Tips on How to Hit

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I'm getting a lot of hits now but not able to turn those hits into runs. Should I use power more or maybe just use contact ?

If you're getting a lot of hits chances are you aren't scoring because of something psychological. You're probably getting too anxious or over thinking with RISP and your approach changes. You have to remember when runners are on base it's the pitcher who is in trouble. There is a difference between letting him get himself in more trouble and trying to create more trouble for him. You want to let him work that much harder to get out of trouble. Chances are he will be more prone to make mistakes. See pitches, work the count, make him come after you. If you hit a single 9 times out of 10 the pitchers mindset will be to keep it low and make you ground into a DP. Use that to your advantage.

[iLLWiLL]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Last week I switched from Dynamic difficulty (which bounced between All-Star to HoF), to just static All-Star.

The biggest improvements I made were just in thumb positioning (as I explained earlier in this thread, I put the crease on the underside of my thumb knuckle on the top of the left stick), in addition to placing my PCI in a region of the strike zone (pre-pitch) that I think that specific pitch is going to be thrown -- and based on the situation or count, I might change the location from pitch to pitch.

The result? I was getting no less than 9 hits per game. I'm hitting well over .300 with two of my Season Mode teams, and a little under .300 with my other team. I've had a 17-hit game and a 16-hit game. And I'm also scoring alot of runs.


I will be switching back to Dynamic to see how much I've really improved. Although as one poster has already said, play on a difficulty level that keeps the game FUN for you, and that is still challenging.

[iLLWiLL]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Also, with my new thumb positioning that limits over-extending, I just ordered some KontrolFreek grips that make your analog sticks taller, so I'm excited to see if that makes things more comfortable & precise ...

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Also, with my new thumb positioning that limits over-extending, I just ordered some KontrolFreek grips that make your analog sticks taller, so I'm excited to see if that makes things more comfortable & precise ...

Please come back and share your results. I have that problem myself. If they help you I might order some myself.

[Seancefc]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I'm struggling to get hits with runners on base especially with RISP. It seems everytine I go for a pitch over the plate and get decent contact it flies into a fielders glove.

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I'm struggling to get hits with runners on base especially with RISP. It seems everytine I go for a pitch over the plate and get decent contact it flies into a fielders glove.

I'm going to go against my better judgement and help you anyway even though you seem to be a Red Sox fan. lol.

Where over the plate? What is your approach when there are runners on base? What hitting style (Zone, Directional)?

I responded to another poster with the exact same issue. What I told him probably applies to you as well. It's possible with runners on you change your approach. You press to try and get them home or advance them. I can't say for sure though unless I know a little more about what you do in those situations (Besides get out lol).

[Seancefc]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I'm going to go against my better judgement and help you anyway even though you seem to be a Red Sox fan. lol.

Where over the plate? What is your approach when there are runners on base? What hitting style (Zone, Directional)?

I responded to another poster with the exact same issue. What I told him probably applies to you as well. It's possible with runners on you change your approach. You press to try and get them home or advance them. I can't say for sure though unless I know a little more about what you do in those situations (Besides get out lol).

Haha thanks! I use Pure Analog hitting.

I sit on fast ball over the middle of the plate. If anything I'm more conscious of not trying to force it, especially when I could hit into a double play (even though it has happened). So I pretty much leave anything I don't like the look of unless I'm on 2 strikes.

Most of my outs in these positions are well hit liners into a fielders glove, deep fly balls caught on the warning track or balls popped up in the foul zone which never have the legs to get into the crowd!

I'm 3 games into my mets season 4-2 W (3 HR's), 0-1 L after 14 innings and a 1-0 W (RBI double after a lucky hop). I've left approx 15+ runners stranded I'd say. It just seems I can never find the gaps with runners aboard.

[Jaezhil_4]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

This is my first MLB The Show, so I thought I might give my take on how I adapted to hitting.

I play in All-Star, Directional. (Just felt easier to handle)

At first, I was terrible. Like... I started a RTTS as a CF, I was averaging... .100 ? Yes, in double A.
Thinking I was definitely not made for batting, I started Pitching. Which helped me get used to pitches, in fact. Because I wasn't pressured to actually hit the ball once it was thrown, it allowed me to see how they'd start, the trajectory, the location usually expected, and the pace of each throw which helps with timing. HUGE thing to get used to. Otherwise you'll hit "Early" And "Late" which leads to ground outs, or pop-ups, just bad hits overall. You might get some HRs even if you don't hit the ball perfectly though.

