pinkie tucked into your palm. (Image 1)  \n  \n4.   Hold the ball firmly, applying pressure with your middle finger and thumb. Try not to let the ball rest in the palm of your hand, and keep your index finger relaxed. (Image 2)  \n  \n5.   Wind up into the pitch. Use the same pitching motion as in your other pitches so that the batter cannot predict a curveball. (Image 3)  \n  \n6.   Keep your wrist relaxed. After drawing back the pitch, hold your wrist so that the back of your hand points toward your body. (Image 4)  \n  \n7.   Roll your wrist downward and to the right (if you are right-handed) or to the left (if you're left-handed) immediately before releasing the pitch. (Image 5)  \n  \n8.   Release the pitch and follow through by bending your wrist. A right-hander should finish with the palm facing in toward the chest. The top of your thumb should be facing up.  \n  \n9.   Throw the ball between the batter and home plate if you're a left-handed pitcher facing a left-handed batter or if you're a right-handed pitcher facing a right-handed batter. \n\nSee pics at the linked page:
521523
When you've got this pitch under control, hitters have no idea when to swing. When it's out of control, though, even the pitcher doesn't know where the ball is going!\n \n\nSteps:\n\n1. Grip the baseball by clenching the top of the ball with the tips of your index, middle and ring fingers just below the seams. Dig the tips of your fingers deep into the ball.\n \n2. Place your thumb below the ball to give it support. Keep your pinkie off to the side.\n \n3. Go into your windup. Remember to pivot and shift your body weight from the back foot forward toward home plate.\n \n4. Throw the ball toward home, but don't snap your wrist - keep it stable, eliminating as much spin as possible.\n \n5. Follow through. Extend all fingers toward home plate as you release the pitch. Your feet should be parallel at the end of the pitch, and your throwing arm should come across the front of your body.\n \n \nTips:\nAn effective knuckleball moves in two or three different directions in flight.\n \nTry a variation on the knuckleball grip by using just the index and middle fingers on the top of the ball. The ring finger joins the pinkie off to the side.\n \nThe slower the pitch, the more time the ball has to weave toward home plate.
854628
spread your fingers on the ball and keep your elbows in......
935057
I'm a goalie i should know.  put the glove under your bed and leave there for a few days.  When you get it it should be able to open and close easier
842136
move up a little in the box and hope you can hit when it STARTS to break..it is just timing it would be better if you can learn to switch hit then that way you can see the ball break toward and you can hit it better...try to go with the pitch ..don't pull it
200092
Use it...and a little shaving cream, use about the size of a quarter for the first 3-5 days that you are going to use it.   DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, put a ball in it and tie it with laces, rope, elastic, or whatever you'd tie it with.  You want the glove to mould to the shape of your hand from the inside out, and so it moves with your hand, after all it's to protect your hand, not to the shape of the ball outside in.  Whoever that person at sports authority who said to fold it inside out, should at the very least be fired for saying that, you want the glove to last a while I am assuming. You don't want the leather to get too stretched, let alone the damage it would do to your poor lacing.
119803
Take him with you to pick it out.  Make sure it's light for him and he has no problem with the length.  Get a high quality bat with a lot of pop.  27 or 28 ounce Easton ought to do.  And it needs to be hit a few times to break it in.
410134
Assuming you can catch already, buy some tacky receiver gloves. If you can't follow Carter's advice. I think what he meant though is thumbs together above the nipples and away below. I prefer thumbs together period. I don't look like a pro but I don't drop very many balls in front of me either. As for the elusive over-the-shoulder catch you're on your own.