Ask Coach Lou

Lou Kolasky
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  • Baseball

Radar guns, spin rates, and social media hype are everywhere. Arm injuries are, too. Ask Coach Lou cuts through the noise to get to what actually builds a healthy, effective pitcher. Master Pitching Coach Lou Kolasky, founder of Explosive Labs, has spent years developing pitchers, and he still takes the mound himself. Each episode, co-host Jamie, a parent and coach, brings the questions parents, players, and coaches are really asking. Lou brings straight answers on mechanics, pitch counts, arm care, velocity, recovery, and the mental side of pitching.

Episodes

  1. Oct 14

    What Is Arm Care, Really?

    Everyone in youth baseball talks about arm care. But what does it actually mean? And how can parents and coaches tell whether an arm care program is really protecting their players? In Episode 003 of Ask Coach Lou, Explosive Labs founder and Master Pitching Coach Lou Kolasky joins co-host Jamie Salsburg to take a closer look at arm care, arm health, and the importance of understanding an athlete's workload and recovery. Coach Lou explains how tools like ArmCare.com can help measure strength, identify imbalances, and monitor recovery rather than relying solely on how a player says their arm feels. They also discuss the differences between structured, research-based training programs and the collection of exercises and routines often promoted as arm care. The conversation explores why arm care matters for every player who throws—not just pitchers—along with the importance of proper warmups, individualized training, and recognizing fatigue before it becomes a bigger problem. Finally, Coach Lou shares why parents need to look beyond a team's promises about arm care and understand how coaches actually manage their players throughout the season. Whether you're a parent, coach, or player, this episode will give you a better understanding of what to look for, what questions to ask, and why effective arm care involves much more than a few exercises before practice. Have a question for Coach Lou? Send it our way for a future episode! Interested in Off-Season Gauntlet '26? The program runs October 5, 2026, through February 2027, with separate training blocks for 13U/14U and high school players (15U–18U). Space is limited, and registration is first-come, first-served. Learn more about the program and registration at https://explosive-labs.com. About Coach Lou Kolasky Coach Lou is a Tom House Sports National Pitching Association (NPA) Master Pitching Coach and owner of Explosive Labs in Akron, Ohio. Through his work with youth, high school, college, and advanced pitchers, Coach Lou utilizes a science-based, health-first approach focused on biomechanics, functional strength, recovery, nutrition, and mental performance. His training philosophy is rooted in the nationally recognized Tom House/NPA methodology, one of the most respected pitching development systems in the country.

  2. Oct 14

    Building Stronger, Healthier Pitchers | Off-Season Gauntlet '26

    When should young baseball players start lifting weights? How does strength training affect pitching velocity? And what does it take to prepare pitchers for the demands of a long baseball season? In Episode 002 of Ask Coach Lou, Explosive Labs founder and Master Pitching Coach Lou Kolasky joins co-host Jamie Salsburg to discuss strength development, pitching mechanics, and the importance of building a foundation before focusing on throwing harder. Coach Lou explains how growth and puberty affect young athletes, why functional strength matters more than simply adding muscle, and how proper training, nutrition, hydration, and recovery work together to support performance and arm health. The conversation also takes an in-depth look at Explosive Labs' Off-Season Gauntlet '26, an 18-week training program designed to help serious baseball players build velocity, improve command, develop functional strength, and prepare for the upcoming season. Coach Lou walks through the program's progressive training phases, including initial assessments, individualized warmups, arm care and recovery monitoring, mechanical development, velocity training, and the transition to mound work and live at-bats. He also explains how tracking performance and maintaining training journals help athletes understand their development and take ownership of their progress. Whether you're a parent wondering when your child should begin strength training or a player looking to take the next step in your development, this episode explores how to train with a purpose while keeping long-term health a priority. Interested in Off-Season Gauntlet '26? The program runs October 2026 through February 2027, with separate training blocks for 13U/14U and high school players (15U–18U). Space is limited, and registration is first-come, first-served. Learn more about the program and registration at https://explosive-labs.com. Have a question for Coach Lou? Send it our way for a future episode! About Coach Lou Kolasky Coach Lou is a Tom House Sports National Pitching Association (NPA) Master Pitching Coach and owner of Explosive Labs in Akron, Ohio. Through his work with youth, high school, college, and advanced pitchers, Coach Lou utilizes a science-based, health-first approach focused on biomechanics, functional strength, recovery, nutrition, and mental performance. His training philosophy is rooted in the nationally recognized Tom House/NPA methodology, one of the most respected pitching development systems in the country.

  3. Oct 13

    The Who, What, Where, When & Why of Ask Coach Lou

    Welcome to the first episode of Ask Coach Lou! In this kickoff episode, Explosive Labs founder and Master Pitching Coach Lou Kolasky joins co-host Jamie Salsburg to cover the Who, What, Where, When, and Why behind the podcast. Coach Lou shares his baseball background, how his own struggles with arm injuries led him to Tom House and the National Pitching Association, and how those experiences shaped his coaching philosophy. We also explore the training programs offered through Explosive Labs, when young players should begin specialized pitching instruction, and why simply letting kids play is so important. Finally, Coach Lou explains what continues to motivate him after 15 years of coaching and why he's passionate about giving today's athletes the knowledge and opportunities he wishes he'd had growing up. Whether you're a baseball parent, coach, or player, Ask Coach Lou is here to answer your questions, challenge common misconceptions, and help athletes develop, perform, and stay healthy. Have a question for Coach Lou? Send it our way for a future episode! Interested in Off-Season Gauntlet '26? The program runs October 5, 2026, through February 2027, with separate training blocks for 13U/14U and high school players (15U–18U). Space is limited, and registration is first-come, first-served. Learn more about the program and registration at ⁠https://explosive-labs.com⁠. About Coach Lou Kolasky Coach Lou is a Tom House Sports National Pitching Association (NPA) Master Pitching Coach and owner of Explosive Labs in Akron, Ohio. Through his work with youth, high school, college, and advanced pitchers, Coach Lou utilizes a science-based, health-first approach focused on biomechanics, functional strength, recovery, nutrition, and mental performance. His training philosophy is rooted in the nationally recognized Tom House/NPA methodology, one of the most respected pitching development systems in the country.

  • 3 Episodes

About

Radar guns, spin rates, and social media hype are everywhere. Arm injuries are, too. Ask Coach Lou cuts through the noise to get to what actually builds a healthy, effective pitcher. Master Pitching Coach Lou Kolasky, founder of Explosive Labs, has spent years developing pitchers, and he still takes the mound himself. Each episode, co-host Jamie, a parent and coach, brings the questions parents, players, and coaches are really asking. Lou brings straight answers on mechanics, pitch counts, arm care, velocity, recovery, and the mental side of pitching.

Information

  • Creator
    Lou Kolasky
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lou Kolasky
  • Show Website
    Ask Coach Lou