The most difficult thing to learn for me, was patience. I still feel dumb on some swings, when it's obviously a ball but I still press the button, trying to hit a homer instead of just being patient.
Sometimes it's close calls by the umpire. A bad one can strike you out, a good one can allow you to hit a HR.

I'd advise people not to look for a HR every at bat. I think it depends on the situation, the choice between Power and Contact.
Even if you didn't touch the "Wind" slider, I'd also advise you to care about it, it can turn a flyball into a homer, and vice versa. In case you there's no flag around the stadium, you can see if there's any wind in the game feed.
Also, the count. If you get into good counts, you get yourself in the position to get more fastballs, which are more predictable than changeups, and the other curvy/slippery throws that you might get when you're 0-2 or 1-2.

Sorry if anything I said had already been said before, just thought I'd share my novice experience.

[RandyBass]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Considering one of these threads appears every year, you'd think the developers might take a hint.

For like the fifth year in a row now...

Pitchers are way too overpowered, and they are too good at throwing a strike when they need one.

Add on the fact that the game doesn't punish pitchers enough for mistake pitches, and it just becomes way too much of a grind up at the plate, a seemingly arbitrary grind at that.

If I time a hanging slider just right, I need to be rewarded more.

Also, pitchers DO struggle sometimes in the Major Leagues. It's true, you could look it up. They walk guys, sometimes even two or three in a row. Not sure how this fact is ignored or overlooked or what.

Maybe the developers are unable? Or just don't care? I don't know. This is not an insult, this is just reality. If anyone is offended, not my problem. Lots of thin skin around here. How about this, take these words as a challenge, a challenge to get it right. Certainly can't hurt to try.

[honjhv]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I hit on All Star. I think it gives a great variety of challenge but also decent results if you are patient and swing at good pitches.

[HozAndMoose]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Considering one of these threads appears every year, you'd think the developers might take a hint.





For like the fifth year in a row now...





Pitchers are way too overpowered, and they are too good at throwing a strike when they need one.





Add on the fact that the game doesn't punish pitchers enough for mistake pitches, and it just becomes way too much of a grind up at the plate, a seemingly arbitrary grind at that.





If I time a hanging slider just right, I need to be rewarded more.





Also, pitchers DO struggle sometimes in the Major Leagues. It's true, you could look it up. They walk guys, sometimes even two or three in a row. Not sure how this fact is ignored or overlooked or what.





Maybe the developers are unable? Or just don't care? I don't know. This is not an insult, this is just reality. If anyone is offended, not my problem. Lots of thin skin around here. How about this, take these words as a challenge, a challenge to get it right. Certainly can't hurt to try.

Plenty of people hit perfectly fine. Maybe you should just take the time to figure out why you can't.

[Madden's Jowels]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Considering one of these threads appears every year, you'd think the developers might take a hint.

For like the fifth year in a row now...

Pitchers are way too overpowered, and they are too good at throwing a strike when they need one.

Add on the fact that the game doesn't punish pitchers enough for mistake pitches, and it just becomes way too much of a grind up at the plate, a seemingly arbitrary grind at that.

If I time a hanging slider just right, I need to be rewarded more.

Also, pitchers DO struggle sometimes in the Major Leagues. It's true, you could look it up. They walk guys, sometimes even two or three in a row. Not sure how this fact is ignored or overlooked or what.

Maybe the developers are unable? Or just don't care? I don't know. This is not an insult, this is just reality. If anyone is offended, not my problem. Lots of thin skin around here. How about this, take these words as a challenge, a challenge to get it right. Certainly can't hurt to try.

The part I bolded, is something I wholeheartedly agree with. Pitchers get away with mistakes way too easily. Curveballs and sliders hanging up in the zone catching all of the plate, these need to be hammered at a much higher rate. Even when I jump all over them with good timing, I see way too many popups, lazy fly balls, or easy grounders. When a pitcher leaves one up over the plate like that, the hitter should see a massive (like 50 points) ratings increase to their contact, power, vision or whatever on that pitch. And the pitcher should see a massive decline in their H/9 and HR/9 for that pitch. I'm talking the PCI should jump to the size of a sedan. I don't play with the PCI on but you know what I'm talking about.

