By Coach Ron Wolforth –
Throughout my career, I’ve encountered a recurring theme among athletes, coaches, and even parents: the deep-seated fear of stepping outside the established norms. It’s understandable. In sports, just like in life, there’s comfort in following the well-worn path. Yet, if there’s one lesson I have learned over decades of working with athletes at the Texas Baseball Ranch®, it’s this: true breakthroughs require the courage to think outside the accepted window of knowledge, and the strength to stand by your convictions when the crowd calls you “crazy.”
The Comfortable Lie vs. The Uncomfortable Truth
It’s human nature to embrace what feels comfortable. In baseball, that often means adhering to long-held beliefs about mechanics, training methods, or approaches to arm health. Coaches, trainers, and athletes often parrot these “truths” because they’re accepted by the majority. Yet, as we dig deeper, we often find that these truths are more folklore than fact.
Years ago, when we first began emphasizing arm care and hyper-personalization at The Ranch, many viewed us as outliers. “Everyone knows that’s crazy/risky,” some would say—or, “You’re making it more complicated than it needs to be.” Yet, as injuries continued to mount across the baseball world, athletes who embraced our unconventional approach thrived. Why? Because they were willing to look beyond what everyone else was doing. They questioned the accepted standards, and they had the strength to forge a new path.
Innovation Is Messy
Being a pioneer doesn’t come with a manual. When you decide to think outside the box, you’ll face resistance from peers and critics who are deeply invested in maintaining the status quo. You’ll have moments where you second-guess yourself. You’ll doubt your data, your approach, and your instincts.
It’s during these moments that the strength of your convictions becomes most important. You must be willing to hold firm, even when the evidence of success is not yet clear. Innovation is messy because progress isn’t linear. You’ll take two steps forward, one step back. Sometimes, you’ll fail entirely. However, if you’re willing to learn, adapt, and stay committed, that messiness eventually gives way to mastery.
Challenge Assumptions
The foundation of progress is challenging assumptions. At The Ranch, we don’t take anything as gospel just because it’s common practice. We ask questions like:
- Why is arm pain seen as inevitable instead of preventable?
- Why do most coaches prescribe the same throwing program for every athlete?
- Why do we cling to outdated beliefs about pitching mechanics, even when data tells a different story?
These questions may seem obvious now, but decades ago, they were almost sacrilegious. The key is not to assume that because something has always been done a certain way, it’s the right way. Question, explore, and allow your curiosity to guide your process.
The Power of Your “Why”
When you set out to do things differently, you must ground yourself in a clear purpose. Why do you believe in this unconventional path? For us, it’s simple: we believe that every athlete deserves the best chance to stay healthy, optimize their potential, and love the game. Our “why” gives us the resolve to withstand the pushback.
If your foundation is strong, critics can’t shake you. When they call your methods unproven or eccentric, you can calmly remind yourself of your purpose and keep pushing forward. This is how revolutions in training happen, through a stubborn, relentless commitment to what you believe in.
Surround Yourself with the Right People
One of the biggest keys to maintaining the strength of your convictions is surrounding yourself with people who support your vision. At The Ranch, we’ve built a community of like-minded athletes and coaches who share our drive to think differently. When you’re surrounded by people who believe in pushing boundaries, it’s easier to stay the course.
Something To Ponder
If you truly want to be exceptional, you must be willing to venture beyond the accepted window of knowledge. You’ll face doubt and criticism. You’ll feel isolated at times. In the end, though, those who possess the strength of their convictions are the ones who make an impact.
At the Texas Baseball Ranch®, we will continue to innovate, push boundaries, and challenge the norm, not because it’s easy or popular, but because we believe it’s the right thing to do for our athletes.
Do you have the courage to think differently? To question the standard and break new ground? That’s the real test of a trailblazer. That’s what sets the “great” apart from the “good.”
Until next time,
Stay curious and keep fighting the GOOD fight.
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Important TBR Updates
- Check out this video on our YouTube channel featuring Coach Wolforth with Daron Sutton of PG TV: “Why Attend Texas Baseball Ranch Summer Program?” Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmVqpGI3r9k&t=1s and share your opinion in the comments.
- 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.
- Summer is just around the corner. A great introduction to the Texas Baseball Ranch® and our world renowned training is through our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps. Upcoming dates include:
May 24-26 (Sat-Mon) Spots Limited
June 6-8 (Fri-Sun)
June 20-22 (Fri-Sun)
July 4-6 (Fri-Sun)
July 18-20 (Fri-Sun)
Aug. 1-3 (Fri-Sun)
Aug. 30-Sept 1 (Sat-Mon)
To register or learn more CLICK HERE
- Have you been considering attending one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp but are still on the fence? To help, we have a detailed information package entitled “What Makes This Boot Camp Different”. If you’d like to receive this package and start making plans for the summer, email Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.
- Interested in our “Summer Intensive Development Program”? Join us for 2-11 weeks this summer. 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 one of our 3-Day EPBC’s and add the summer program week after. It’s seven days of training and is a great option for those players with an extremely busy summer schedule. Give us a call and we can provide you with more details – (936) 588-6762.
