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General  | Blog  | 9/6/2024

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 43 Pt. 1

Ron Wolforth     
Why One Should Never Ignore Arm Pain:
Part 1




Even at 65 years old, I still encounter things that surprise me. After over three decades of training baseball pitchers, I’ve heard it all. Some comments inspire me, others provoke thought, and some even bring a smile. Recently, however, I've heard sentiments that are deeply troubling. I would like to address them in the next two segments.

There’s a portion of the coaching community who believe “Pitching = Pain.” They often cite professional pitchers as evidence, saying things like, "In 30 starts over a season, a Major League starter will rarely feel 100%. A reliever used in back-to-back games will never feel 100%. So, it’s clear: pitching equals pain.”

From this perspective, pain becomes a constant companion. It is something to ignore and accept as part of the “price” of being a competitive pitcher.

But here’s the problem: they’re comparing apples to oranges. We can’t equate the experience of a 30-year-old, highly skilled, fully developed professional playing at the highest level during a grueling 162-game season to that of a 13-17-year-old travel ball pitcher. 

In Texas, we have a saying for that kind of reasoning… “That dog won’t hunt.”

This isn’t to say we can’t learn from the experiences of professional baseball players—because we absolutely can and should. However, the situations are so different that making a direct comparison is not only unwise, it’s downright dangerous.

Let me be clear: I reject entirely the belief that “Pitching = Pain.”

Pain is simply information. It’s your body’s way of telling your brain, “Hey there, you need to pay attention to this.”

Pain can arise from many sources, not just one. This complexity is part of what makes creating a healthy, durable arm so challenging. It’s often complicated, and it’s always personal.

A common misconception is that arm discomfort is caused by lactic acid. This isn’t true. Many coaches advise their pitchers to run poles after pitching to “flush” the lactic acid from their bodies. However, there is no lactic acid buildup during pitching. Pitching is a short-duration, maximum-intensity movement relying primarily on the anaerobic energy system.

So, what are the two most common contributors to discomfort in our experience?

1. Pushing the Body Beyond Its Current Preparation. This can mean several things:
- The soft tissue isn’t adequately warmed up for the intensity of the task.
- The body is forced into ranges of motion it isn’t prepared for or familiar with.
- Body segments are asked to move faster or more explosively than they’re ready for.
-  The body is asked to perform beyond its current preparation in terms of volume, quantity, or magnitude.

2. Inefficient Movement Patterns. These can create specific microtrauma to the soft tissue.

Ignoring your body’s signals that something isn’t right—signals such as needing to adjust, adapt, or accommodate your process before things worsen—can have serious, even harmful, consequences.

In other words, at The Texas Baseball Ranch®, we believe ignoring arm pain is a perilous mistake.

So, step #1: Do not ignore your arm pain! It’s trying to tell you something. Pay attention to it. Your goals—whether velocity, command, creating swing-and-miss stuff, recovery, or consistency—are all dependent on having a healthy, durable, pain-free arm.

Next time, in Part 2: Pay attention to where your arm pain is. Its location can give us clues about its source.

Coach Ron Wolforth is the founder of the Texas Baseball Ranch® and has written six books on pitching including the Amazon Best Seller, Pitching with Confidence. Since 2003, The Texas Baseball Ranch® has had over 579 pitchers break the 90 mph barrier, 208 have toped 94mph or better, and 135 of his students have been drafted in the MLB’s June Amateur Draft. Coach Wolforth has consulted with 13 MLB teams, dozens of NCAA programs and has been referred to as “ America’s Go-to-Guy on Pitching” and “The Pitching Coaches Pitching Coach.” Coach Wolforth lives in Montgomery, TX with his wife, Jill. They are intimately familiar with youth select, travel baseball and PG events as their son Garrett (now a professional catcher) went through the process. Garrett still holds the PG Underclass All-American Games record for
catcher velocity at 89 mph which he set in 2014 at the age of 16.

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Fall/Winter Events at the Texas Baseball Ranch®

Join our 3-Day “Elite Pitcher’s Boot Camps”, designed for pitchers aged 12 and above. We’re
hosting one every month from October-February.  For additional details, visit: https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/elite-pitchers-bootcamp/

Interested in learning what sets our boot camps apart? Request our comprehensive information package “What Makes This Bootcamp Different?" by emailing Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com

Our YOUTH pitchers camp, designed specifically for young athletes ages 8-12 will be held October 5&6.  This event is held once a year and more information can be found at: https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/events/youth-elite-pitchers-bootcamp.

Attention all CATCHERS: TBR’s 6th Annual “Elite Catchers Bootcamp” will take place this year on December 6th-8th. There is an “Early Bird” $500 savings available. Go to www.TexasBaseballRanch.com/catcher to learn more and register. 
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