Re: Strike zone tips

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Strike zone tips

It must. I don't use the left stick at all, I only use the x button, and I hit the ball solid from everywhere in the zone. It's all about timing and pitch location with the X button, I like it a lot. Balls up in the zone are easier to blast, and balls low result in a lot of ground balls. It feels good without the PCI in my opinion.

That's my exact experience with "Directional hitting," but not "Zone hitting with PCI indicator turned off."

There are three hitting interfaces:
(1) Zone
(2) Directional
(3) Pure Analog

I just tested out "Zone Hitting" with the PCI turned off. If I don't touch the left analog stick, I can't hit high pitches nor low pitches. They are swing and misses.

A couple tests I did for "Zone Hitting" with PCI turned off:
(A) Push the left stick all the way up when the pitch was low = swing and miss
(B) Push left stick all the way down when the pitch was high = swing and miss.
(C) If a pitch is right down the center, and I don't touch the left stick at all, it's a solid hit because the hidden PCI stayed in the middle of the plate -- the same location where the pitch landed.

There's a reason why the hidden PCI still actively moves to the exact location of your choosing when you move the left stick. If Zone hitting isn't influenced by the left stick's hidden PCI, then timing the swing correctly and moving my PCI completely away from where the ball is pitch should still result in a hit, however that's not the case. When the PCI is purposely moved away from the ball in "Zone Hitting with PCI turned off," it's all swing and miss even with good green timing.

[JakeReaves]

Re: Strike zone tips

That's my exact experience with "Directional hitting," but not "Zone hitting with PCI indicator turned off."

There are three hitting interfaces:
(1) Zone
(2) Directional
(3) Pure Analog

I just tested out "Zone Hitting" with the PCI turned off. If I don't touch the left analog stick, I can't hit high pitches nor low pitches. They are swing and misses.

A couple tests I did for "Zone Hitting" with PCI turned off:
(A) Push the left stick all the way up when the pitch was low = swing and miss
(B) Push left stick all the way down when the pitch was high = swing and miss.
(C) If a pitch is right down the center, and I don't touch the left stick at all, it's a solid hit because the hidden PCI stayed in the middle of the plate -- the same location where the pitch landed.

There's a reason why the hidden PCI still actively moves to the exact location of your choosing when you move the left stick. If Zone hitting isn't influenced by the left stick's hidden PCI, then timing the swing correctly and moving my PCI completely away from where the ball is pitch should still result in a hit, however that's not the case. When the PCI is purposely moved away from the ball in "Zone Hitting with PCI turned off," it's all swing and miss even with good green timing.

I believe your results, I don't think you would make them up. But I'm 30 games into my season with zone hitting turned on and PCI turned off and I'm hitting the ball fine all over the zone with absolutely nothing except for the X button.

My sample size is pretty large at this point.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Strike zone tips

I believe your results, I don't think you would make them up. But I'm 30 games into my season with zone hitting turned on and PCI turned off and I'm hitting the ball fine all over the zone with absolutely nothing except for the X button.

My sample size is pretty large at this point.

Requesting the following because of my curiosity. I have always done Zone hitting and a few times attempted to turn the PCI off and couldn't do anything. That's the reason for the following request/or investigation.

Do you have that black box thingy turned on that displays what happens after every pitch and swing even if the PCI is turned off? Can you do a test run and move your hidden PCI cursor all the way to the top when a pitch is low? Also do a test run and move your PCI cursor all the way down when the pitch is high. Are you able to make hits? Third test, don't touch the left stick. Can you successfully hit stuff completely out of the strike zone, high and low?

[JakeReaves]

Re: Strike zone tips

Requesting the following because of my curiosity. I have always done Zone hitting and a few times attempted to turn the PCI off and couldn't do anything. That's the reason for the following request/or investigation.

