Softball is not an easy sport. In order for a player to be to be called an excellent player, he must first surpass all the challenges that he will encounter. You are so fond of playing softball and you are dreaming of becoming a professional player someday. You like the challenges, you like the pressures, and most especially you love the fun that it brings.

Softball is not just a sport that involves the development of physical strength. In order to do this, you must always perform some softball drills. These drills will help you improve your hitting, pitching, and catching skills.

However, you must remember that improving your physical strength will not be enough. Mental skills must also be developed while doing softball drills. Aside from that, you also need to have the perfect mind set or the right attitudes in doing the drills and in playing the game. If you are able to develop the three aspects, the physical, the mental, and the emotional aspect then you will surely be a champion someday.

Here is the list of the must-have attitudes of a softball player:

Self-Discipline. If you notice, all of the successful and famous players in the world possess this attitude. You will never get there if you don’t have self-discipline. This attitude is the one that keeps pushing you to do the right thing. If you are scheduled to have your softball drill today, you will go there and do your tasks and that is because you have your self-discipline. You are disciplined enough to know that you need to do a certain thing. Aside from that, you will have self-discipline on your body and the things that you eat. Self-discipline is really a deep word and it has a wide scope.

Perseverance. You sure know that the path that you need to walk on to be able to reach success is not that smooth. There will be difficulties and for sure there will be lots of adversities. But then if you have that determination within you for sure no matter how hard it is you will be able exceed that.

Be a dreamer. Being a dreamer will truly have a good impact on you. As a matter of fact, it will all start here. Success begins with dreams. But then dreaming is not enough. You need to do something so that your dreams will come true. If you dream to be excellent during your softball drills and games, you can do it. It will be possible if you would do something about it.

Focused. During softball drills and during the game, a player must be focused especially if he is a pitcher or a hitter. You cannot afford to miss the ball that the pitcher had thrown if you are the hitter. As a pitcher, you must also be focused on the hitter. You must not let the loud cheers of the crowd to ruin your focus. Try very hard to put your attention on the game.

Mizuno Finch Franchise 12.5″ Fastpitch Glove GFN1257 Right Hand Thrower

• 34″ Full Sized Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt
• Attractive Brown/White color pattern
• Soft, supple leather
• Right Hand Throw – Mitt goes on left hand
• Left Hand Throw – Mitt goes on right hand

Mizuno GXS92 Franchise Pro Series Fastpitch Catcher Mitt, Right Hand Throw

• Premium grad, oil-treated steerhide leather for soft feel and long-lasting shape
• Pioneer of exclusive female fit- narrower fingerstalls and smaller wrist opening for a snug fit and better control
• Professional grade full leather finger linings
• Bruise-gard padding offers added protection
• Dye-through lacing for extra durability

Product Description
The V207 is a 34″ fastpitch pattern catcher’s mitt with an open back with a Velcro strap and an H-web…. More >>

Louisville Slugger 34-Inch TPS Valkyrie Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt, Right Hand Throw

• 34.50″ Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt
• Full sized
• ParaShock palm pad absorbs the shock of repeated use providing outstanding protection and ideal comfort
• Power Lock closure provides the quickest and most secure fit available
• Right Handed Throw

Product Description
The Mizuno MVP Prime GXS53 is a 34.50″ Full Sized Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt featuring ParaShock technology for less rebound and shock, and Power Lock for the quickest and most secure fit available….. More >>

Mizuno MVP Prime GXS53 Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt, Black , 34.50-Inch, Right Handed Throw

• 34.00″ Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt
• Full sized
• ParaShock palm pad absorbs the shock of repeated use providing outstanding protection and ideal comfort
• Power Lock closure provides the quickest and most secure fit available
• Right Handed Throw

Product Description
The Mizuno Classic Fastpitch GXS32 is a 34.00″ Full Sized Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt featuring ParaShock technology for less rebound and shock, and Power Lock for the quickest and most secure fit available….. More >>

Mizuno Classic GXS32 Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt, Black , 34-Inch, Right Handed Throw

Your new Fastpitch Softball Glove is something to be cherished. You should care for your Softball glove just as any quality item you own. Your new jeans need to stay laundered and pressed. Your cell phone needs to stay charged and clean. Your car has to be oiled and lubed and maintained on a consistent basis as well. This article will explain how to Care for and Maintain your new Fastpitch Softball glove the Right Way. If you take care of it, it will take care of you on the field.

