Tips on How to Hit

[bcruise]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

It was touched on earlier in the thread of course, but this article (using a rather unexpected example from yesterday's games) shows it's a bad idea to just take the first pitch for the sake of it being the first pitch:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/125882604/how-san-franciscos-madison-bumgarner-homered-off-la-lefty-clayton-kershaw

Take it because it's a corner strike, or a pitch you weren't looking for. Not just because it was the first pitch you saw.

[tcorb95]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

This is a prime example of what I've been seeing a lot. A little too much. This pitch is a mid-80s sinker that was belt high and it should have been crushed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plwim_8HPP8

Edit: I'm not sure how to make it viewable from this page, so sorry for making you click the link

[Seancefc]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

It was touched on earlier in the thread of course, but this article (using a rather unexpected example from yesterday's games) shows it's a bad idea to just take the first pitch for the sake of it being the first pitch:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/125882604/how-san-franciscos-madison-bumgarner-homered-off-la-lefty-clayton-kershaw

Take it because it's a corner strike, or a pitch you weren't looking for. Not just because it was the first pitch you saw.

Problem is the game throws too many first pitch FB strikes, hittable strikes at that. Before you know it you're in the 5th with no runs and the CPU pitcher has only thrown 32 pitches!

I've had to move move the strike frequency slider right down for more realistic pitch locations.

[grgmths1433]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Problem is the game throws too many first pitch FB strikes, hittable strikes at that. Before you know it you're in the 5th with no runs and the CPU pitcher has only thrown 32 pitches!

I've had to move move the strike frequency slider right down for more realistic pitch locations.

Take pitches and the AI pitch count will be realistic. This game is TOO REAL if you play it right. Not that I saying your not. Every thing can't be perfect.

[Smallville102001]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Both of those things will occur even when you're hitting well. I find the games I don't score much, I still hit the ball hard, just unlucky. If it's something that occurs too often consider a couple things.

First is for the balls you're hitting deep fly balls on, where was the cursor? Chances are it was underneath the ball causing it to fly out. Stronger hitters can get away with this at times. They will still hit the ball out. Weaker hitters will just fly out.

Second, for the balls you are hitting right to people you might consider changing your timing slightly. Hitting the ball hard is the most important thing, but if you're constantly hitting it right to people than you need to adjust your timing to compensate for that. Start off by trying to hit all pitches up the middle. As you get use to that timing, start experimenting with pulling and spraying hits. This can be done in practice so you don't ruin your RTTS/Franchise lol.

While I fell like this year your PCI placement has to be more perfect then in the past and because of that I am having a lot of at bats where if my PCI placement was just a little better that deep fly out would maybe be a HR or a ball into the gap instead of being caught. So really its like I am just off slightly on my PCI placement. I think I am leading ever body in the world in warning track power lol.

[Smallville102001]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Problem is the game throws too many first pitch FB strikes, hittable strikes at that. Before you know it you're in the 5th with no runs and the CPU pitcher has only thrown 32 pitches!

I've had to move move the strike frequency slider right down for more realistic pitch locations.

I disagree about that big time. In the past yes and if the picture confidence was high it would get even worse but not this year. This year the CPU is throwing a much more realistic strike% and really doesn't even need to be lowered. I would think this year if you do lower it you are going to have way to many 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 type of counts.

[tinjun]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I occasionally get burned by hard stuff by I'm not whiffing on slow pitches near as much. As always, it's still important to visually pick up the ball right out of the pitcher's hand.

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I have the pitch consistency down to about 3 on HOF. That seems to give me a realistic Strike %.

As for the comment on hittable pitches, every pitch in the zone is hittable. When we say hittable pitches we mean pitches that are hittable to you. On the first pitch we are talking about pitches that are right down the plate. Meat pitches. I mentioned this earlier and I will say it again, if you have to move the PCI on the first pitch, chances are you shouldn't be swinging. I don't start moving the PCI until I have a strike. I reserve that for pitches that I perceive as right down the pipe.

[jimkin]

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.

