Tips on How to Hit

[joeylomax]

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.

I'm using Directional Hitting at about the same level that you are, and suddenly I'm struggling with hitting. How much/how often do you use the left analog with directional? I feel like I'm not getting the right contact when I start fiddling with the left analog - I'll miss a great pitch by either trying to pull it, or by waiting too long to drive it the other way, and thus, am not scoring runs. And my power numbers with Directional are atrocious...I'm finding it very difficult to hit home runs.

Maybe I should go back to Zone, but I just really like the concept behind directional hitting and early on I was having great success with it....until now. Any advice? I feel like my approach is good (drawing walks, getting some base hits, seeing lots of pitches), but I'm struggling with putting the ball out of the ballpark or hitting gap shots - especially with RISP.

[Jaezhil_4]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I'm using Directional Hitting at about the same level that you are, and suddenly I'm struggling with hitting. How much/how often do you use the left analog with directional? I feel like I'm not getting the right contact when I start fiddling with the left analog - I'll miss a great pitch by either trying to pull it, or by waiting too long to drive it the other way, and thus, am not scoring runs. And my power numbers with Directional are atrocious...I'm finding it very difficult to hit home runs.

Maybe I should go back to Zone, but I just really like the concept behind directional hitting and early on I was having great success with it....until now. Any advice? I feel like my approach is good (drawing walks, getting some base hits, seeing lots of pitches), but I'm struggling with putting the ball out of the ballpark or hitting gap shots - especially with RISP.

I started using the Left stick according to the wind, mostly. I'd just go with it if I can, otherwise I'll just try to not hit against hit.
If there's no wind, I chose the side according the pitcher's hand, it seemed rational, regarless of pitches thrown. If he's RH, i'll go to the Left. LH, to the Right.
Now, I use it mostly on slow pitches, to adjust to the ball. I hit fast balls like piñatas though. Thinking about the NY Times article article about K. Bryant, he's trying to hit it in the air all the time. That's what I do too when I use the left stick, I never try to hit it straight or down, always up when I pick a side. I get some flyouts leading to outs but RBIs too, sometimes the fielder is a bit short if the ball doesn't go too high and it allows for 2/3 base hits. Already got some Minor League Homers.

I don't take the same approach everytime. On the first at bat, I'll probably sit on the first, just to get used to his throwing motion, and if I am lucky I get a ball. But if I see it coming right into the middle I swing ASAP.
If I'm 0-2, I'll just swing for contact on every close pitch without touching the stick. Get some popups, but it makes the pitches count go high too.
I'd say it's situationnal. If you have the advantage, try to use it. If you're in a bad situation, try to make the most of it.

At bats with runners on base take into account the "Pitching Clutch" and "Batting Clutch" grades. There's already that.
There's also the number of outs. If you have one out, and one runner on base, the pitcher might try to throw a double play, try to not hit the low balls.
If there's one guy on 3rd, and less than 2 outs , try hitting for contact, aiming high. Might get you a flyball, but allow for a score if it goes far enough.

[ChrisHansen59]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I was told to use the guess pitch to help with hitting but I ended up abandoning it when it became obvious that the AI knows what you're guessing on the higher difficulties.

[joeylomax]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I started using the Left stick according to the wind, mostly. I'd just go with it if I can, otherwise I'll just try to not hit against hit.
If there's no wind, I chose the side according the pitcher's hand, it seemed rational, regarless of pitches thrown. If he's RH, i'll go to the Left. LH, to the Right.
Now, I use it mostly on slow pitches, to adjust to the ball. I hit fast balls like piñatas though. Thinking about the NY Times article article about K. Bryant, he's trying to hit it in the air all the time. That's what I do too when I use the left stick, I never try to hit it straight or down, always up when I pick a side. I get some flyouts leading to outs but RBIs too, sometimes the fielder is a bit short if the ball doesn't go too high and it allows for 2/3 base hits. Already got some Minor League Homers.

I don't take the same approach everytime. On the first at bat, I'll probably sit on the first, just to get used to his throwing motion, and if I am lucky I get a ball. But if I see it coming right into the middle I swing ASAP.
If I'm 0-2, I'll just swing for contact on every close pitch without touching the stick. Get some popups, but it makes the pitches count go high too.
I'd say it's situationnal. If you have the advantage, try to use it. If you're in a bad situation, try to make the most of it.

At bats with runners on base take into account the "Pitching Clutch" and "Batting Clutch" grades. There's already that.
There's also the number of outs. If you have one out, and one runner on base, the pitcher might try to throw a double play, try to not hit the low balls.
If there's one guy on 3rd, and less than 2 outs , try hitting for contact, aiming high. Might get you a flyball, but allow for a score if it goes far enough.

Going with the wind - interesting. I guess I haven't noticed that the wind has much of an effect on the game this year, but I could be wrong. I might start picking a zone (looking inside to pull on 2-0, 2-1 and 3-1 counts), and simply hitting the ball where it's pitched in other counts. Using contact with 2 strikes. Keep it simple.

Not ready to abandon Directional Hitting quite yet, but I might need to up the power slider one tick as I'm hitting tons of "good" contact balls to the warning track - the ball does not seem to carry for me.

