Directional Hitting Guide

[BegBy]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

so just so I can understand pull means aim away from the batter? and balanced is down?

Pull means that you pull the ball to the field opposite the end of your bat. If you are a right handed batter you would pull the ball to the left field. Pushing the ball would make you push it to the right. Balanced is just a hitter who's average is evenly distributed around the field. They hit a nearly even amount of balls to left, right and center. Typically not your power hitters, although there are plenty of guys with pop who can smack the ball to any field they want.

[Dragsy]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Wouldn't influencing down lead to a lot of ground balls? I ask because it seems like the worst influence unless the batter is a burner who can leg out infield singles but maybe I'm wrong with how this all works.

That's what I thought as well, but I've hit homers with Neil Walker and Asdrubel Cabrera using down influence. It feels to me like down influence makes your hitter focus purely on getting the best contact on the ball rather than trying to foul off or aim to a particular side. And sure, I've had plenty of grounders, but again it feels like that's a consequence of focusing on contact and not power. I think the tendency is towards more ground balls, and I don't use it in double play situations, but I've definitely had some liners to the outfield as well.

Of course, this is all purely anecdotal, but it makes sense to me.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions i just want to make sure. If my batter is left and he's a pull hitter i would aim up right then right ?

Pull means that you pull the ball to the field opposite the end of your bat. If you are a right handed batter you would pull the ball to the left field. Pushing the ball would make you push it to the right. Balanced is just a hitter who's average is evenly distributed around the field. They hit a nearly even amount of balls to left, right and center. Typically not your power hitters, although there are plenty of guys with pop who can smack the ball to any field they want.

[BegBy]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions i just want to make sure. If my batter is left and he's a pull hitter i would aim up right then right ?

To pull as a lefty you'd aim right, diagonally up or down and right, yes.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Do you aim with the pitch - like track the pitch and push the arrow towards the pitch?

...or do you basically preset your swing type?

Also, how often do you not pick a swing type and just leave it centered?

No, you don't follow the pitch in. Think of it more like a granular choice of swing between your power, normal and contact swings.

For more detailed information, check out the sections on page 8 of the thread: http://forums.operationsports.com/fo...g-guide-8.html

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Wouldn't influencing down lead to a lot of ground balls? I ask because it seems like the worst influence unless the batter is a burner who can leg out infield singles but maybe I'm wrong with how this all works.

It can lead to more grounders, but it also reduces popouts, so it evens out. Also, since your ideal pitch location is expanded in all directions, you have a higher chance of solid contact, further reducing the chance of easy outs. I tend to only use it with speedy batters or when one of my sluggers is struggling at the plate, but it definitely has the potential to be utilized more often, especially by NL batters where situational hitting is more prevalent.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Guys try not to get locked into the idea of only using one swing type per player. I understand that each player has an ideal swing style but you have to read the count and the situation to pick a correct swing.

As I've said before, a pull hitter will still want to push on a 0-2 and 1-2 count, since it allows more leeway for fouling off late and therefore is the best swing for a pull hitter to try and work the count back.

Sure they get less of a benefit from it, but there is still a benefit. They just have less of a cost to a pull swing. Doesn't mean you need to pull every swing, it just means your approach at the plate needs to favour pull swings, especially when even or ahead.

[The Chef]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Guys try not to get locked into the idea of only using one swing type per player. I understand that each player has an ideal swing style but you have to read the count and the situation to pick a correct swing.

As I've said before, a pull hitter will still want to push on a 0-2 and 1-2 count, since it allows more leeway for fouling off late and therefore is the best swing for a pull hitter to try and work the count back.

Sure they get less of a benefit from it, but there is still a benefit. They just have less of a cost to a pull swing. Doesn't mean you need to pull every swing, it just means your approach at the plate needs to favour pull swings, especially when even or ahead.

I just came across this thread not that long ago and am starting to implement some of the ideas here but am still pretty raw on anything other then attempting to match to what type of hitter is at the plate. For instance when I have Jean Segura at the plate he is labeled as a push hitter so I'm trying to go opposite field with everything, not pushing up or down simply holding away from the batter, in this instance to the right. When it works it's a beautiful thing that feels organic, when it doesn't well it's ugly lol. I seem to have more success with hits back up the middle more then anything (which is probably why my doubles are low as it's tough to hit doubles up the middle obviously) so am hopeful that implementing the push/pull strategy might lead to a wider variety of hits and more doubles hopefully.

