Sacrilegious Glove - Break-in Advice

[mkaufm1]

So… long story short… bad behavior on my part while playing with the Rawlings Custom Builder post minor surgery. I had been planning a timberglaze and tan NP6, but went a different route…a Columbia Blue with Navy laces and Split Gray welting NP6 is what my inner child wanted that day.

Two questions for the NP lovers: With the NP, what’s the ideal break-in line for the fingers (bottom lace before the heel through the middle of the bull)? Do you break-in the thumb hinge or leave it stiff?

 

[ANNASDAD]

NP huh? I don’t know anyone here who likes the NP pattern!

 

[mkaufm1]

NP huh? I don’t know anyone here who likes the NP pattern!

Haha. You may be the expert I’m seeking!

I was influenced by your posts and the pics of Dan’s Timberglaze and Tan laced glove from a couple of years ago. The Timberglaze and Tan will have to wait another year, though.

 

[ANNASDAD]

I’m not following / understanding your first question?

2nd question, I leave the thumb stiff on a single break, single hinge heel glove, but I like both the thumb and the pinky to stay stiff.

 

[mkaufm1]

I’m not following / understanding your first question?

2nd question, I leave the thumb stiff on a single break, single hinge heel glove, but I like both the thumb and the pinky to stay stiff.

I’m trying to think through where the hinge is going to be on the fingers side. I think it’s along the green line I drew…

 

[ANNASDAD]

Hopefully you get the idea? Stiff thumb, stiff pinky, break it in straight up the middle from that single hinge. This is also NP6. Worn traditional.

 

[mkaufm1]

Hopefully you get the idea? Stiff thumb, stiff pinky, break it in straight up the middle from that single hinge. This is also NP6. Worn traditional.
View attachment 74327

Thank you. This is exactly what I needed!

I’m looking forward to this break-in. I haven’t had a single hinge glove before outside of the under the mattress pancakes we made in the 80’s as kids. This is going to be fun.

 

[ANNASDAD]

This NP5 is exactly the same way, as is my NP7. Old school baby!

 

[ANNASDAD]

How stiff is that Columbia Blue leather? And what is this glove gonna be used for, baseball or softball?

 

[mkaufm1]

How stiff is that Columbia Blue leather? And what is this glove gonna be used for, baseball or softball?

The blue came brick stiff (zero hand in the stall squeeze possible). Similar to my previous gloves, I ordered it with the minimum break-in. I’m curious as to how fast it will breakin compared to my tan 206F HoH and 504 PP.

It’ll see most of its use in softball.

 

[mkaufm1]

Break-in is easier. The leather is more supple, but the benefit from the split gray welting and the webbing (the mod-trap is basically a decorated basket) is noticeable.

I’m going to start an experiment with the key chain and various conditioners that may be interesting or worst case fun in the end.

 

[mkaufm1]

~Halfway through the break-in phase and starting to play catch.

I’d put a definite stamp on the easier to break-in than my “natural” colored gloves; it’s breaking-in with significantly less work than normal while also taking more work to hold a shape change. I’m super happy I went with the split gray welting and basket web for the extra support.

As a lover of wide gloves, I’m happy with how the NP is starting to spread out without having to loosen the laces. My plan for this one is a slight squat on the index and middle finger and as much width as I can get with the pinky turned out and a slight thumb flare (TBD).

 

[ANNASDAD]

Not sure how much of a difference your web makes between both of our NP6's, my H-web NP6 is without a doubt the largest 12" glove I've ever seen, and I've probably owned twenty 12" gloves, or very close to it!

 

[ANNASDAD]

This is a very big 12" glove!

 

[ANNASDAD]

Here at work, here's an old pic on my PC of (L to R) a NP5, NP6, and NP7, even the 11.75" NP5 is no joke size wise!

Like the old days, I'm on a roll!

 

[mkaufm1]

Totally agree with your sentimen on the NP being a larger glove. Both the NP6 and 206F measure in a 12”, but the NP6 feels abd plays much bigger.

I think the main driver is that the 206 is cavernously deep and the NP is what I would consider medium depth. The depth on the 206 makes it easier to catch, but it’s not quite as enjoyable.

I would say that NP6 is wide like my 504 and agile like the 206. Also, it’s this wide and not fully broken in.

(excuse the novelty light up baseball)