[tcorb95]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I had gotten pretty good at hitting but now I've gotten in a slump the past couple weeks. I simply cannot hit with Eric Hosmer. It's not really that I can't hit with him, I'm just so unlucky with him. It feels like every time I'm up with Hosmer I get a first pitch meat fastball and I can never get a hit. I feel right on the pitch majority of the time I know it's coming. I hit the ball hard majority of the time it just always turn into a line out or a ball hit right on the button and 1-hops into an infielders glove. Currently hitting .160 and am 12-75 on the season. I was hot with him to begin the season, over .300. 2 HR 14 RBI so far.

My thing is I just can't figure out how to hit with runners on, it doesn't seem to matter what count I'm in or what timing I have on the pitch it just tends tends to find a glove more times than not(and a lot of times results in a double play.) I had three separate occasions in the past game when I had good timing on a hittable pitch result on a dp in just the past game. I'm good at timing and being able to judge a pitch. If it's away I can take it the other way if it's inside I can pull it. Good timing, good count just doesn't seem to matter recently

[Fours]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Something I've been successful with using zone hitting is the method many use of starting the PCI up in the zone sitting on anything high, and then tracking the ball down into the zone.

This makes high fastballs cake, and helps you hold back/miss on a lot of low fastballs early in the count which prevents weak ground balls.

If I get to the third and it's just not working that game, I flip it and sit in the bottom of the zone and track up. If a guy is really pounding low, this adjustment gets more wood on the ball.

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

Something I've been successful with using zone hitting is the method many use of starting the PCI up in the zone sitting on anything high, and then tracking the ball down into the zone.

This makes high fastballs cake, and helps you hold back/miss on a lot of low fastballs early in the count which prevents weak ground balls.

If I get to the third and it's just not working that game, I flip it and sit in the bottom of the zone and track up. If a guy is really pounding low, this adjustment gets more wood on the ball.

You touched on one of the keys of hitting. Something that has been mentioned before but I will say it again. Hit the way you are comfortable hitting. I don't like "cheating" to one area of the zone and adjusting. It doesn't work for me. So I do something that works for me. You "cheat" to one are and are still able to cover other areas. That is what works for you. Everyone needs to find something they are comfortable with. Camera angle, approach, pitch selection. These are things that make you better hitters. No two hitters are going to have the same approach. Mike Trout doesn't approach an AB the way Miggy C does, or the way David Ortiz does. All great hitters, all approach the game differently. I've tried to give you guys my blueprint, what i've used to be successful. Sometimes that will work for others, sometimes it won't. The point is trying different things and finding something that you're comfortable with.

[Fours]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

You touched on one of the keys of hitting. Something that has been mentioned before but I will say it again. Hit the way you are comfortable hitting. I don't like "cheating" to one area of the zone and adjusting. It doesn't work for me. So I do something that works for me. You "cheat" to one are and are still able to cover other areas. That is what works for you. Everyone needs to find something they are comfortable with. Camera angle, approach, pitch selection. These are things that make you better hitters. No two hitters are going to have the same approach. Mike Trout doesn't approach an AB the way Miggy C does, or the way David Ortiz does. All great hitters, all approach the game differently. I've tried to give you guys my blueprint, what i've used to be successful. Sometimes that will work for others, sometimes it won't. The point is trying different things and finding something that you're comfortable with.

This is so true, my method is necessary for me because of my personal dysfunction.. If I leave the PCI dead center and try to track the ball, I always hit X dead center and then move the left stick after. I have no idea why I can't stop doing that.. So by floating or "cheating" the PCI, that problem disappears and my ability to track and hit improves massively.

I also try to give hitters different approaches that match their attributes, no contact swings allowed with Chris Carter, swinging at the first pitch is very rare/situational, pull hitters wait for inside half until they get 2 strikes, I aim to draw 3+ walks per game.

[yinhn]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I've read countless threads dedicated to people sharing their frustration with their inability to hit. Looking for advice. I'm hoping this thread helps people who are struggling.

[dvazquez190]

Re: Tips on How to Hit

I've read countless threads dedicated to people sharing their frustration with their inability to hit. Looking for advice. I'm hoping this thread helps people who are struggling.

The best help you can get is practice. Practice against the best pitchers and see how they approach the AB. See what they like to throw early, throw late. When they are most likely to throw a ball, when you are most likely to see a cookie. Again this is a baseball sim, a lot has to do with using data you collect to your advantage. I know people say "this is a game it shouldn't be this hard". Truth is it is this hard. It requires a lot of focus and a lot of practice, just like real life baseball. That's the beauty of it.