By Garrett Wolforth –
If you’ve been around The Ranch long enough, you’ve surely heard the phrase “Start with the Pain” ™. These aren’t just empty words or platitudes we toss around; we truly believe everything starts with the health and durability of each athlete’s arm.
Given the track of baseball today, many people are convinced that velocity or “stuff” is what makes the most significant difference in an athlete’s career. While this may be true in a macro sense, what inhibits an athlete most on the micro level could be arm health — and solving that could make all the difference.
Most throwing athletes follow a general pattern we try to address:
“My arm hurts, so I don’t throw very much. I don’t throw very much, so I’m not prepared for the stress of the game. I’m not prepared for the stress of the game, so my velocity or command drops. My velocity or command drops, so I’m not very effective. I’m not very effective, so I throw less and less in games.”
This entire sequence of thought begins with something very simple: “My arm hurts.”
Our goal at the Texas Baseball Ranch® is, and will always be, to help our athletes create a healthy and durable arm. This is why we place such importance on the tools we use. The tools are the change agents that help us transition from inefficient movement patterns to efficient ones, helping us become the best pitchers we can possibly be.
When used properly, the tools can help our athletes shift from the previous pattern to something more like this:
“My arm feels great, so I’m able to throw more. I’m able to throw more, so I can attack whatever my biggest obstacle to performance currently is — whether it’s velocity, command, or secondary pitches. I attack my obstacles, so I perform better in games. I perform better in games and earn more and more opportunities to show my talents.”
For anyone struggling with arm pain in the medial (inside) elbow or anterior (front) shoulder, the issue is most likely a disconnection during the acceleration (arm speeding up) phase of the throwing motion. These types of disconnections can be improved by utilizing the Connection Ball and the Connection Club.
Both of these tools are designed to reduce the time and tension placed upon a pitcher’s arm while creating energy during the throw.
The goal is never to be a great thrower with the tools, but to use the tools to help us move as efficiently as possible in more game-like situations.
Another common area of pain or discomfort is the lateral (back/triceps area) elbow and the posterior (back) shoulder. These are generally caused by inefficiencies during the deceleration (arm slowing down) phase of the delivery. To help train this deceleration pattern, we utilize the Training Sock and the Weighted Forearm Sleeve.
Both of these tools serve as aids in teaching the body how to properly slow down the arm.
Always remember: Once the baseball leaves our hand, our only job is to become a world-class decelerator.
We regularly employ all four of these tools with our athletes. Our goal is to have each athlete test them out and discover which ones make their arm feel the best. They’ll quickly get a sense for which tools create the movement patterns they prefer.
Remember, “Start with the Pain” ™ is not just a cliché; it is the essential building block of The Ranch philosophy. We want our athletes’ arms to feel great so they can throw more; throw more so they can improve; and improve so they can advance to their next level.
If you’d like to see examples of these tools in use, visit our social media accounts for a deeper dive. To purchase any of these products, scan the QR code below and use code: TBR5 for savings on your order.
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Important TBR Updates
- Fall/Winter Elite Pitchers Bootcamps. These are a great opportunity to get prepared for the spring season. Dates include:
Nov. 22-24 (Sat-Mon) LIMITED Spots
Dec. 28-30 (Sun-Wed) LIMITED Spots
Jan. 17-19 (Sat-Mon) Martin Luther King Day Weekend
Feb. 14-16 (Sat-Mon) President’s Day Weekend
To register or learn more CLICK HERE
- Attention Catchers! You’re invited to join us for our 7th Annual Elite Catcher’s Bootcamp – This year’s event will be held on December 12-14th. Space is limited. To learn more and register visit www.TexasBaseballRanch.com/
catcher
- Our Alumni/Advanced Pitching Camp is taking place January 3 & 4, 2026. Spots going fast. CLICK HERE to secure your spot.
- Attention Houston area athletes – Join us for our Fall/Winter classes! Classes are held Monday & Wednesday and will run monthly through January. Spots are limited. Registrations for December & January are now being accepted. This is your final opportunity before the spring season. CLICK HERE to download the registration form or call to reserve your spot. If you have any questions email info@texasbaseballranch.
comor call (936) 588-6762. Can’t attend twice a week? Not a problem. We have a once a week option. Give us a call.
- Coach Wolforth is hosting a special 90 minute webinar – “The Velocity Code: 3 Secrets to Improving Velocity and Staying Healthy” on Thursdays at 7pm CST. If you’d like to attend the next webinar, CLICK HERE to register.
- Updated link! Coach Wolforth is also hosting another webinar – “The 4 Pitching Pitfalls that Sabotage Velocity, Arm Health & Long-Term Success” Mondays at 7 pm. CST. CLICK HERE to register.
- NEW VIDEO on our YouTube Channel: “The Identity Crisis Every Baseball Pitcher Must Overcome”. Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YEqIynB3Z0 and share your opinion in the comments.