[Jaezhil_4]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

The part I bolded, is something I wholeheartedly agree with. Pitchers get away with mistakes way too easily. Curveballs and sliders hanging up in the zone catching all of the plate, these need to be hammered at a much higher rate. Even when I jump all over them with good timing, I see way too many popups, lazy fly balls, or easy grounders. When a pitcher leaves one up over the plate like that, the hitter should see a massive (like 50 points) ratings increase to their contact, power, vision or whatever on that pitch. And the pitcher should see a massive decline in their H/9 and HR/9 for that pitch. I'm talking the PCI should jump to the size of a sedan. I don't play with the PCI on but you know what I'm talking about.

Yeah, it's kinda frustrating when your hitter miss the ball or hits it bad, and you see the indicator right in the middle of the plate.
BUT, in this game, hitting is all about timingn, and I often find myself in the position where I miss on a good ball, get frustrated, then I remember I already hit that ball once for a good one, and conclude I messed up somewhere.
Regardless of where you play, AA, AAA, MLB, as long as you don't promote or get promoted (in RTTS) a player that has a lower OVR at bat than pitchers, you should be fine. Ratings will scale properly (H/9, etc... / Con, etc..) and you'll less likely feel frustrated because the player missed when he should have hit it.
If you have runners on base, "pitching/batting clutch" will have to be considered too.

If you're facing the Ace, don't be surprised if you don't get good hits, just try to make him throw the most pitches you can, to get faster to the bullpen guys, which should lead to more scores, if the bullpen isn't loaded to death of course. If you face an entire 90 OVR+ bullpen, have fun.

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Haha thanks! I use Pure Analog hitting.

I sit on fast ball over the middle of the plate. If anything I'm more conscious of not trying to force it, especially when I could hit into a double play (even though it has happened). So I pretty much leave anything I don't like the look of unless I'm on 2 strikes.

Most of my outs in these positions are well hit liners into a fielders glove, deep fly balls caught on the warning track or balls popped up in the foul zone which never have the legs to get into the crowd!

I'm 3 games into my mets season 4-2 W (3 HR's), 0-1 L after 14 innings and a 1-0 W (RBI double after a lucky hop). I've left approx 15+ runners stranded I'd say. It just seems I can never find the gaps with runners aboard.

Are any of those hits being pulled? When you sit on FB and get it what kind of timing do you have?

Reason why I ask is I find being aggressive on the meat pitch gives me far better results than if I let it come in a little more and take it to the opposite field. Especially with RISP. If you look FB, you have to be ready to turn on it. When i'm not hitting well normally it's because i'm afraid to make a mistake and swing at an off speed pitch early when i'm looking at fastball. I have to remind myself not to care. If i'm fooled by a change that goes from the middle of the plate to just below it than it's fine. I was in an aggressive count, I took an aggressive swing, and I got fooled. No big deal. Had it actually been a FB I would've hit the cover off of it. Remember to be aggressive when the count is in your favor. Don't be afraid to be fooled. If a pitcher makes a good pitch than move on to the next pitch.

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Considering one of these threads appears every year, you'd think the developers might take a hint.

For like the fifth year in a row now...

Pitchers are way too overpowered, and they are too good at throwing a strike when they need one.

Add on the fact that the game doesn't punish pitchers enough for mistake pitches, and it just becomes way too much of a grind up at the plate, a seemingly arbitrary grind at that.

If I time a hanging slider just right, I need to be rewarded more.

Also, pitchers DO struggle sometimes in the Major Leagues. It's true, you could look it up. They walk guys, sometimes even two or three in a row. Not sure how this fact is ignored or overlooked or what.

Maybe the developers are unable? Or just don't care? I don't know. This is not an insult, this is just reality. If anyone is offended, not my problem. Lots of thin skin around here. How about this, take these words as a challenge, a challenge to get it right. Certainly can't hurt to try.

This games has flaws. I've mentioned quite a few of them before (people weren't happy with me either). Heck I can even list them here

- Canned animations.
- RTTS outfield plays. I think this has been bad 2 years in a row.
- The amount of errors. (Sliders help)
- The players are too big for the field (NBA 2K syndrome)

There are more but I don't feel like going on a tangent. Point is out of all the flaws there are the one you listed is not one of them. Hitting is fine. You miss meat pitches because players in real life do too. If the pitcher is throwing strikes foul them off. If you think they are throwing too many strikes change the sliders. Personally i've played both ways and have no problem with either. It's a grind at the plate because that's how it is in real life. Why do you think hitters go through slumps? I've had Elite starters that i've tattooed. I've had bums that have dominated me. It's baseball.