Hitting home runs with directional.

[Gagnon39]

My power has all but been lost. I’m the Cubs and near the end of April only the Tampa Bay Rays have fewer home runs than me. Anthony Rizzo has one home run and Bryant only has three. I’ve never had any issue hitting home runs in years past. But this year is just like a different game.

I imagine there will he updates eventually that give power hitters a little more pop. That’s the one thing that always frustrates me about The Show. Every year’s game seems to have some strange changes, then updates are released that move it in the opposite direction. Last year there were too many home runs, then it got toned down. This year it needs to be turned up a bit.

I have used directional hitting for years now and have had good success. But with the changes they’ve made to hitting this year are there things we need to do differently? I’ve always had success hitting home runs just pushing left or right on the analog stick to try to pull the ball. But this year do we need to push up and in? Does that help to lift the ball with power?


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[Rmiok222]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

I’m not having any issues. Honestly if you are just put power up a tick on the sliders.

I wish it was spot on out of the box too, it just never is.


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[bspring3]

Hitting home runs with directional.

Like you, I’m using armors sliders and I am seeing the opposite. I am the Yankees (who have high power guys) and am leading the majors in HRs about 60 games into the season. I even thought I needed to tone down my sliders some because I thought too many of our runs were coming via the HR. It looks like you may just be in a cold streak. How many games in are you?

Also, I don’t use any influence when hitting; and only use normal swing for reference.


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[Gagnon39]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

Like you, I’m using armors sliders and I am seeing the opposite. I am the Yankees (who have high power guys) and am leading the majors in HRs about 60 games into the season. I even thought I needed to tone down my sliders some because I thought too many of our runs were coming via the HR. It looks like you may just be in a cold streak. How many games in are you?

Also, I don’t use any influence when hitting; and only use normal swing for reference.


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There’s just so many variations of how people hit. It’s interesting. Armor and Warmwind will day to essentially use influence every time.


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[Rmiok222]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

There’s just so many variations of how people hit. It’s interesting. Armor and Warmwind will day to essentially use influence every time.


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WarmWind also says “no influence is choosing an influence” I usually try to pull it until I’m down in the count 0-2 1-2, at that point I’ll try to push it. I think timing on this game this year is more important than anything actually


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[Therebelyell626]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

I use directional as well. As said above the power slider needs to be upped by at least 1 from the default. The default sliders are tuned for online and DD.

[SFNiners816]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

There’s just so many variations of how people hit. It’s interesting. Armor and Warmwind will day to essentially use influence every time.


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Its funny i have just adopted the directional hitting this year. I'm in year 2025 on my franchise with the Cubs. My Kris Bryant is a HOF track guy in his 12th year. I'm probably 15 or so games with directional hitting....Ive hit 5 hrs with KB. 2 choosing the pull influence and 3 with neutral and the 2 with the +power have been wall scraping type HR and the 3 with neutral have been absolute bombs including one off the scoreboard in Wrigley and and on that went 3/4 up the batting eye in PNC. Each were 450+ feet.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

WarmWind also says “no influence is choosing an influence” I usually try to pull it until I’m down in the count 0-2 1-2, at that point I’ll try to push it. I think timing on this game this year is more important than anything actually


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Which makes no sense to me, but oh, well. I’m going to give this game a break for a while. I’m not enjoying it and I’m getting frustrated. Not worth playing when the game makes me angry and puts me in a bad mood. Back to Red Dead Redemption.


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[Jeffrey Smith]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

I’m using directional as well and am having no problems with HR. I use no influence with my power hitters until I get the count in my favour. Then I use up and in influence.

I’m using the Jays and I believe I’m in the top 5 teams for HR. Justin Smoak and Rowdy Tellez are top 5 in the league.

I’m hitting on All Star with default sliders.


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[Gagnon39]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

I’m using directional as well and am having no problems with HR. I use no influence with my power hitters until I get the count in my favour. Then I use up and in influence.

I’m using the Jays and I believe I’m in the top 5 teams for HR. Justin Smoak and Rowdy Tellez are top 5 in the league.

I’m hitting on All Star with default sliders.


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I hit on Hall of Fame. I’m sure I’d do okay on All-Star but I’ve had zero issue hitting home runs on Hall of Fame for probably five years... until now.


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[Therebelyell626]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

Which makes no sense to me, but oh, well. I’m going to give this game a break for a while. I’m not enjoying it and I’m getting frustrated. Not worth playing when the game makes me angry and puts me in a bad mood. Back to Red Dead Redemption.


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I feel you man. I am currently on an extended break not because he game frustrates me, but with the new pitch speeds I have to be exponentially more focused and it can get tiring. Tbh directional isn't different this year than it has been any other year. If you are having trouble squaring up hits for power crank up the power slider at least 1 and lower pitch speeds. The out of box sliders really are designed with player vs player in mind

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

Having zero problems with homers. Pitch speed lowered two clicks and power up just one makes a HUGE difference.

[Caulfield]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

Having zero problems with homers. Pitch speed lowered two clicks and power up just one makes a HUGE difference.

yep. sliders sliders sliders
they give me the tool, I'm not gonna NOT utilize it , when I need it

[bspring3]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

Having zero problems with homers. Pitch speed lowered two clicks and power up just one makes a HUGE difference.

Pitch speed down one knock was perfect for me. That slider was the biggest game changer for me


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[TheWarmWind]

Re: Hitting home runs with directional.

WarmWind also says “no influence is choosing an influence” I usually try to pull it until I’m down in the count 0-2 1-2, at that point I’ll try to push it. I think timing on this game this year is more important than anything actually


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Which makes no sense to me, but oh, well. I’m going to give this game a break for a while. I’m not enjoying it and I’m getting frustrated. Not worth playing when the game makes me angry and puts me in a bad mood. Back to Red Dead Redemption.


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I do explain it in the guide, but long story short, choosing to use no influence gives you a tighter timing window, but decreases the impact of vision and increases the impact of hot/cold zones (which are basically meaningless when you do choose another influence). It also slightly increases the odds of good results and any contact at all on good timing, but decreases the odds of good results or any contact at all on other timings (early, late, etc).

The no influence swing is the ideal swing for low vision power hitters.

For example, my #5 guy crushes using the no influence swing. He's your prototypical #5 guy, lots of power, but strikes out a lot. Before I discovered the effects of the no influence swing, I was about ready to give up on him. After discovering it, he's become a key part of my lineup.

Ok, that wasn't so short.

The point that I'm trying to make is, if you don't use choose an influence every swing, you're locking yourself in to one style of swinging and denying yourself the benefits of the others.