How to prep a Wilson GRT Football | No Rage Bait

How to PREP A Wilson GRT Football Like A PRO 
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How to Prep a Wilson GRT Football

A lot of people have asked us to prep the Wilson GRT and see what it takes to make it officially game ready. We know prepping the GRT can be a controversial topic. The football is designed and marketed to be game ready right out of the box, so some players and equipment managers may choose to use it exactly as it comes.

But after prepping the GRT ourselves, we wanted to show everyone a simple process for those who want a different feel from the football.

We have also provided a step-by-step video showing our complete Wilson GRT prep process.

What Makes the Wilson GRT Different?

The Wilson GRT is already considerably different from a traditional Wilson GST when it comes out of the box.

The GRT uses a softer leather with lower pebbling and is designed to have a broken-in feel immediately. Because of this, we don’t believe it requires the same amount of work as a traditional GST.

From the GRTs we’ve handled, the footballs have generally measured around 3.5–3.6 across the ball. This gives the GRT a very consistent surface before you even begin the prep process.

The biggest difference we notice is how quickly the GRT responds to prep.

In our experience, the GRT is easier to prep than the GST, but we still prefer using football mud during the process.

Why Prep a Football That’s Already “Game Ready”?

“Game ready” can mean different things to different players.

Some quarterbacks prefer a softer football. Others want more tack. Some want a darker, more traditional-looking football with a surface that feels broken in rather than slick or saturated.

There isn’t one universal feel that every quarterback prefers.

Our goal when prepping a GRT isn’t to completely change the football. We’re trying to take what is already a soft, playable football and improve the surface characteristics we care about.

For us, that means:

Less surface saturation. More grip. A darker appearance. A clean, consistent finish.

Step 1: Shaving Cream

We start with shaving cream.

The purpose of this step is to help clean the surface and remove some of the excess oils and material sitting on the leather.

Because the GRT is already soft, we’re not trying to aggressively break down the leather. This is one reason we believe the GRT requires less work than a traditional GST.

Apply the shaving cream evenly and work it across the leather panels.

Step 2: Football Mud

This is the most important part of our process.

Apply a thin, even layer of football mud across the leather.

You don’t need to bury the football in mud. The objective is to create a consistent layer across the surface and allow the fine mineral material to interact with the leather.

Football manufacturers have been trying to reduce or eliminate the need for football mud for decades. In our experience, it remains extremely difficult to replicate what properly selected natural soil does to a leather football.

Natural mud isn’t simply “dirt.”

Soil is the result of extremely long geological and environmental processes that break parent material down into increasingly fine mineral particles. The particle size, mineral composition, texture and other characteristics of a particular soil can dramatically change how it interacts with leather.

That’s why not every mud makes good football mud.

The right football mud can add surface texture and grip while helping create the traditional darker appearance associated with a properly prepared leather football.

Step 3: Brush and Polish the Football

Once the mud has done its job, remove the excess material.

We recommend using a microfiber cloth and appropriate football brushes to gradually work the remaining material out of the surface.

This is where the football starts developing its finished appearance.

Take your time.

The goal isn’t to leave visible mud sitting on the football. A properly prepped ball should feel like leather—not like a football covered in dirt.

Continue brushing and polishing until the surface feels clean and consistent.

What Does a Prepped Wilson GRT Feel Like?

The finished result is noticeably different from the football straight out of the box.

The GRT retains the softness that makes the football unique, but the surface becomes less saturated and develops additional grip and texture.

Visually, the leather also becomes darker and takes on more of the traditional appearance players associate with a broken-in game football.

That’s ultimately why we prep it.

We’re not saying every Wilson GRT needs to be prepped. If you like the football straight out of the box, there is nothing wrong with using it that way.

But if you want to experiment with getting more grip and a different surface feel out of your GRT, we’ve found that a simple preparation process can make a significant difference.

For us, the process comes down to three basic components:

Shaving cream. Football mud. Brush and polish.

The GRT doesn’t need to be overworked.

Keep the process simple, let the leather tell you when it’s ready, and remember that the goal isn’t to completely transform the football.

It’s to take an already good football and make it feel game ready for you.