Directional Hitting Guide

[KBLover]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Well all I can tell you is that I've only used it twice so far this year. Once was a big whiff, and the other time was a really high flyout. If you're going to use it though, let me know how it is.

Glad you like the guide! I really need to get around to those edits sometime soon if people are bothering to print it out as a reference. There is nothing egregiously wrong, just a few minor errors or inconsistencies that need to be cleaned up. I just... ugh, I just don't want to do it, so I've been avoiding it. If I'm free this next Sunday coming up, I'll try and take a stab at it.

Post an "errata post", you know like how books "correct" error after printing?

Then folks can print that out, too, to have the lastest thinking/theories/observations.

[JayhawkerStL]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Post an "errata post", you know like how books "correct" error after printing?

Then folks can print that out, too, to have the lastest thinking/theories/observations.

So far, my old 2K strategy of when to power up is working for me. I use it in 2-0 and 3-1 counts, and with 2 outs and no runners in scoring position.

Then I focus on one pitch and a location. If I get it, I swing, if not, an easy choice to take it, even if it is a strike. So even in the second circumstance, with 2 outs, I go back to normal with two strikes.

My goal every inning is to see 15 pitches. It forces me to try to take walks. Plus, knowing I get to power up if I get that hitter’s count helps encourage me to take more pitches.

I do miss 2K’s hitter’s eye that would occasionally give you the pitch and general location (up, down, right, left) just before release. The better the hitter, the more often you got this. This provided better hitters more opportunities to find good pitches and avoid bad ones. Guys like Pujols had that knack (due to extensive film work and study) to know what is coming. The results were Pujols being able to draw more walks than an average hitter, as well as hit better.

Sometimes you got an outline around the entire box along with the pitch type. If I got that on a fastball, I’m powering up even with two strikes.

So this is a little more challenging to feel like each hitter has a different approach. But I’m really liking the feel I’m getting from the directional hitting so far.




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[tyler28]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

if i just want to press the button for my swing to get the best results, is directional the way to go? i dont want to mess w the analog stick just old school baseball based on timing and rating

[Mr_Met]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

if i just want to press the button for my swing to get the best results, is directional the way to go? i dont want to mess w the analog stick just old school baseball based on timing and rating

Absolutely. I’d also recommend turning off the PCI too.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

if i just want to press the button for my swing to get the best results, is directional the way to go? i dont want to mess w the analog stick just old school baseball based on timing and rating

I mean, yes, but if you read the OP you'll see that picking a direction isn't a skill based thing, it's strategy. Directional gives you more situational control, though yes, if you just want to press x and not worry about anything else, then directional is still the mode for you.

I would recommend perusing the OP. Picking an influence is all about giving yourself slight buffs or debuffs for certain situations. It's all part of the mind game, and is more something you plan out before the pitcher even sets himself then a reactionary thing.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

A couple of observations from 18 so far.

There are a lot of things that expand or contract the new visualization of the timing window, like pitch speed and location, batting tendency, and swing animation.

Based on my limited observations, using a push or pull swing does not expand the visual representation of the ideal timing window (green). I have noticed though that I get more viable hits when just early (yellow) when using the pull influence, and same with just late and the push influence, so that ideal timing window may actually still be expanded, just not in the visual feedback.

However, the down influence does seem to expand the total timing window, and the up influence shrinks it, while having little effect on the ideal timing window. If this trend of results continues, I would consider it confirmation that a down influence buffs vision, and an up influence debuffs vision.

I'll be going into practice mode soon with the purpose of confirming or denying some of the observations I've made.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Well I just spent 30 minutes in practice and I'm no closer to figuring out how the visualization of the timing window works.

Just more confirmation of stuff I already knew:

More timing is applicable if the pitch is in the middle of the zone, and less is applicable as you reach the edges of the strike zone.

Pull swings produce higher bat exit velocity averages, while push swings produce lower ones. SDS confirmed that all power did was effect bat exit velocities in the streams leading up to 18.

It's difficult to confirm more since I can't limit the pitches or locations where the CPU throws. It's no different then if I just played a normal game.

[taterskin]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I've had some fun with the directional hitting over last couple days since my last post and have waffled back and forth between directional and zone. I've actually been very surprised. Playing on HOF.... it's actually easier to hit with zone than directional and have success or at least with my experience. Think there is a perception sometimes you are just "Pressing a button" with directional.... but much more to it than that. As the AI adjusts to what you are doing it becomes a bit of a chess match when you are guessing pitches, committing to location, etc. With zone you are adjusting on the fly and only really guessing fastball or offspeed.....ball or strike. I was surprised with some of my observations vs. your awesome guide.....