Your New Glove is made of leather, a natural product. Leather will break down or deteriorate from repeated exposure to heat and moisture. Perspiration is hard on your glove, but unavoidable in hot weather. The conditioners in the glove leather will help protect it from normal perspiration.

Saliva is really bad for leather; it will break down the leather. That’s what our saliva is for, it breaks down our food, and so it will do the same on leather over time. Don’t spit in your glove.

Clean your glove with a towel or clean cloth to remove the dirt and dust. Do this between games just as you should with your game cleats. This not only helps them to last longer, but it makes them look much better. These are things college coaches are looking for during recruiting trips – just a hint there. Remember, if you take care of your glove it will take care of you on the field.

Leaving your glove out in the weather will ruin it also. Put your glove away, inside when not using it. If your glove gets really wet, from rain or water you should dry it as much as you can with a towel and then leave it to dry in a cool place. Don’t leave it in the back window of the car and don’t leave it in the trunk either. The sun will dry out a wet glove and remove the oils and conditioners. The trunk, especially if you leave it in your gear bag, won’t allow good for airflow around your glove and it won’t dry properly. Don’t use a blow dryer either, that is as bad as leaving it in the back window of your car and don’t put it in the oven to dry either.

Clean your glove with a towel and wipe the dirt, dust or mud from it. If it is really muddy or scraped, after cleaning it you should apply a light coat of conditioner. Wipe any excess conditioner from the glove and put it in a cool dry place.

To maintain the inner lining, you should wear a batting glove. This will help keep the perspiration away from the lining. If your batting glove gets wet, replace it with a dry one. This will help the inner lining last for years.

When the season is over and you need to store the glove for an extended time, make sure it is dry and clean then put a softball in the pocket and tie it with a rubber band, pre-wrap or string and store it in a cool dry place. On your trophy shelf may be a good spot. Someplace that has airflow and no direct heat or sun.

These tips will help you care for your softball glove the right way.  Take care of your glove and it will take care of you on the field.

There are many suggestions about how to break in a new Fastpitch Softball Glove. Some of them are pretty good and others are really bad. It’s a wonder some gloves make it to the field at all with the suggestions we have seen or heard of.  The main thing you want to remember is to follow the manufacturers suggestions for breaking in their gloves.

Your new glove is made of leather, a natural product. The manufacturing process of tanning the hide into leather usually involves adding some kind of oil or chemical into the hide to cure it and soften it. This is usually all that is required for a new glove. There are some Fastpitch gloves that are really stiff when brand new that may require a little more glove conditioner during the break in period. The terms oil and conditioner generally mean the same thing. They aren’t so much an oil as they are a conditioner so most manufacturers call them conditioners now. The term oil is just a holdout from the old days.  Some of the oils out there will actually harm the leather and cause it to deteriorate and break down, almost a spongy feel to the leather. That is not how to take care of your new glove.

So that is some of the things you don’t want to do. Here are some suggestions that you do want to do. Ready, it’s a tough one. Wait for it…

Go out and play catch! That’s it. That is the best way and the Right way to break in your new softball glove. Akadema, one of the most exciting new glove makers, suggests that you spot condition only when necessary. They also say to please do not under any circumstances put the glove in a microwave or dunk the glove in water.

If your glove is too stiff to easily play catch, then when you get your new glove you should rub a small amount of conditioner – from the manufacturer – on your glove. Use a sponge or apply with your hand and fingers. Rub it into the palm and back and on the seams and laces. Don’t apply to the fingers or thumb areas, as you want these to stay stiff.

