It softens it. I put olive oil on it first, as many sites suggested, and other players have suggested. I used to break in my gloves with throwing after oiling them. I would also leave my gloves in a hot car to soften in the heat, with a ball inside of them. I am so mad right now. Today was ruined. I didn’t get to watch Easter mass online because of time zones, I missed watching (in person) my kids open Easter baskets I made, and then my damn glove caught fire. God, why?