Approach at the Plate w/ Zone Hitting

[RipCity71252]

Made the full time switch to the zone hitting interface this year (only briefly messed around with it in past versions of the game) and while it has been a difficult transition, I've started to develop an approach to the plate that has shown some decent results and thought I'd share.

Settings: AS Default, PCI on, Reticle (sometimes wedge), Custom catcher offset cam.

In general: Always start with PCI in the middle and track, let the count dictate approach.

No strikes: Favor a quadrant in the zone. I'm tracking, but if pitch isn't in selected zone, I do my best to lay off.

One strike: Tracking, but favoring a side of the plate based on pitch arsenal.
- Sinker, splitter etc. = Low or high
- Cutter, slider, 2 seam etc = In or away

Two strikes: Tracking and reacting with primarily contact swing (will typically switch back to normal swing in full counts if hitter has power)

Feel free to use this thread to offer up your approach or any tips for new zone users like myself, or those just trying to improve.

[bcruise]

Re: Approach at the Plate w/ Zone Hitting

Settings: AS/HOF Default (I'm bouncing back and forth right now, trying to find a sweet spot), PCI Off (it only turns off the graphic, not the underlying system), Fisheye cam.

In general: I am a reactionary hitter most of the time - I see where the ball is going and attempt to move the PCI to meet it. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail. I tend to be a bit streaky as a result (especially on HOF where the timing window is smaller)

Normal swings all day except in situational hitting (contact swing = runner on 3rd, less than 2 out). I almost never power swing outside of CotW.

No strikes: Usually just focusing on the middle of the plate and taking anything that's not there. Will sometimes change this approach if the pitcher is putting everything on corners. I start out with a decent number of 1-0 counts this way as I have a pretty good eye for the flight path of a deep strike and any deviation from it. If I get way ahead I look fastball and attempt to pull, hard.

One strike: More PCI movement to the edges of the zone. Looking to swing early and pull in most cases, unless I have a slap hitter up.

Two strikes: Patience. Waiting back as long as I possibly can see the ball's path and just trying to get a piece of it. If it's offspeed and in the zone, I often get a lot more than a piece.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: Approach at the Plate w/ Zone Hitting

Settings: AS/HOF Default (I'm bouncing back and forth right now, trying to find a sweet spot), PCI Off (it only turns off the graphic, not the underlying system), Fisheye cam.

In general: I am a reactionary hitter most of the time - I see where the ball is going and attempt to move the PCI to meet it. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail. I tend to be a bit streaky as a result (especially on HOF where the timing window is smaller)

Normal swings all day except in situational hitting (contact swing = runner on 3rd, less than 2 out). I almost never power swing outside of CotW.

No strikes: Usually just focusing on the middle of the plate and taking anything that's not there. Will sometimes change this approach if the pitcher is putting everything on corners. I start out with a decent number of 1-0 counts this way as I have a pretty good eye for the flight path of a deep strike and any deviation from it. If I get way ahead I look fastball and attempt to pull, hard.

One strike: More PCI movement to the edges of the zone. Looking to swing early and pull in most cases, unless I have a slap hitter up.

Two strikes: Patience. Waiting back as long as I possibly can see the ball's path and just trying to get a piece of it. If it's offspeed and in the zone, I often get a lot more than a piece.

I might try turning off the PCI this year, as I feel Zone hitting is the easiest it has ever been for me on All Star. Still got to make sure I play few more games to make sure it is not just some luck for me.

[ChGtXgMs]

Re: Approach at the Plate w/ Zone Hitting

Settings: All-Star difficulty, PCI on, Wedge as my reticle

Camera: Fisheye

In general: It takes about an inning for my approach to develop. My lineup consists of L-R-L-R so my first inning is a feeling out in which I'm extra patient unless the pitch just looks too good not to swing at.

No strikes: Depending on where the pitchers been throwing, I'll guess pitch a part of the zone and favor my reticle towards that direction just a little bit.

Two strikes: Keep guess pitch in location, keep reticle centered and then track the pitch. If guess pitch lights up, I'm on it, if not I usually just foul it off.

[dalger21]

Re: Approach at the Plate w/ Zone Hitting

Settings: HoF difficulty , PCI on, default reticle
Camera: Wide

In general: I will leave the in the middle most times. Sometimes I will move the PCI to a specific location depending on how pitcher is pitching me. With this approach, I generally have 100+ walks(which is the most important thing to me because it means I am seeing the ball well) with my RttS player.

I don't really have a set strat when it comes to the count. The only thing I do differently is if I am in an 0-2 or 1-2 hole, I will use a contact swing until it is 2-2 then it is back to normal. With 3-0 count, I will use power swing.