By Jill Wolforth –
Everywhere you look, especially on social media, there’s another young pitcher throwing 94 mph, committing to a D1 program, or hoisting a trophy after a big tournament win.
While those milestones are worth recognizing and celebrating, these same posts often have an unintended effect on families and athletes watching from the sidelines…
Doubt.
Worry.
Uncertainty.
At the Texas Baseball Ranch®, these are common conversations and they are valid. But more often than not, these concerns stem from comparison, not clarity.
Coach Wolforth calls it The Comparison Trap.
Think about this, no one’s posting their setbacks. No one’s filming the bullpen that didn’t go well or the long car ride after a rough outing. You don’t see the kid who just started rehab for a strained UCL, or the one quietly battling confidence issues after a velocity plateau.
When families compare their own journey to someone else’s, it’s easy to lose perspective. What starts as motivation can quickly turn into pressure to chase what others are doing instead of focusing on what’s truly right for this athlete.
So, what does clarity look like?
Clarity doesn’t come from the internet. It comes from intentional evaluation, clear planning, and focusing on individual needs and goals.
At the Ranch the focus has always been on hyper-personalization and personal development. There is no “normal” timeline. No one-size-fits-all.
Clarity means knowing where an athlete is today, what they’re aiming for, and what steps they can take next, without noise, panic, or second-guessing.
For families feeling the weight of comparison, it may help to step back and ask:
- What does progress look like for our son this month?
- Are we making decisions out of fear or from a place of calm confidence?
- Who are we comparing ourselves to and is that comparison helpful or harmful?
These kinds of questions lead to better conversations, more focused planning, and ultimately, better long-term results.
Mid-summer is the perfect time to recalibrate. Many families are racing from event to event, trying to keep up, hoping they’re doing the right things. But growth rarely comes from chaos. It comes from intention and consistency.
Sometimes the best move isn’t to speed up… it’s to pause, take a breath, and reconnect with the bigger picture.
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Important TBR Updates
- There are 3 dates remaining this summer to join us at one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps and take advantage of our world renowned training. Upcoming dates include:
July 18-20 (Fri-Sun)
Aug. 1-3 (Fri-Sun)
Aug. 30-Sept 1 (Sat-Mon)
To register or learn more CLICK HERE
- Interested in our “Summer Intensive Development Program”? There are ONLY 3 weeks remaining but you can still join us! For more information on this one of a kind Summer Training experience and for a registration form visit https://www.
texasbaseballranch.com/events/ tbr-summer-program/.
- Would you like to participate in the Ranch Summer Program but can’t find 2+ weeks in your schedule? We have an option for you! Attend our 3-Day EPBC Aug 1-3 and stay for the summer program the week after. It’s seven days of training and is a great option before the start of the school year. There’s also a special savings so, give us a call and we can provide you with more details – (936) 588-6762.
- ATTENTION PARENTS OF YOUTH PITCHERS – Our youth pitching camp, for players ages 8-12 will be October 4th & 5th. Registration is open! There is a $300 “Early Bird” savings if you register by August 11th. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
- 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. He is also hosting another webinar “The 4 Pitching Pitfalls that Sabotage Velocity, Arm Health & Long-Term Success” Mondays at 7 pm. CST. To receive a registration link for this webinar, please email Info@TexasBaseballRanch.com.
- NEW VIDEO on our YouTube Channel: “Developing Elite Level Command as a Baseball Pitcher – Pt 1”. Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXGjEe7K0o4 and share your opinion in the comments.
