Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

[Gagnon39]

Ever since I've played The Show I've, at least for the most part, used zone hitting. I've always liked the fact that I have to actually move the bat (or PCI in this case) where the ball actually is and time the pitch as well. However, this year I have become increasingly frustrated at my inability to hit consistently and have been giving great consideration to moving to timing.

I looked back at a previous poll from 2012 that asked what hitting options people prefer and I was surprised that the majority of people on here use timing. I've always thought that this interface would just be too easy. I think maybe I've been wrong.

I just played a game with timing and I immediately noticed something about my hitting approach. It might have just been in my head but I feel as though I was seeing the ball much, much better. Obviously nothing on the actual game change that would allow me to see the ball better but I think I know why I was. I wasn't worrying about trying to move the PCI before swinging. I've played over 100 games on my franchise and every at bat it seems I'm moving the left analog stick every which way before the pitch and it's just become ridiculous.

I've played on default All-Star all year long but I'm wondering if timing is overall easier than zone. I know the PCI moves based on each player's attributes and that's fine with me, but perhaps I need to make some kind of changes or bump up a level. I don't know. As I've gotten older my reaction has decreased and I have been playing with the pitch speed all the way down. This might be one area that I need to address if I choose to stick with timing.

Has anyone else moved away from zone (or analog) to timing and had good results?

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

gagnon i hate u man i finally got the hitting back and now i come and read this thread. lol. no but i feel the same way about zone. i dont have the hand eye coordination to move the pci. so what i do is i take the pitch till a strike then just aim low and only swing if its low. now i dont know if that the best way to using zone but hey. i want to go to timing but im scared because so many people complain about the pci being way off. but i been on this board for years so if u switch to timing then i might follow suit because u help me alot with sports games

[Gagnon39]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

gagnon i hate u man i finally got the hitting back and now i come and read this thread. lol. no but i feel the same way about zone. i dont have the hand eye coordination to move the pci. so what i do is i take the pitch till a strike then just aim low and only swing if its low. now i dont know if that the best way to using zone but hey. i want to go to timing but im scared because so many people complain about the pci being way off. but i been on this board for years so if u switch to timing then i might follow suit because u help me alot with sports games

I just can't make up my mind. I think a major factor in my inability to hit is the fact that I'm the Cubs. But as I've said in previous posts, my biggest frustration comes with the fact that I'm hitting in the low .220's with Starlin Castro and he has the best contact rating of any player on my team.

[bigwill33]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

The problem I seem to face each year with the PCI is that I start my swing before I move the analog stick to aim my bat. So, while I follow my pitch in with the stick I usually have hit swing as soon as I recognize it's a hittable pitch.

I need to be able to adjust my swing angle and aim after starting my motion to swing, but that's not an option. I'll probably keep zone hitting on though and just hope that I'll learn it eventually.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

The problem I seem to face each year with the PCI is that I start my swing before I move the analog stick to aim my bat. So, while I follow my pitch in with the stick I usually have hit swing as soon as I recognize it's a hittable pitch.

I need to be able to adjust my swing angle and aim after starting my motion to swing, but that's not an option. I'll probably keep zone hitting on though and just hope that I'll learn it eventually.

I've said this many times. So I agree completely with you there. This is why I loved MVP's hitting so much.

[bigwill33]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

I've said this many times. So I agree completely with you there. This is why I loved MVP's hitting so much.

Glad I am not alone. And yes, I think all of the other games have conditioned me to do it the other way. And it kind of makes sense that you should be able to adjust mid swing, but I just figured I am in the minority and should learn it the way the game has it.

The other issue I often have is this: When I have a pitch right down the heart of the plate and I don't touch the PCI it is random as to where the coverage occurs. Like when the pitch is just an inch high from center and I don't touch anything but swing the PCI will be at the bottom of the zone. And when the pitch is just below center and I don't touch anything but swing, then the PCI magically appears above the pitch. I feel like it cheats me in this way and that there isn't much I can do to counter these occurrences.

[KBLover]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

Timing has it's own batch of frustrations. It might be "easy" in terms of stick skills or whatever, but that's about it.

[nick_sr]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

Went to timing for a week and it was a disaster!

[Bobhead]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

I've said this many times. So I agree completely with you there. This is why I loved MVP's hitting so much.

Glad I am not alone. And yes, I think all of the other games have conditioned me to do it the other way. And it kind of makes sense that you should be able to adjust mid swing, but I just figured I am in the minority and should learn it the way the game has it.

You're not in the minority, and you're right, it'd be more realistic if we could continue to move the PCI after pressing the swing button. It's pretty silly that we can't, and makes Zone hitting more difficult and awkward than it needs to be.

I still prefer Zone though. Won't ever change. If they ever break or remove Zone hitting, I'll just stop buying games.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

Glad I am not alone. And yes, I think all of the other games have conditioned me to do it the other way. And it kind of makes sense that you should be able to adjust mid swing, but I just figured I am in the minority and should learn it the way the game has it.

The other issue I often have is this: When I have a pitch right down the heart of the plate and I don't touch the PCI it is random as to where the coverage occurs. Like when the pitch is just an inch high from center and I don't touch anything but swing the PCI will be at the bottom of the zone. And when the pitch is just below center and I don't touch anything but swing, then the PCI magically appears above the pitch. I feel like it cheats me in this way and that there isn't much I can do to counter these occurrences.

I can tell you why the PCI moves on you when using zone hitting. If you notice, it only moves the PCI up or down, never side to side. If you leave the PCI in the middle of the plate and you swing late, it will be moved down. If you swing early, it will be a touch higher. That's my observations anyway.

[bigwill33]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

I can tell you why the PCI moves on you when using zone hitting. If you notice, it only moves the PCI up or down, never side to side. If you leave the PCI in the middle of the plate and you swing late, it will be moved down. If you swing early, it will be a touch higher. That's my observations anyway.

Ah, I did not know that and have never noticed the correlation with it. I will have to pay attention from now on to see. Thanks!

[Klayups]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

So with zone hitting can you still move the PCI after the pitch is thrown? i have a terrible time hitting to the opposite field.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

So with zone hitting can you still move the PCI after the pitch is thrown? i have a terrible time hitting to the opposite field.

After the pitch is thrown, yes. After you press the swing button, no.

[nick_sr]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

really wish you could flick it instead of holding it.

[KingFry]

Re: Long time zone hitter, moving to timing. Maybe.

I had this same problem. I was always trying to move the PCI and would always swing late or strikeout... switched to timing and was back to average numbers... then after getting frustrated that I couldn't adjust mid swing I switched back and it just goes on and on...