Have you found that certain batters might have push and pull depending on the handedness of the pitcher? For instance maybe Segura pushes against RHP but pulls against LHP. I assume the easiest way to identify this is to look at their hot cold zones and adjust accordingly? Excellent work though, hoping to have more success utilizing this approach more often now instead of simply pressing "X" and swinging.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I just came across this thread not that long ago and am starting to implement some of the ideas here but am still pretty raw on anything other then attempting to match to what type of hitter is at the plate. For instance when I have Jean Segura at the plate he is labeled as a push hitter so I'm trying to go opposite field with everything, not pushing up or down simply holding away from the batter, in this instance to the right. When it works it's a beautiful thing that feels organic, when it doesn't well it's ugly lol. I seem to have more success with hits back up the middle more then anything (which is probably why my doubles are low as it's tough to hit doubles up the middle obviously) so am hopeful that implementing the push/pull strategy might lead to a wider variety of hits and more doubles hopefully.

Have you found that certain batters might have push and pull depending on the handedness of the pitcher? For instance maybe Segura pushes against RHP but pulls against LHP. I assume the easiest way to identify this is to look at their hot cold zones and adjust accordingly? Excellent work though, hoping to have more success utilizing this approach more often now instead of simply pressing "X" and swinging.

Yes, I've found it absolutely possible for a player to need a different approach depending on pitcher handedness (I make a brief mention of this in the OP in regards to Buster Posey).

Good on you for jumping right into the thick of it, but there is a lot of information to learn and apply in this thread. You may very well be the type that learns best by just diving in and going full bore, following every aspect of the guide, and if that is the case, good luck to you.

If your not however, I suggest learning it the same way I did. This didn't all come to me at once, and for a long time all I did was learn the differences between each swing selection and when/why they should be applied. My approach at the plate was the same for every single player. It was only after I had solidified my grasp on the different swings that I started scouting and learning each player as an individual.

Obviously I had to do this from scratch, so your journey through the process can be accelerated thanks to the existence of the thread, but if you're feeling overwhelmed by learning and applying all the info in this thread, you can start by just thinking of the various swing types as "in between" selections of your Power, Normal and Contact swings.

Say to yourself "I want a bit more power for this swing", or "maybe I just want to put the bat on the ball". You'll find that once this step has become second nature, scouting and learning your players is a lot easier (and more fun!). Go with your gut, fiddle around with it, even make a few ridiculous choices. Might make the learning process a little easier and a lot more fun.

Just a suggestion. I know full well there are those of you out there who have dove in the deep end and are loving it, but we all have different ways we learn.

[woodjer]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Yes, I've found it absolutely possible for a player to need a different approach depending on pitcher handedness (I make a brief mention of this in the OP in regards to Buster Posey).

Good on you for jumping right into the thick of it, but there is a lot of information to learn and apply in this thread. You may very well be the type that learns best by just diving in and going full bore, following every aspect of the guide, and if that is the case, good luck to you.

If your not however, I suggest learning it the same way I did. This didn't all come to me at once, and for a long time all I did was learn the differences between each swing selection and when/why they should be applied. My approach at the plate was the same for every single player. It was only after I had solidified my grasp on the different swings that I started scouting and learning each player as an individual.

Obviously I had to do this from scratch, so your journey through the process can be accelerated thanks to the existence of the thread, but if you're feeling overwhelmed by learning and applying all the info in this thread, you can start by just thinking of the various swing types as "in between" selections of your Power, Normal and Contact swings.

Say to yourself "I want a bit more power for this swing", or "maybe I just want to put the bat on the ball". You'll find that once this step has become second nature, scouting and learning your players is a lot easier (and more fun!). Go with your gut, fiddle around with it, even make a few ridiculous choices. Might make the learning process a little easier and a lot more fun.

Just a suggestion. I know full well there are those of you out there who have dove in the deep end and are loving it, but we all have different ways we learn.