Do you have that black box thingy turned on that displays what happens after every pitch and swing even if the PCI is turned off? Can you do a test run and move your hidden PCI cursor all the way to the top when a pitch is low? Also do a test run and move your PCI cursor all the way down when the pitch is high. Are you able to make hits? Third test, don't touch the left stick. Can you successfully hit stuff completely out of the strike zone, high and low?

Are you referring to the black box that displays in the lower left corner giving a breakdown of the pitches? I'm not exactly sure what all it displays but I'll take a look.

3rd test: yes, that's what I'm doing now. I can hit balls out of the zone as well, high or low. But those are usually horrible contact because I'm chasing bad pitches in those instances.

When I hit the X button my players' swing plane will automatically go high for balls up and automatically go low for balls down. It's really well done.

[southernbelle]

Re: Strike zone tips

question about moving the zone - do you guys move the zone as the ball as in flight - i.e. tracking it as it approaches? i get flustered as too much going on. i usually "guess" the zone - i like 75% of my zone to be slightly inside and down and avoid high pitches.

also have heard it mentioned that if you "guess pitch" do not swing if you get it wrong as you will be at a disadvantage

[Stolm]

Re: Strike zone tips

I believe your results, I don't think you would make them up. But I'm 30 games into my season with zone hitting turned on and PCI turned off and I'm hitting the ball fine all over the zone with absolutely nothing except for the X button.

My sample size is pretty large at this point.

What difficulty?

[spitoon]

Re: Strike zone tips

I do not like the "NEVER swing at the first pitch" approach...it is not realistic. Some situations call for you jumping all over the first pitch.

If you are looking for realistic, sim results...then "NEVER swinging at the first pitch" will not produce that, because players DO swing at first pitch...sometimes...

Fair statement.

I should have clarified that it was a method I used to train myself to take pitches.

I now do swing at the occasional first pitch. Eventually, you need to penalize pitchers for trying to throw that "get ahead" pitch to start the at bat.

[Russell_SCEA]

Re: Strike zone tips

Turning off the PCI in zone hitting just means the visual representation of it is not displayed. The functionality of the mechanic is the same.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Strike zone tips

Are you referring to the black box that displays in the lower left corner giving a breakdown of the pitches? I'm not exactly sure what all it displays but I'll take a look.

3rd test: yes, that's what I'm doing now. I can hit balls out of the zone as well, high or low. But those are usually horrible contact because I'm chasing bad pitches in those instances.

When I hit the X button my players' swing plane will automatically go high for balls up and automatically go low for balls down. It's really well done.

Yep, the rectangular black box in the lower corner, it's on the lower right side for me. It's probably about 3 inches high and 1 1/2 inches wide. It shows exactly where the hidden turned off PCI cursor and the pitch location are after each swing. The hidden PCI should change color (red, green, yellow, orange) depending on your swing as well as specify if it was a good, late, early type swing.


With regards to the 3rd test, because the PCI involves ratings and the actual contact point is in fact probably a few centimeters larger in diameter than the visible PCI, even if the pitch is high or low, with zone hitting and never touching the left stick, the ball has the potential to graze the PCI, even if you never physically move the left analog stick resulting in foul tips, popups, grounders, etc. But to truly get a solid hit without moving the left stick should be relegated to only pure analog and directional hitting.


My question is why can the user still move the hidden PCI cursor if moving the left stick has no affect on the outcome of the swing as you are experiencing? Plus, I have messaged Russell to get a clarification.


Have you ever gotten a homerun with high and low pitches without ever moving your left stick?

[JakeReaves]

Re: Strike zone tips

Yep, the rectangular black box in the lower corner, it's on the lower right side for me. It's probably about 3 inches high and 1 1/2 inches wide. It shows exactly where the hidden turned off PCI cursor and the pitch location are after each swing. The hidden PCI should change color (red, green, yellow, orange) depending on your swing as well as specify if it was a good, late, early type swing.


