Directional Hitting Guide

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Hey, first i wanna thank you for this guide, since i found it i enjoy the game so much more then before.

However one question i have is, does height, weight etc make you a better/worse hitter?

Im mainly a RTTS player, and i have lovads of different type of players. I play with the same sliders and difficulty on all of them.

My problem right now my best player in terms of hitting happens to be really short, 5'6 in terms of stats he is way better hitter than all of my players, however he is also the one i got the lowest %Average on, i just cant hit, good timing on good balls right in the middle etc, but he cant hit, fouls off, pop outs, straight out misses etc.

So does body type, height, weight affect hitting?

I do believe that they can affect hitting, though I'm not solid on that. I rate my confidence at about a 4 or 5 out of 10. I can tell you that being shorter makes it a little easier to hit thanks to the smaller strikezone, but it also effects your reach, so if you have trouble distinguishing pitch locations it can actually be detrimental.

One thing I know for sure is that swing animation can have a big impact on hitting, both mentally for you the player and for how well they jive with the different swing types. If you're struggling at the plate and can't figure out why, try changing your swing animation.

Then again, it's entirely possible that swing animations are more/less compatible with different heights, weights, and body types as well, which would actually make some sense. Unfortunately, I can't give you a solid answer to this, but it is a really interesting topic and I'd love for more people to chime in and give their opinion.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I definitely disagree with using influence every single time. I'd say I don't use swing influence at all 80% of the time and that seems to be when I get my best hits. Maybe it's just coincidence.


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[The Chef]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I have to say that probably 85% of the time I don't touch the analog stick. I just try to time the pitch.

I mean no offense by this whatsoever, so please don't take it as such. But unless something is officially released by SCEA explaining, in specific detail, the things you suggest, I have to say it's all just conjecture.

I've played thousands of games of The Show and one of the frustrating things for me is that I've still never seen a detailed explanation of exactly how directional and/or zone hitting work from the developers.

I definitely disagree with using influence every single time. I'd say I don't use swing influence at all 80% of the time and that seems to be when I get my best hits. Maybe it's just coincidence.


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Well you're at least coming around, first it was 85% of the time you didn't use it and now it's only 80% lol . In all honesty though I get it, you don't think swing influencing works or you find that swinging without influencing to provide you with better results. Nothing wrong with your approach the same there's nothing wrong with people who choose to swing influence a majority of the time. What I'm not quite understanding however is if you don't swing influence, feel that not using it is better, why continue to post in here telling people the same thing consistently?

[Madden's Jowels]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

This is probably anecdotal but, last year (The Show 16) I hit SO many HR's with my RTTS guy influencing pull + up. This year I couldn't hit any homers at all with him. He's got power maxed from both sides, contact maxed vs righties and in the high 80's vs. lefties. Max vision and clutch (I've been playing him since MLB 14 so... lotta training points). Every time I would get any type of very hittable, center of the plate pitch + good swing timing + influence up and in, I would just hit a really hard grounder to the right side, sometimes for a hit, other times just right to the 2B. All I could think of is, why is he hitting so many grounders when I'm influencing up? And these weren't early swings where I was just getting on top of the ball. It was driving me crazy. This was over a 60 game sample size, so not a massive amount but also not just a week or two. Over 60 or so games, I was hitting nearly .400 but only had a handful of homers, I was mostly just hitting singles like crazy. I had 46 HR's the prior season and 52 the season before that.


I started trying a lot of stuff trying to get his power back. And sure enough, as soon as I stopped using any swing influence I started launching bombs again. IDK if they tweaked some things with directional this year or if it was just completely random bad luck, but I'm gonna stick with no influence for a while and see if it holds up.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

This is probably anecdotal but, last year (The Show 16) I hit SO many HR's with my RTTS guy influencing pull + up. This year I couldn't hit any homers at all with him. He's got power maxed from both sides, contact maxed vs righties and in the high 80's vs. lefties. Max vision and clutch (I've been playing him since MLB 14 so... lotta training points). Every time I would get a crushable fastball + good swing timing + influence up and in, I would just hit a really hard grounder to the right side, sometimes for a hit, other times just right to the 2B. All I could think of is, why is he hitting so many grounders when I'm influencing up? And these weren't early swings where I was just getting on top of the ball. It was driving me crazy.


I started trying a lot of stuff trying to get his power back. And sure enough, as soon as I stopped using any swing influence I started launching bombs again. IDK if they tweaked some things with directional this year or if it was just completely random bad luck, but I'm gonna stick with no influence for a while and see if it holds up.

Hmm, it's odd, because bigD51 was commenting earlier saying that while the guide was helping him immensely with his franchise, he was struggling to see results in his RttS.

I'd argue that it's because using only one player with one swing animation forces you to deal with their slumps and idiosyncrasies alone, and it's tougher to see the universal benefits of the influences when this is the case, but the truth is I don't know, since I never play RttS. Any other RttS players struggling to see success?

[Gagnon39]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

The more I use directional hitting, the more I'm convinced that it is essential to hit the ball where it is pitched. The case is never more true on balls up in the zone. If you time the ball perfectly on a ball up (but still a strike) in the zone but leave the analog stick alone at the center position it's a weak pop-up 95% of the time.

[Fuimus Troes]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

The more I use directional hitting, the more I'm convinced that it is essential to hit the ball where it is pitched.

As much as I love the IDEA of this guide -- and the quality of its execution -- I think this is 100% right.

