Post by jags03 on Jan 31, 2012 19:54:37 GMT -6
Our team loves the leather Wilson GSTs....just got to break them in right.
How do you break them in right?
Every ball is different, we usually have several different kinds of balls for practice, but we usually use the leather GST for games (I can't stand those composite one's that you can get at any sporting goods store).
Also sometimes with the kids (mainly your QB). I mean, I like the laces on the ball X, while our QB likes the laces on ball Y...and I like the feel of ball Z, while another coach likes ball Y, while the QB likes the feel of ball X. Everyone has their own preference, comes down to what you guys can afford and who is handling the ball the most.
But back to breaking in the leather GSTs, they need some work out of the box/bag (just like MLB baseballs arent used straight out of the box, they get mud worked in and are put in some kind of humidifier and what not). Personally, I start of by taking a rag and trying to get rid of the orange residue that is on the ball out of packaging...stuff is slick to me. May have to wet rag to get rid of that stuff. One of our coaches, like to take a scrub brush and and brush the ball, trying to get some wear and tear on the leather.
One year our QB, would take our game ball out of the box and would take it and would rub it into the ground 10 times, turn it a 1/4 turn and rub it 10x again until he did the whole ball, he personally like having a little bit of dirt on the ball. He was a big baseball guy and would spit on the ball and work it in...just try to get the leather worn.
I think the biggest thing is to use the gameball the whole 1st week you get it. So if you get it Monday, need to work it M,T,W,TH before it goes into the game...dont have to kick or scuff it up, but you want to get the leather exposed. Once the ball is good to go, you can just bust it out on game days.