Direction hitting help

[Gagnon39]

Is there any kind of definitive guide/video for directional hitting in this game? I would consider myself a seasoned veteran at The Show at this point and I always want to use directional hitting every year. However, after a month or so of constantly seeing weak contact on well-timed pitches I always revert to zone hitting. I like, very much so, the idea of my hitters attributes playing a large role in the outcome of an at-bat. However, I don't like having a team average near the Mendoza line either.

For those that use directional hitting, do you move the analog stick while the pitch is in the air and adjust as the pitch is coming in? Do you just use it in situations to get a fly ball or ground ball? Or do you just sit on pitches and wait for them to come into the zone? Does pressing up and in help hit home runs? It seems so inconsistent every time I try to use it I eventually just become frustrated.

[fatleg3]

Re: Direction hitting help

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url...3&share_type=t


Directional Hitting Guide

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[volsman]

Re: Direction hitting help

Is there any kind of definitive guide/video for directional hitting in this game? I would consider myself a seasoned veteran at The Show at this point and I always want to use directional hitting every year. However, after a month or so of constantly seeing weak contact on well-timed pitches I always revert to zone hitting. I like, very much so, the idea of my hitters attributes playing a large role in the outcome of an at-bat. However, I don't like having a team average near the Mendoza line either.

For those that use directional hitting, do you move the analog stick while the pitch is in the air and adjust as the pitch is coming in? Do you just use it in situations to get a fly ball or ground ball? Or do you just sit on pitches and wait for them to come into the zone? Does pressing up and in help hit home runs? It seems so inconsistent every time I try to use it I eventually just become frustrated.

Look in the slider section at Armors slider set. He has a great guide

[a bit outside]

Re: Direction hitting help

Is there any kind of definitive guide/video for directional hitting in this game? I would consider myself a seasoned veteran at The Show at this point and I always want to use directional hitting every year. However, after a month or so of constantly seeing weak contact on well-timed pitches I always revert to zone hitting. I like, very much so, the idea of my hitters attributes playing a large role in the outcome of an at-bat. However, I don't like having a team average near the Mendoza line either.

For those that use directional hitting, do you move the analog stick while the pitch is in the air and adjust as the pitch is coming in? Do you just use it in situations to get a fly ball or ground ball? Or do you just sit on pitches and wait for them to come into the zone? Does pressing up and in help hit home runs? It seems so inconsistent every time I try to use it I eventually just become frustrated.

I use it as a timing only mode so my players attributes are being used. I try to wait on a good pitch, basic baseball....if it’s outside I try to go opposite field, inside I try and pull it. So far I have seen a really good mix of results.

[MoneyMan17]

Re: Direction hitting help

I’m not only a seasoned vet in The Show, but I have exclusively used directional hitting 100% of the time since I first made the switch to PS in ‘12, so I think I could provide some insight on this.

I would start with fine tuning your sliders. I have used Armor & Sword/Marino’s set for as long as I can remember. They are specifically designed for directional hitting and classic pitching. They’ve always worked fantastically for me, my skill set, and what I want to see in the game in terms of realistic outcomes. The sliders along with directional/classic settings truly bring out each individual players ratings and let the ratings do the talking.
As far as the analog stick, I rarely use the analog stick to “aim” my swing in any way. When I do, it’s usually situational and even then I won’t use it every time in the same situations.
These situations would be ground balls to 2nd base with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs. This specific situation and use of the stick is always the most effective for me in terms of success rate. The other would be sac flies which don’t work as often for me. A lot of infield popups, but I think that’s realistic.
What it really comes down to if you want to get the most out of it and get the best results is really, really waiting on your pitch and getting something to drive. Learning how to be patient, take walks, and not just swing even if you know it’s a strike just because it’s a strike. Still might not be your best pitch to hit.
Definitely give this a shot and even give yourself a period of time where you even just let yourself K looking a few times for the sake of waiting on a specific pitch to hit.
You don’t see major leaguers swinging at all strikes just because they know it’s gonna catch the edge of the plate. They wait on their pitch and so should you. Unless of course there’s 2 strikes in which I use contact swing most of the time.

Edit: PS wrote this on my phone and could only see a few lines at a time so apologies for run on sentences and jumbled thoughts or poor grammar or spelling I promise I speak proper English��

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Direction hitting help

Look in the slider section at Armors slider set. He has a great guide

That feeling when someone recommends your guide, but gives the credit to someone else #feelslifeman.

@Gagnon39 I know you're looking for official confirmation. There was some talk during the streams that confirmed some of my theories, like the fact that power only effects average bat exit velocity. They straight out confirmed that one. So the fact that I'm getting consistently higher bat exit velocities on pull swings is evidence that a pull swing gives a slight buff to power. There were a few other theories they confirmed or provided evidence for as well, which I posted after the stream where they showed off hitting in the thread.