Unless you're trying to get a specific result, like a ground ball to the right side to advance the runner or a fly ball for a sacrifice, going WITH the pitch is where it's at.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I always knew there would be people who didn't agree with the guide, but I never figured they would be so polite.

You guys are the best counter-advocates a thread could have. Man I love the OS community.

[Fuimus Troes]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I always knew there would be people who didn't agree with the guide, but I never figured they would be so polite.

You guys are the best counter-advocates a thread could have. Man I love the OS community.

Nothing but respect to anyone who takes the time and effort you have in producing the guide, regardless of whether or not I agree with its approach.

[Jr.]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

The more I use directional hitting, the more I'm convinced that it is essential to hit the ball where it is pitched. The case is never more true on balls up in the zone. If you time the ball perfectly on a ball up (but still a strike) in the zone but leave the analog stick alone at the center position it's a weak pop-up 95% of the time.

Isn't that zone hitting? Moving the stick in the direction of the pitch?

[No.27]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

WarmWind, I haven't posted in a while as I have been back at work and busy just getting in games to have a decent sample size to comment on.

I finally settled on All Star Hitting and Pitching. I will have to own up to rjackson as I'm using his version 1 sliders after helping to persuade him to raise pitcher control from 2.

I want to share my latest game which was the offensive breakout that I have been waiting for all year. Using my Fictional Red Sox I had 10 runs and 13 hits off 146 pitches with 5 walks/6 strikeouts and NO double plays. I used influence on every pitch and I sprayed the ball to all parts of Fenway but want to talk about the 3 hits that drove in my most of my runs in particular.

The first was with a man on first with a lefty Cameron Merchant facing a crafty lefty pitcher with a wicked changeup. 3-2 count and I could feel the change up coming. Trying to stay out of a double play I used hybrid pull/up influence and got the change low and in. I timed it perfectly and lifted around Peskys Pole for a homer.

The second was with the game on the line. I'd loaded the bases with a couple of walks and a lucky hit that fell between 2 fielders. They went to a righty reliever with a good fastball/slider combo and I had a switch hitting push hitter at the plate. 3-0 count and I went straight pull influence. Got the slider away/middle and pulled it straight over the first basemans head and dropped it in the corner like a nine iron. The fielder panicked and bobbled the pick up and I cleared the bases with a triple.

The third was the most interesting. I had men on second and third. Another righty reliever with a mid 90"s fastball. 3-1 count a righty balanced hitter at the plate and I went down influence. Fastball up and away (borderline strike) and I swung hitting a screaming double over the infield and between the CF/RF. Even the commentators got excited by this one saying I had "absolutely tomahawked" it into the outfield.

In the same game my namesake and No.2 hitter had 5 easy outs because he has been in a slump and I was really pressing trying to get him a hit.

I'm convinced to get good results using Directional and your Guide is that you HAVE to get into good hitters counts. Anything less and people will be seeing plenty of flyballs, fouls, weak grounders and choppers.

Thanks again for your help. I'm enjoying the game more than ever!

Update: Sorry but had to share this as well. Just won my latest game in Detroit with a inside the park home run! Scores tied 8th inning 2 outs. Righty reliever with same switch hitting push hitter influencing down to try and get something going. 2-0 changeup down the middle and I don't think have ever timed a ball more sweetly. Up and over the scrambling CF head and came to rest on the outfield wall. Made it all the way round to home pretty easily. It's interesting to note I've used pull and now downward influence with a push hitter and got great results. Looks like I am becoming a situational hitter!

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

@No.27: I don't think it's as absolute as you say, but it's true, there is definitely a buff for working the count. I find even just watching strikes can buff my ability to get good contact.

Nice writeup, and grats on settling on a slider set that works for you (if indeed you have lol). I know how much better the game can be when you finally find that slider setting that is right for you.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Isn't that zone hitting? Moving the stick in the direction of the pitch?

It's similar, yes. But over the past 10 games or so I've employed this method and my results have been astonishingly better. I essentially start by holding analog stick up and in (for a righty vs righty pitcher/batter matchup). As the ball is released I make my adjustment(s). It's almost impossible to go from a neutral position to up and in and catch up to a fastball. However, it is very possible (as I've done it plenty of times) to start up and in and adjust anywhere else in the zone. Especially on the outside edge. I've had numerous at bats where I read the slider low and away, adjusted and moved the analog stick low and away and smoked a double down the line.

I've just noticed that if we are swinging where the ball was thrown and time the pitch, the results are WAY better than pre-determining a swing direction.


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[Jr.]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

It's similar, yes. But over the past 10 games or so I've employed this method and my results have been astonishingly better. I essentially start by holding analog stick up and in (for a righty vs righty pitcher/batter matchup). As the ball is released I make my adjustment(s). It's almost impossible to go from a neutral position to up and in and catch up to a fastball. However, it is very possible (as I've done it plenty of times) to start up and in and adjust anywhere else in the zone. Especially on the outside edge. I've had numerous at bats where I read the slider low and away, adjusted and moved the analog stick low and away and smoked a double down the line.

I've just noticed that if we are swinging where the ball was thrown and time the pitch, the results are WAY better than pre-determining a swing direction.


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I'll have to try that. I have a horrible time hitting high pitches, so it's worth a shot.

[Fuimus Troes]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I've just noticed that if we are swinging where the ball was thrown and time the pitch, the results are WAY better than pre-determining a swing direction.


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Yep. Though I don't think I have the reflexes to adjust mid-pitch if it's not where I'm sitting. So a different tack might be to simply sit on a location and let pitches that aren't close go.