With regards to the 3rd test, because the PCI involves ratings and the actual contact point is in fact probably a few centimeters larger in diameter than the visible PCI, even if the pitch is high or low, with zone hitting and never touching the left stick, the ball has the potential to graze the PCI, even if you never physically move the left analog stick resulting in foul tips, popups, grounders, etc. But to truly get a solid hit without moving the left stick should be relegated to only pure analog and directional hitting.


My question is why can the user still move the hidden PCI cursor if moving the left stick has no affect on the outcome of the swing as you are experiencing? Plus, I have messaged Russell to get a clarification.


Have you ever gotten a homerun with high and low pitches without ever moving your left stick?

Yes, homeruns, especially high pitches. I saw Russell's post as well. I don't doubt the functionality intent, but I can say with 100% certainty that I'm on zone hitting with PCI turned off and I can get amazing contact all over the zone with only the X button. High, low, inside, outside, etc. Balls out of the zone are where I get a lot of foul tips and horrible contact.

Not sure what else to say.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Strike zone tips

Turning off the PCI in zone hitting just means the visual representation of it is not displayed. The functionality of the mechanic is the same.

Russell, thank you for the clarification.




@JakeReeves, see as I suspected all along, Russell, part of the development team, has confirmed that zone hitting with the PCI turned off, you still have to use your left stick to get solid hits when pitches are outside the middle of the plate and anywhere high, low, or wide of the strike zone.


If you're using zone hitting with the PCI turned off, and never touching the left stick, you must be simply swinging at pitches within reach of the hidden PCI centered in the middle pf the plate.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: Strike zone tips

Yes, homeruns, especially high pitches. I saw Russell's post as well. I don't doubt the functionality intent, but I can say with 100% certainty that I'm on zone hitting with PCI turned off and I can get amazing contact all over the zone with only the X button. High, low, inside, outside, etc.

Not sure what else to say.

OK, I don't know then. well, as long as it's working you, then that's all that matters.

[Stolm]

Re: Strike zone tips

Well, if you are playing on Beginner/Rookie it makes sense, because the PCI will be as big as the strike-zone.

[Smallville102001]

Re: Strike zone tips

Well, if you are playing on Beginner/Rookie it makes sense, because the PCI will be as big as the strike-zone.

Yeah if you play on HOF or legend that is not going to work not moving the PCI. Even on all star you need to move the PCI. One thing that really drives me nuts is that I cant hit high fastballs like at all. If I get a fastball that is high and I don't mean like really high but a high fastball that most guys would crush in real life even if it is a guy that only throws like 85 MPH I like 95% of the time miss it or pop it up. I don't know why but I have a hard time catching up and even when I do time it I tend to swing to low. I don't know why but I have a hard time moving the CPU up. I always want to move it down.

[Mekias]

Re: Strike zone tips

To me, the key to better discipline is picking up the pitch quickly. The goal is the find the ball and focus on it as soon as it leaves the pitchers hand. That gives you a reference point so that you can track where the pitch is going and how it's breaking. If you're not picking up the ball until it's halfway to the plate, you're going to have a hard time figuring out where it's going and how it's breaking. The ball will also feel like it's on you too quickly to react.

One of the things that caused me problems initially was the windups. I had a hard time trying to focus on the ball during the windup. What I'm now doing is focusing on the pitcher's belt during the windup. The belt mostly stays in one place so your eyes aren't darting all over the place. Then when I know the pitcher is about to release, I move my eyes to the release point and pick up the ball.

Another thing I might do if I'm struggling in franchise or RTTS is to check out what pitcher I'm up against the next day. I then go to practice mode and get some swings in against that same pitcher for a little bit to get used to his delivery and types of pitches he has.

Like Smallville, my biggest problem is usually high fastballs. It's easier to pull the left stick down than it is to push it up. I also get into a bad habit of pulling it down to try and hit homeruns. What I do to combat that is to move the PCI to the upper part of the zone "before" the pitch. If it's a high fastball, I don't have to move it much. If it's low, I'm still pretty quick at pulling the stick down.