Also, this year there is another feedback tool on swings. I don't have a big enough sample set yet to confirm, but so far my observations suggest that I was right about a few things, like the expanding timing window and the vision boost for the down swing. I'm doing my best to be skeptical, my biggest concern is that the guide is correct, not to confirm my own theories (which is how/why I changed my stance on the no influence swing). I don't have enough evidence to confirm or deny anything yet, but I'm even more confident in the guide then ever.

...for the most part. There are still some edits I need to make. Honestly the guide is so huge now that editing it is such a daunting thought.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Direction hitting help

It's always been somewhat frustrating to me that SCEA has not released some type of video showing exactly how directional hitting works.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Direction hitting help

It's always been somewhat frustrating to me that SCEA has not released some type of video showing exactly how directional hitting works.

You and I are in agreement on this. You were right to say the guide was just conjecture (I think it was you), because that's all I got. And without an official response, it's all I'll ever have.

I'm confident in my observations, but nothing would make me happier then for a dev to comment on the guide, even if it was just to say that most of the stuff was wrong.

[MoneyMan17]

Re: Direction hitting help

Another thing I’d like to add is the reason I rarely use the stick to aim my swing as I mentioned in my previous post.

Some will say they use it on practically every swing and I have given this a try but never found success. I think your timing plays a much bigger role in the sense that it almost makes it automatic.

Example: While aiming to “pull” or “push” the ball I would get A LOT of foul balls to whichever way. While aiming up a lot of infield popups, and aiming down a lot of weak choppers or dribblers.

I think what matters a lot more is seeing the ball coming in and getting good timing. This has given me a lot more success. Also, when waiting back on a pitch on the outer third, I will frequently hit the ball to the opposite field or at least up the middle of its with a pull hitter. All about timing. #ditchthestick

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Direction hitting help

Another thing I’d like to add is the reason I rarely use the stick to aim my swing as I mentioned in my previous post.

Some will say they use it on practically every swing and I have given this a try but never found success. I think your timing plays a much bigger role in the sense that it almost makes it automatic.

Example: While aiming to “pull” or “push” the ball I would get A LOT of foul balls to whichever way. While aiming up a lot of infield popups, and aiming down a lot of weak choppers or dribblers.

I think what matters a lot more is seeing the ball coming in and getting good timing. This has given me a lot more success. Also, when waiting back on a pitch on the outer third, I will frequently hit the ball to the opposite field or at least up the middle of its with a pull hitter. All about timing. #ditchthestick

Yes, timing is what dictates where the ball goes. Picking a direction gives you slight buffs and debuffs. I've listed them all out in the guide linked in second post of this thread.

Think of it like a more granular choice of swing, just like how you can use Power, normal or Contact swings.

[MoneyMan17]

Re: Direction hitting help

Yes, timing is what dictates where the ball goes. Picking a direction gives you slight buffs and debuffs. I've listed them all out in the guide linked in second post of this thread.

Think of it like a more granular choice of swing, just like how you can use Power, normal or Contact swings.

I’m familiar with your guide I read it originally and reread it again tonight. Will try again to implement some of the strategies regarding using the stick

[bcruise]

Re: Direction hitting help

That feeling when someone recommends your guide, but gives the credit to someone else #feelslifeman.

@Gagnon39 I know you're looking for official confirmation. There was some talk during the streams that confirmed some of my theories, like the fact that power only effects average bat exit velocity. They straight out confirmed that one. So the fact that I'm getting consistently higher bat exit velocities on pull swings is evidence that a pull swing gives a slight buff to power. There were a few other theories they confirmed or provided evidence for as well, which I posted after the stream where they showed off hitting in the thread.

Also, this year there is another feedback tool on swings. I don't have a big enough sample set yet to confirm, but so far my observations suggest that I was right about a few things, like the expanding timing window and the vision boost for the down swing. I'm doing my best to be skeptical, my biggest concern is that the guide is correct, not to confirm my own theories (which is how/why I changed my stance on the no influence swing). I don't have enough evidence to confirm or deny anything yet, but I'm even more confident in the guide then ever.

...for the most part. There are still some edits I need to make. Honestly the guide is so huge now that editing it is such a daunting thought.

It seems weird to talk about actual physics in video game terms, but yes, swinging early is definitely a "buff" to power. Bat travels farther through the zone before impact = higher bat speed before impact = higher hit velocity on impact. That's why I can hit HR's with my 25 PWR - rated RTTS player without a power swing - because I'm swinging early. And I can afford to swing early and pull if I get in hitter's counts.

[HighCmpPct]

Re: Direction hitting help

@Gagnon please try my approach to directional hitting, it's nothing definitive but has provided me great results since directional came out.

The link to the thread is in my signature.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Direction hitting help

I did directional last year but this year idk. I try it for one game and couldn’t get a hit. But when I went to zone I starting to get hits but now I don’t know where to place the pci I’m all mess up.

[bjthomas121]

Re: Direction hitting help

Usually I use Zone with TNK Sliders but I’ll give directional a shot. What’s the advantage of using directional Vs Zone and did advantage as well?