Thanks for this insight (well, ALL of your insight!), WarmWind. I've tried tackling this guide in bits and pieces, personally. What I do is focus on one "section" of guidance each game. So, for example, yesterday, I focused on page 2's section "The Power Hitter" under "Working Counts,..." I didn't worry too much about anyone other than those guys in my lineup. I still chose influences and stuff with them but focused entirely on your suggestions in that section for my power hitters. Since I'm not officially into my Franchise yet, I haven't worked on scouting players much but I can definitely see where I'm getting better and enjoying the game much more.

Thanks again!

[The Chef]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Yes, I've found it absolutely possible for a player to need a different approach depending on pitcher handedness (I make a brief mention of this in the OP in regards to Buster Posey).

Good on you for jumping right into the thick of it, but there is a lot of information to learn and apply in this thread. You may very well be the type that learns best by just diving in and going full bore, following every aspect of the guide, and if that is the case, good luck to you.

If your not however, I suggest learning it the same way I did. This didn't all come to me at once, and for a long time all I did was learn the differences between each swing selection and when/why they should be applied. My approach at the plate was the same for every single player. It was only after I had solidified my grasp on the different swings that I started scouting and learning each player as an individual.

Obviously I had to do this from scratch, so your journey through the process can be accelerated thanks to the existence of the thread, but if you're feeling overwhelmed by learning and applying all the info in this thread, you can start by just thinking of the various swing types as "in between" selections of your Power, Normal and Contact swings.

Say to yourself "I want a bit more power for this swing", or "maybe I just want to put the bat on the ball". You'll find that once this step has become second nature, scouting and learning your players is a lot easier (and more fun!). Go with your gut, fiddle around with it, even make a few ridiculous choices. Might make the learning process a little easier and a lot more fun.

Just a suggestion. I know full well there are those of you out there who have dove in the deep end and are loving it, but we all have different ways we learn.

I hear that, lots of info to try and remember. I will say that I did notice an immediate difference with Jarrod Dyson at the plate. I was holding down, not down & left/right but just straight down as the CPU likes to pitch him high resulting in weak fly ball outs a lot. I was able to take a fastball away, holding down as mentioned, and ripped it down the LF line for an easy double. In the 90 games I've played that was the first time I've had him hit a screamer down the line like that so it was nice to see. Another time, with Mitch Haniger at the plate, runner on 3rd, 1 out and the defense playing back I held down just to put the ball in play and pick up the RBI, worked like a charm again.

I've got that chart open in a seperate tab that I reference from time to time when playing and there are still plenty of times I merely use "X" and swing instead of influencing every single time but I am incorporating it more and more into my gameplay.

[SolidSnake07]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Am I the only person who pushes the stick down for batters with a power rating below 55 and pulls it toward the batter if the rating is higher?

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[No.27]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Am I the only person who pushes the stick down for batters with a power rating below 55 and pulls it toward the batter if the rating is higher?

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Are there any situations where you would change this rule? I had a bottom of the ninth 3-3 score line 2 outs man on 3rd and after MUCH deliberation stuck with pull influence for a lefty lower powered pull hitter. Hit what would have been a double to right field for the win! Interested to know whether you would have gone influence down? I nearly went influence up

[SolidSnake07]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Are there any situations where you would change this rule? I had a bottom of the ninth 3-3 score line 2 outs man on 3rd and after MUCH deliberation stuck with pull influence for a lefty lower powered pull hitter. Hit what would have been a double to right field for the win! Interested to know whether you would have gone influence down? I nearly went influence up

I never influence up. My reasoning for influencing down on weak hitters is that trying to hit for pull power goes against their ability.

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[rjackson]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I never influence up. My reasoning for influencing down on weak hitters is that trying to hit for pull power goes against their ability.

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I will influence up for sure. You're thinking has to be situational. Put yourself in the pitcher's shoes. How bad do you want a double play? Pretty bad, huh? You'll probably be pitching down in the zone so I will influence upwards. Oh, you are worried about a potential stolen base as that isn't Miggy on 1st? I need to lay off that high outside heat then to adjust to take advantage of that.


Both are situations with a runner on 1st and a RHB and your approach changes based on who that runner is...one of these I'm looking low and inside causing a pull & up influence (many HR's hit with this approach). The other, I'm looking for a liner to RF and should influence push and maybe down.


The CPU is smart enough as well to change based on what you did before. So you hit a HR on a low/inside pitch? It'll be going high and outside. Adjust with the CPU and then life becomes really hard on them!