It is important to condition the laces because they take most of the stress when a ball hits the pocket; they hold the glove together. You should also rub some conditioner on the inside of the glove to protect the leather from moisture. You can just put some on your fingers and then put your hand into your glove and work the conditioner into the leather.

Remove any excess conditioner with a soft cloth. Put a softball in the pocket and tie the glove with a rubber band or string to hold the ball tightly in the pocket of the glove. Leave it to rest overnight, wipe off any excess conditioner and go play catch.

Playing catch with your new glove does a couple of things to help break it in. By wearing the glove it forms to your hand and catching a ball manipulates the pocket to the shape of the ball. Now isn’t that just what you want anyway?

Just putting a ball inside and tying up the glove is ok, but you won’t get that “custom” feel and fit that you will by wearing it and playing catch. Try to catch the ball in the pocketas much as possible so the glove will form correctly. You should put a ball in your glove and tie it closed after playing catch or after the game. This will help keep the shape.

There are lots of gadgets out there for keeping the glove closed, most are pretty cool, but if you are a Fastpitch softball player worth your salt you already have the best thing in your bag to tie up that glove. Prewrap, that’s right just take a length of that colored prewrap that you use to hold back your hair with. It stretches like a rubber band and you could just use the one in your hair when the game is over. You can also use a piece of it tied around the wrist strap to recognize your glove quickly. That stuff is pretty neat; wish I had invented it.

Another tip I have heard and seen is to go to the batting cage, get a few tokens and instead of hitting the balls, stand in there and catch them with your new glove. After a couple tokens, the glove will probably be pretty well broken in and game ready. Also not bad practice for fielding line drives – wear your helmet.

Most gloves should be worn with a batting glove, this helps keep the moisture and sweat from soaking into the inside of the glove. If the batting glove gets wet, replace it with a dry one. A small amount of conditioner, not oil, can be rubbed into the inside palm area as a moisture barrier.

What To Do to Break In Your New Glove:

Play Catch – 20 to 30 minutes a day for a couple weeks is enough for most gloves, but your coach won’t mind if you go a little longer.

Keep a Ball in Glove – tie a ball in the glove when finished playing catch and after games or practice.

Spot Condition – only do this if the glove is really stiff, and usually only on the palm area. A small amount on the back can help soften it also. A very small amount on the inside can also help keep sweat off the inside.

Mallet – a mallet can be used on really stiff gloves to help shape it if you can’t play catch long enough. A small amount of conditioner on the palm or pocket then hit with the mallet as if catching a ball.

Shaving Cream – This is a method used by a lot of players. Use a foam type shave cream and lightly apply to the palm area. It also leaves a bit of tackiness, which can be nice to help catch the ball. Don’t put too much on, it can leave it mushy. Be sure to wipe all excess shave cream out of the seams and lace holes so the dirt doesn’t collect in there.

Dirt from the Fastpitch softball field will be gritty and act like sandpaper to the seams and laces so wipe your glove after playing.

What NOT To Do to Break in Your New Glove:

Use Oils or Vaseline – these will only make the glove heavy and possibly deteriorate or break down the leather and stitching. Vaseline will clog the pores of the leather on most gloves and this makes them heavy. Do not use Olive oil or linseed oil.

Dunk glove in Water – this is a sure way to ruin a new glove. It may soften it up but it will also help it grow mold and bacteria inside which is bad for you and the glove.

Heat in Microwave – NEVER do this. The water molecules in the leather will boil and burst holes in the leather. If there is any metal in the glove, well that light show might be neat but it will ruin a nice glove, and your microwave. You may get some good conditioning in while mowing the lawn to pay for a new microwave!

Cook in the Oven – this is suggested by some manufacturers and old timers. If you do this, keep the oven at very low temps (200 deg) and only for 10-15 minutes. Then remove from oven and apply conditioner. Then go play catch. (Caution: if you leave in the oven too long or too hot it can dry the leather or burn it)

Break in your new Fastpitch Softball Glove the Right Way and it will treat you right out on the field.