[phantomshark]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I like to guess fastball (4-seam if they throw one). Before I have a strike, I won't swing unless I guessed right, if I did guess right I usually take a power swing if it looks like it's near the center of the plate, otherwise I'll take. Once I have 1 strike I'll do the same, but expand the area I'll swing at. At 2 strikes, I'll still guess fastball, but have to protect the plate. If it doesn't come out of his hand as a fastball, I'll switch my thumb to a normal swing. Currently hitting around .400 with 12 HR in 75 AB in my rookie season since being called up to the bigs. Oh, and I never guess location, I don't touch the sticks during an AB.

[honjg]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

You know, I may be only speaking to a very small demographic here (probably more experienced players who have tried the great tips listed above by others), but anyway

[loso_34]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

does anyone else have the issue where you drop the pci below pitches around the bottom half of the zone?


they are hittable pitches but I instinctively drop the pci as if a dirtball is coming.


whats a fix for this? setting the pci very high each time?

[dubplate]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I found the 'zoom' cameras to be very helpful with judging pitch speed.

[coreyerb]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Thanks for the tips, dvazquez and Bondsfan (fitting. Maybe the best tip would be just go watch Barry Bonds at-bats).

I'm still struggling on veteran to make solid contact. I'm OK at working counts but it seems like I get to 2 or 3 balls and I just miss pitches and foul them off till the pitcher hits an unhittable spot and I strike out or more often hit weak contact. Through 29 franchise games I'm hitting .272/.315/.385 as a team, which is fine but I'm basically 9 Ichiros.

I'm trying the advice to sit on pitches down the middle and not move the PCI because I think I'm moving too much.

Is there a way to do practice mode with normal controls (not RTTS/player-lock on)? I'm trying to practice but I get to first and the normal advance runner controls that I'm already bad at are changed to something foreign.

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Thanks for the tips, dvazquez and Bondsfan (fitting. Maybe the best tip would be just go watch Barry Bonds at-bats).

I'm still struggling on veteran to make solid contact. I'm OK at working counts but it seems like I get to 2 or 3 balls and I just miss pitches and foul them off till the pitcher hits an unhittable spot and I strike out or more often hit weak contact. Through 29 franchise games I'm hitting .272/.315/.385 as a team, which is fine but I'm basically 9 Ichiros.

I'm trying the advice to sit on pitches down the middle and not move the PCI because I think I'm moving too much.

Is there a way to do practice mode with normal controls (not RTTS/player-lock on)? I'm trying to practice but I get to first and the normal advance runner controls that I'm already bad at are changed to something foreign.

There is regular practice mode in the game where you can just focus on hitting. Try going there and practicing before loading up your franchise. Only difference is you only go in there with one person. But the AB's are constant. You're graded on a Bronze, Silver, Gold scale. Try and consistently gold it. Especially against tough pitchers. You'll notice how much better you'll get once you go back to franchise. Just treat practice like the games.

[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 ...

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

I got my Kontrol Freeks last Friday. I am very pleased with them (ended up purchasing a second pair). They don't make me a better hitter -- however, I did string together a 19-hit game using the O's, my highest hit count in 2015. And my dynamic difficulty rose to All Star+ Progress++++. I notice the closer you get to HoF difficulty, the CPU throws lots more to the edges of the strikezone, and even more "junk" (pitches in the dirt), the latter pisses me the freak off. Planning on demoting to the highest All-Star+ level, then locking the difficulty there ...

I got the Kontrol Freek Vortex's, which from what I've seen, seem to have the greatest grip ...

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I got my Kontrol Freeks last Friday. I am very pleased with them (ended up purchasing a second pair). They don't make me a better hitter -- however, I did string together a 19-hit game using the O's, my highest hit count in 2015. And my dynamic difficulty rose to All Star+ Progress++++. I notice the closer you get to HoF difficulty, the CPU throws lots more to the edges of the strikezone, and even more "junk" (pitches in the dirt), the latter pisses me the freak off. Planning on demoting to the highest All-Star+ level, then locking the difficulty there ...

I got the Kontrol Freek Vortex's, which from what I've seen, seem to have the greatest grip ...

Think i'll order myself some next month when I get the Magma Red controller. That way I keep the joysticks on it fresh. Thanks for coming back and letting me know.

As for the "junk" pitches, that's the beauty of it. I find it difficult to walk on lower difficulties just because if I get my pitch, 9/10 times i'm hitting it hard. So I can't really work the count. On HOF pitchers are more careful and throw a good deal more pitches out of the strike zone. Keeps you fresh and alert. I do however change the sliders because they tend to be a little too perfect sometimes. I found a set on here by someone named TNK I believe. Those seem to be working well for me.

[forme95]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Whether you have it on zone or directional hitting, do you have to now (in this years game) use up,down,left,right to hit?

[hjinb]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Just look for pitches in places u feel u are at ur best. Right now my weakness is the high fast ball. But just be patient. And Practice. Put Kershaw on Legend hit the cages. U will get better breh

[Biizz713]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I just don't know how you're supposed to tell if a breaking ball is going to be way off the plate. the change ups look like meatballs and all of a sudden they're in the dirt. the sliders look like fastballs and all of a sudden it's 5 feet off the plate.

it's really frustrating. if it looks good and I swing, whiff. if I wait a split second to see if it's breaking, it's a fastball right down the middle.