- I hit 5 HR yesterday with the down influence normal swing. ALL 5 were against pitchers throwing an almost 12 to 6 type breaking ball/hook. After the 1st one I purposely used it against similar type pitching. I also hit some rocket line drives. It only seemed to work with a breaking ball that was middle to middle low.


- I personally have had zero success with the up influence against low pitches, but low pitches have given me hell so far in this years game. Only exception to the rule is I have hit some sharp line drives against the Sinker specifically.


- Outside influence has worked well for me in particular with pitchers who have a 94 + MPH fastball that I have issues getting around on. Seems to work the best in any location when my swing is a hair late.


-I've hit some monster HR's with the pull/power swing combo when way ahead in count. 2-0, 3-1, 3-0, etc. I still have more consistent success with a normal swing vs. Power swing.... but has been fun to use the power swing in situations when ahead and the game is not on the line.


- Crazy.... but I've had more success with no influence when I've guessed correctly that a pitch was coming right down the middle.


If anyone figures out how to drive the low pitch.... please let me know... it's giving me fits this year elevating it even slightly.

[fatleg3]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I've had some fun with the directional hitting over last couple days since my last post and have waffled back and forth between directional and zone. I've actually been very surprised. Playing on HOF.... it's actually easier to hit with zone than directional and have success or at least with my experience. Think there is a perception sometimes you are just "Pressing a button" with directional.... but much more to it than that. As the AI adjusts to what you are doing it becomes a bit of a chess match when you are guessing pitches, committing to location, etc. With zone you are adjusting on the fly and only really guessing fastball or offspeed.....ball or strike. I was surprised with some of my observations vs. your awesome guide.....


- I hit 5 HR yesterday with the down influence normal swing. ALL 5 were against pitchers throwing an almost 12 to 6 type breaking ball/hook. After the 1st one I purposely used it against similar type pitching. I also hit some rocket line drives. It only seemed to work with a breaking ball that was middle to middle low.


- I personally have had zero success with the up influence against low pitches, but low pitches have given me hell so far in this years game. Only exception to the rule is I have hit some sharp line drives against the Sinker specifically.


- Outside influence has worked well for me in particular with pitchers who have a 94 + MPH fastball that I have issues getting around on. Seems to work the best in any location when my swing is a hair late.


-I've hit some monster HR's with the pull/power swing combo when way ahead in count. 2-0, 3-1, 3-0, etc. I still have more consistent success with a normal swing vs. Power swing.... but has been fun to use the power swing in situations when ahead and the game is not on the line.


- Crazy.... but I've had more success with no influence when I've guessed correctly that a pitch was coming right down the middle.


If anyone figures out how to drive the low pitch.... please let me know... it's giving me fits this year elevating it even slightly.

-To Piggyback off this post, I too have crushed some balls out of the park using the pull swing. These usually comes from my big power homerun hitters. I would have a lot more but most of the time im a tad early and the ball curves foul around the pole.

-I haven't really had any success at all using the push swing. I think I have more hits using the push/down swing. I do foul off a lot of pitches using push though.

-I crush balls up in the zone using the down swing.

-I only use the up swing when I have a guy with ok power and im trying to stay out the double or get a sac fly.

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[fatleg3]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Using directional hitting in both videos. Just showing some of the different swing influences and the results. All the HRs in the videos came off down swings.

https://youtu.be/J47Vl1xBGeI

https://youtu.be/nOtRilCKVZk

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[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Just an FYI to those that are new to the thread. Claiming that I've never hit a homerun with the down swing is one of the edits I need to make. I used to only use the swing for low power guys, but now use it a lot more universally and have hit plenty of homeruns with it.

I use the down/pull hybrid swing a lot with my pull hitters. It's great in 2-2 and 3-2 counts.

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[fatleg3]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

My first HR using a push influence. I haven't had to many hits using the push so this was refreshing.

https://youtu.be/HCIXhPufyhU

I appreciate you for this thread. Before I read the OP, I was following the ball and moving the L stick as the pitch came in, and I never would have thuoght I could pull a ball over the fence using an "oppo" swing. It's has changed my entire approach at the plate.

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[taterskin]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Just curious....and I apologize if it's been covered in the thread... but do the equipment boosts factor into the attributes when using directional?

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Just curious....and I apologize if it's been covered in the thread... but do the equipment boosts factor into the attributes when using directional?

I actually don't know because I don't play RttS, but in theory it should.

[drew_3]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Do you use camera shift or not?