Zone vs directional vs analog?

[Dag_BoomStick]

Yeah I know probably a stupid question. I've never messed with mysettngs gs much and aparently I've always been playing on directional hitting. I hear a lot do talk about zone being better so I tired it for a game but turned the PCI appearence off bc it messes with me watching the ball. Just would like some input on what's what with this type of hitting. Oh and. Tried analog in years passed and hated it. Couldn't do well with it and I would abuse my sticks more then id like to.

[BentleyA]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I think analogue is actually the easiest and easier then in years past. I just started doing some zone hitting though as well. I kind of do both to be honest now. It also depends on what the pitcher is throwing. If he is throwing heat all over the corners then I find zone hitting to be pretty hard so I will go with analogue.
I hear exactly what you are saying about the PCI, its actually why i did not do zone for the first month I owned the game. I did change my reticle type to outline and that seemed to help but I know what you mean by it is distracting.
Make sure with analogue that you understand that you have to not just flick the stick up but also at the angle in the zone in which the pitch is in on the x axis (y axis pci placement is based on the ratings of the hitter and pitcher).
I also noticed that I do not generate quite as much power with analogue hitting. I think that is because i cant control if I am going to get under a pitch or not. If a guy is throwing soft stuff low in the zone all game, I want to be able to destroy him for doing that and that is harder to do with just analogue.

I hope that advice helped some.

[ScouserHUN]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Against players who are actually pitching well, you should use directional/analog. Against players who are abusing the bottom of the strike zone with changeups and curveballs you should use zone and leave the PCI at the bottom all the time until they learn you can hit those pitches.

[Gambit1193]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I tried zone hitting in practice mode. Didn't really feel comfortable with it. Is the trick to it is just placing the PCI up middle or down? is there no aiming and stuff to it to which side of the field you want to hit it?

[billydkid21]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I tried zone hitting in practice mode. Didn't really feel comfortable with it. Is the trick to it is just placing the PCI up middle or down? is there no aiming and stuff to it to which side of the field you want to hit it?

Aiming is based on timing. The only times I try to aim is runner on 2nd and no outs, or a hitter's count with a power hitter up. Every other situation I'm trying to go with the pitch.

My teams prioritize pitching and defense, so I'll take a single the other way anytime I can get it.

[Beat LA]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I've never used directional hitting. That may be why my averages are so bad. I usually aim my PCI up in the zone to start with, all the time, looking to turn on the high heat. It helps if they have a cold zone, up and in. I think that's why my best hitter is Carlos Santana. I rip that up and in fastball, but conversely flail against low, offspeed junk.

[Chetballard]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Zone hitting just does not to well for me. I have used timing/contact for every baseball game I play. Since show 06 is been that way for me.

I have used OS since 2006 and this question is always asked. Every year most people like zone better. I wish I could do well with zone, but the moving of the PCI/following the ball just does not work for me. Sometimes I feel since zone is the more popular choice then that it has to be better. I see cardinal bird and other popular streamers on twitch use zone and it make me wonder if timing is a horrible choice to use.

I believe its a matter of getting use to one method and sticking with it, switching back and forth frequently will only confuse you more

[berenjena]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Zone is the only way to hit for me.

[VowedVengeance]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

With zone hitting YOU control your swing. I can't tell you how many times I'd have perfect timing on a pitch with directional and my guy would come up empty. I was in a tie game with bases loaded and struck out on two pitches in the zone with good timing, lost my mind after I lost in extra innings and went to zone.

Tracking the ball can be harder but it comes with great reward. If you time the pitch right you can normally afford to miss hitting the pitch perfectly and still crush it. You can be early or late and square it up and crush it. This method also allows you to foul off a ton of pitches reducing your ks.

As far as how to use it, I adjust based on pitcher. Ryan, Cole, Chapman I'm starting with my PCI up so I don't pop up everytime. Grienke, Darvish and Seaver I'm sitting in the middle and adjusting. Niekro, Gamboa, and users who love to thrown low all game then I sit at the bottom most of the at bat.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[BentleyA]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

With zone hitting YOU control your swing. I can't tell you how many times I'd have perfect timing on a pitch with directional and my guy would come up empty. I was in a tie game with bases loaded and struck out on two pitches in the zone with good timing, lost my mind after I lost in extra innings and went to zone.

Tracking the ball can be harder but it comes with great reward. If you time the pitch right you can normally afford to miss hitting the pitch perfectly and still crush it. You can be early or late and square it up and crush it. This method also allows you to foul off a ton of pitches reducing your ks.

