Hot Glove Mallet for Glove Break-in and Shaping

I did a lot of research and put money down on multiple mallets for my glove collection before concluding that this Hot Glove offers the most bang for the buck. In fact, everything I've bought from Hot Glove has been functional and affordable, like their glove treatment. This mallet has a ball end that not only allows you to create a ball shaped pocket, but flatten out those random bubbles and wrinkles in the leather. The stick end is tapered to shape the finger stalls, and I find that it grips securely despite not having a knob. The length could use an extra inch to get higher up into the pocket, but you can always just turn the glove upside down and pound upwards into web to stretch it out. I was worried about how lightweight this was but it's actually faster to swing and not as tiring as some more solid wood mallets. Lastly, I was concerned about the 2-piece construction, but it has not failed me yet and I'm sure allows this product to be much more affordable than a 1-piece. This is a must buy if you're serious about breaking in a glove and want something faster than using a weighted softball.

Before I bought this I was using a rubber hammer from my workshop. This is much better and allows to really build up a pocket in a short period of time. I basically sat on the couch every night for a week beating this into my glove and I had a perfect pocket in no time. I also used the Rawlings glove oil and would pop the glove in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to loosen the leather up and then continue to pound the glove with this mallet. If you do decide to microwave your glove do a few things: make sure you use a glove oil on the glove and make sure it is a liberal amount. Do not put the glove in the microwave for more than 20 seconds. If you put in in for longer you risk cooking it and destroying the glove. The most important part to have oiled well are the laces and those are what are in danger of cooking (drying out and becoming brittle, cracking, breaking) if you leave the glove in for two long. My method was oil glove, 20 seconds in, take out, beat with mallet for 5 minutes, re-oil, back in for 20 seconds, beat with mallet. Keep repeating until you are tired or your arm hurts.

I just received this item so I could break in two new baseball gloves I recently purchased, a Wilson A2000 & Rawlings Heart of the Hide. The gloves were both pretty stiff when I got them.My usual method over the years was to condition the leather and play catch and/or repeatedly throw a baseball into the glove when I was indoors. The mallet has worked great so far, and it makes forming a pocket a breeze, and it can also be used to soften other parts of the glove, like the hinges at the bottom of the palm area, and the stubborn top of the webbing. Just fold those areas over and pound away with the mallet.This tool gives you a lot of leverage and really accelerates the break-in process. You can really pound the pocket of the glove, and easily simulate the force of a hard-thrown baseball. Just be careful that you don't whack a finger, because it will hurt.Mizuno makes a similar product, but this one works just fine. Recommended.

Seems to work fine, and is breaking in the glove well. It is not a single piece of wood, so I imagine at some point the ball and could separate from the handle but at this point seems to be getting the job done and shows no evidence of separation.

Do I really need this? Can’t I do it the old fashioned way and just break it in myself? Sure, but this cut down the time by 2/3 easily. So happy with it. As others have said, wear a glove on your swinging hand or you might find your knuckles bloody. So worth the $12 bucks.

Great

There are a few negative reviews about this mallet falling apart. No problems so far, but to be safe I may drill and glue a securing dowel to make sure the ball doesn't fly out. I don't know anything about gloves and didn't realize the process of breaking in a glove. The mallet seems to be the ticket for breaking in my mid-tier Rawlings glove. More hammering is required, but the glove is already looking better after some work.

several years ago, when my kids got up to little league age, I bought a new baseball glove to replace the one I had in high school. I've struggled to get it broken in properly, especially for the ring and middle fingers. I had been trying to stretch out the leather with some sections of doweling I had cut down, but those became very difficult to remove. This thing though, I can grip the ball portion of it and twist it into place to stretch out a finger. My hand fits better in my glove after 1 week of using this than it has after 4 years of trying to break it in through use. Well worth the money.

Excelente

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.

Excelente producto

Works great but needs a nub at the end of the handle as can be slippery with dry hands but overall great product

Muy bueno para amoldar el guante de piel y hacerle el pocket, esto un poco de agua caliente y listo