Contact swing vs regular swing?

[LAfan1624]

Which is better?

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

The following answer will be of no help I don't think. All I ever use is the normal swing (X button). I hit homeruns, singles, doubles, triples, gappers, etc.

My recollection says contact swing is supposedly used to foul off pitches when you're down in the count, just to get some type of contact on the ball. I have read others who simply use contact and are able to do damage on the ball (i.e. homeruns, singles, doubles, etc.)

By definition, I guess normal swing theoretically should be better.

[countryboy]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

I don't know that there really is a definitive answer that one is better than the other.

But I'll try to "help" as best I can:

Normal Swing = Contact Rating & Power Rating remain unchanged.

Power Swing = Power Rating Increases/Contact Rating Decreases

Contact Swing = Contact Rating Increases/Power Rating Decreases

Having mentioned that, I personally never use power swing as I don't like having my contact rating drop (smaller PCI). I've hit homeruns on Normal swing and contact swing alike. Granted I've hit more with Normal than Contact, but its possible to hit homers with Contact.


I use Normal swing generally 95% of the time. The only occasions I use Contact are when I'm just trying to put a ball in play. That's it. Generally reserved for when I have a weak hitter at the plate and I need to move runners.

I know none of this really answers the question, but that is my .02 for better or worse.

[KBLover]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

It's probably the most practical answer, though, countryboy.

There's no "best". It the game, like in real baseball, it's situation and about risk-reward and overall approach at the plate and to the game at the team level.

If you want to be a Bronx Bombers type of team or have 8 Adam Dunn's then you might as well lay on the power button. Maximize your strength and use your eye to lay off as much as you can so you don't have to worry about the failed check swings. If you're a slash-and-run type team, go for contact, try to put more balls in play.

Trying the later scenario with 8 Adam Dunn's might not work well. Trying it with 8 Billy Hamilton's or Jean Segura's and you're probably golden (hopefully, you'll stay out of DPs and not hit too many flyballs, though).

Of course, interface matters too. Zone folks probably can get away with a lot more power swinging because even a smaller PCI is still in their control. Timing folks might need contact more, especially with 2 strikes since PCI is purely random, and normal most of the rest of the time because a smaller PCI + random PCI = frustration waiting to happen.

[rjackson]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

Agreed, interface and skill probably does matter as far as making contact but the ratings should still impact the quality of contact from my understanding.

The in-game guide specifically states that contact swings should be used rarely and only in situation where you just do not want to strike-out. A good example would be with a runner on third and one out where just putting a ball in play probably scores that runner.

[KMRblue1027]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

I found using them based on count is best especially for timing hitting if you don't want to have 20% plus K rate. For me the breakdown is,

0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 2-1, 1-1, and 3-2 counts are normal swings.
2-0 I basically never swing but do keep my finger on power
3-0 and 3-1 are power swing all the way, inside-mid pitches ideally.
0-2, 0-1, 1-2, and 2-2 counts are contact.

With this I walk about 12% of the time and K less than 14% on all-star.

[allBthere]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

It's probably the most practical answer, though, countryboy.

There's no "best". It the game, like in real baseball, it's situation and about risk-reward and overall approach at the plate and to the game at the team level.

If you want to be a Bronx Bombers type of team or have 8 Adam Dunn's then you might as well lay on the power button. Maximize your strength and use your eye to lay off as much as you can so you don't have to worry about the failed check swings. If you're a slash-and-run type team, go for contact, try to put more balls in play.

Trying the later scenario with 8 Adam Dunn's might not work well. Trying it with 8 Billy Hamilton's or Jean Segura's and you're probably golden (hopefully, you'll stay out of DPs and not hit too many flyballs, though).

Of course, interface matters too. Zone folks probably can get away with a lot more power swinging because even a smaller PCI is still in their control. Timing folks might need contact more, especially with 2 strikes since PCI is purely random, and normal most of the rest of the time because a smaller PCI + random PCI = frustration waiting to happen.

which is why early in my career, I use contact and still hit some home runs,...

I was thinking though that I wish the PCI would go where I "guess pitch" which makes a lot of sense if it would do that - I don't understand why it wouldn't, ...because if it did that I would use power and normal more often.

I may switch to manually doing the pci so that I can do just that even though I don't really want to...

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

Neither.
Bunt, drag, 100%

[KBLover]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

which is why early in my career, I use contact and still hit some home runs,...

I was thinking though that I wish the PCI would go where I "guess pitch" which makes a lot of sense if it would do that - I don't understand why it wouldn't, ...because if it did that I would use power and normal more often.

I may switch to manually doing the pci so that I can do just that even though I don't really want to...

I've had similar thoughts re: guess pitch and PCI location. I mean, if you're guess low, you're looking low, and PCI represents where the hitter was "most prepared" to swing so...

Between that and why doesn't Plate Vision help with PCI location, not just size since part of having good plate vision is being able to read and anticipate the action and "final location" of the pitch.

[KBLover]

Re: Contact swing vs regular swing?

Neither.
Bunt, drag, 100%

Hahaha Definitely need 8 Billy Hamilton and Jean Segura's for that one.

Crazy thing is...it might just work

After all, I think the CPU would concur given how it hits with a speedster at the plate.