As far as how to use it, I adjust based on pitcher. Ryan, Cole, Chapman I'm starting with my PCI up so I don't pop up everytime. Grienke, Darvish and Seaver I'm sitting in the middle and adjusting. Niekro, Gamboa, and users who love to thrown low all game then I sit at the bottom most of the at bat.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

THIS.
I posted earlier in this thread that I was an analogue guy who was just trying making a switch back and forth with zone and I must say that I think I might be a full on zone guy now after my Show addiction was in full swing last night causing me to play until 4 in the morning. I played a few Diamond Dynasty games with zone on HOF settings so that I could get better at it quickly (I normally play on All Star settings) and it has worked like a charm. I then went into my RTTS and played probably 30 games while my hitting average, slugging, and HR/ABs sky rocketed.

The part of what you said that I bolded is really really key I think. If I think about lining up the PCI first, I am going to be late on nearly every pitch, even sliders, but especially fastballs. I think this is where people have the most problems. Make your brain think timing as the priority over where the PCI is and your PCI will just follow. To do this, I keep reminding myself (almost every plate appearance) timing first, timing first, timing first. Also, this video really helped me with how to place my left thumb on the left joystick so that I am not moving the PCI too far, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcAmxpCPLJ4
That is another key thing not to do. The only time I am moving the PCI hard in any direction is on low pitches that I want to drive or get in the air. Remember, the PCI does not have to be perfectly located with the pitch in order to make any sort of good contact.
Low pitches were actually the main reason I wanted to switch to zone. As others have said, with zone you have far more control, where as with analogue, you didnt really have control with getting the ball in the air or on the ground. I also noticed all of those little batting drills are like 10 times easier with zone. Really give it a good try and sit down and focus with it for a few hours on a hard setting, then lower the setting and you will see the magic that it works.

[VoItage]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Zone is the only way to get consistent results.

I was a directional/timing guy until I realized this. I sucked it up in the beginning but took my lumps and am a much player now because I switched to zone and improved.

Swinging through pitches or popping up a meatball with Ted Williams with excellent timing is just too much for me. You control what you do 95% of the time with zone. Popped up? Your fault. Whiffed? Your fault. Homer? Congrats, you earned it.

[Dag_BoomStick]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Apparently I've been playing this game on directional all this time but have been hitting like a zone hitter. I've been striking out far less and getting solid contact more often then not. I can't tell you the number of times I've swong on a slider away in the passed and wiffed really bad. Now on zone I can track that pitch out of the zone and poke it into the gap for a double. I will get foold on a hard curve more often then I use to but I'm getting better at that. Back when I used directional I remember swinging and trying to aim low when I got a change up but my guy would swing high up in the zone and think wtf. I'm also starting to pay attention to pitcher tendencies and pending if they are pitching me hi and hard vs low and soft I start starting my PCI there and punishing them hard.

[Gambit1193]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Tried zone hitting. Definitely getting ALOT more hits with this method. I just seem to be pressing myself when I get guys on base haha. Had 15 hits my last game and only scored twice smh I'm going to stick with this method though. I'll get better at it eventually

[Wolverines05]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Someone already posted my video a few responses back, but feel free to check out my MLB 15 the Show guides.

Zone Hitting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-NC83uuymo

Directional Hitting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcAmxpCPLJ4

Analog Hitting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yPzTO1iU1M

All in all, I prefer Zone Hitting most because I'm in total control. Timing, bat placement, it's all on me. But take note that all mechanics are programmed to be equally difficult in execution. For example, directional hitting requires you to simply press X to swing; an inherently easy interface. To compensate for its simplicity, directional hitting possesses constricted timing windows.

Also, give analog hitting a chance. Even though the stride component has been removed, it still allows for great control over bat placement.

Hope this helps.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

- Zone provides more power and less strike outs (easier to foul off pitches well out of zone). If you have practiced with zone over the years it is the only way to go. A good player with zone is far better than a good player with timing.
- Timing provides high rate of ball-in-play if you only swing at strikes and especially meat balls down the middle. Zone hitters tend to guess/start the PCI in certain locations and often whiff/foul on balls right down the middle. If you chase timing results in more strikeouts since you can't force the PCI to the very edge of the zone. Less power compared to zone as well.
- Analog this year is a bit different and I've heard a lot of people switched from analog to timing. I rarely use analog, but messed with it a bit online and I honestly do not know what they changed.