Zone vs directional

[Bullit]

Re: Zone vs directional

So zone is my more user and directional is stat based so if your stats for your team is low then directional would be bad then right ?

I would not say that at all.

Yes Directional is more Stat based. But that does not mean that if you are playing with a low ranked team that it is "bad" for them. Just look at the real world Orioles.

I am actually playing a franchise as the O's. I find that if I pay a lot more attention, be a lot more patient at the plate and , plan and think about what is going on I can win games. Am I going to win in all? Lord no. LOL

But I can be competitive game to game if I am patient and work for it. I find, for me and me only I am not making a broad statement here, that I am a better player using Directional than I am with the other modes. Thru the years I have used them all. It is only recently, '18 I think, that I completely moved over to Directional and Classic Pitching for a more Stat based approach. I would not say one is better than the other in any real way. But for me this approach gives me the most enjoyment and that is what is the most important. Right?

[loso_34]

Re: Zone vs directional

The right answer is to play the game however you like. It’s supposed to be fun, after all.

That said, the efforts of the developers are clearly towards zone in the same way that their efforts are towards online play. Doesn’t mean directional is a bad experience. If you prefer ratings to matter most, go directional. If you prefer user skill to matter most, go zone. For those who play 2k, think of it as shooting with the meter vs real player percentage.

Does one get u more hits then the other

Go back to the OP and read what he asked. I use directional but you place yourself at a disadvantage vs zone users and if you want more hits theres only one answer.

[loso_34]

Re: Zone vs directional

So zone is my more user and directional is stat based so if your stats for your team is low then directional would be bad then right ?

In the mlb even the worst hitters can tag a ball in the heart of the plate. You need good discipline with those type of teams but you won't circumvent ratings like you can with zone.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Zone vs directional

I know guess location is a no no right. I don’t guess pitch but I do guess location and if I don’t guess right I don’t swing till two strikes is that bad ?

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Zone vs directional

For those that do use directional, do you influence or just swing ?

[Bullit]

Re: Zone vs directional

For those that do use directional, do you influence or just swing ?

Both. Depends on factors and what I need to accomplish. If I am just getting on base or whatnot I'm just swinging. If I need to move a runner or beating a shift then I will try to influence.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Zone vs directional

For those that do use directional, do you influence or just swing ?

Years of playing this game. Default sliders AS or HOF hitting (depends on my mood) and HOF pitching.

Not once have I tried to influence a pitch by aiming. I have always just swung the bat. Hit variety off the chart.

[jcar0725]

Re: Zone vs directional

Years of playing this game. Default sliders AS or HOF hitting (depends on my mood) and HOF pitching.

Not once have I tried to influence a pitch by aiming. I have always just swung the bat. Hit variety off the chart.

I use directional and I sometimes influence the swing but its pretty rare.

Sent from my thoughts

[mattynokes]

Re: Zone vs directional

I went to Timing this year, but in the past it's been Directional for me. As said already, it's more ratings based. It's nice to see the variety of hits. It feels great when you have perfect timing and CRUSH a pitch. If feels deflating when you have perfect timing and either line one right at an outfielder or hit smashed grounder into a tailor-made double play. It's frustrating as all when your swing timing is good, but your guy still swings and misses. But all-in-all, I think it makes for a great experience with good replay value.

Also, it's worth noting that I started going to Directional (from Pure Analog) a few years ago when I started co-oping an offline Franchise with a co-worker. He wasn't into all the intricacies of the analog or even the metered pitches. I felt I was dumbing things down with Directional hitting and Classic pitching, but what I found was an easy pick up the sticks and play without over complicating things and more realistic gameplay.

I know this thread is about hitting, but the Classic pitching is what really sets the table for realism. If a pitcher has a bad pitch, it's noticeable. If he has a great pitch, you can really fool the CPU. However, if the pitcher only has one good pitch and the rest are junk, you probably have a guy that you can just as easily see an early exit as you're able to go six or seven strong with a quality start.

To me, what's great is cracking open a beer...Then playing with Timing (Directional) hitting with Auto-Baserunning (you can still take over and advance/steal extra bases), Classic pitching, and Auto-Fielding/Throwing. I'm not so involved, so I can set the controller down while the game is still moving along and enjoy a cold one. Yet, I still have enough influence on the game with the right amount of balance of relying on the player ratings. Sometimes you get frustrated with goofy throw decisions, poor baserunning, and pitches that you know you should've crushed. That's the beauty of baseball to me.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Zone vs directional

I thank you guys with all your responses. So I think I will stick with directional and not aim. Too bad I can’t do that with zone and leave pci in the middle

[countryboy]

Re: Zone vs directional

I thank you guys with all your responses. So I think I will stick with directional and not aim. Too bad I can’t do that with zone and leave pci in the middle

With ZONE you can use the PCI ANCHOR where you can "anchor" the PCI in a particular spot in the zone and then you will swing in that zone unless you choose to move the PCI during the pitch.

Ex: you think the pitcher is going to throw a high fastball, you can "anchor" the PCI at the top of the zone and if the pitcher throws the ball in that area, you don't need to move the PCI, and based on your timing, you can square the ball up.

You said, I believe, that you guess location already, this is a similar feature except there are no bonuses/penalties for guessing wrong.

[loso_34]

Re: Zone vs directional

I thank you guys with all your responses. So I think I will stick with directional and not aim. Too bad I can’t do that with zone and leave pci in the middle

I tend to use influence mostly for situational hitting. That does not always mean runners on, but it means you use it when you think you will benefit more from pulling a pitch or hitting it in another direction.

For example, if you are leading off with a speedy runner and the 3B is playing with corners in. You can try to wait for a away (if you are a lefty, it would be inside if you are a righty hitter) and press down + left on stick. Chances are you will hit a pitch on the ground to the 3B or to the hole between 3B and SS.

Thats a clean single, leading off inning with a stolen base threat.....now you are cooking....

Other times you can just swing and try to time it perfect. Your batter's attribute will take over, but a perfect timed swing is a must in order to make sure you get the right mix of batters attribute, solid contact, AND good timing. All 3 combined determine success. It does not guarantee success, and missing one does not guarantee failure, but you want to have these lineup as much as possible to put yourself in best position, and that is the goal of timing.

Now hot/cold zones do play a part. If I am up with a hitter, and for sake of argument lets say middle plate in is a hot zone, I will pull stick and wait for a pitch in that zone. Again if I time it perfect (player control's this) the batters attributes will be at max (because its a hot zone), and as a result will have solid contact. You just increased your chance of ripping the pitch for a very solid hit.

I must point out however that anytime you use the stick to influence to any direction, you need to be EXTREMELY patient. If you are pulling but the pitch is outside you are hitting your chances. Or if you are trying to hit opposite field but pitch is inside, again you are hurting your chances. Also being late on a pitch you are trying to pull, or being early on a pitch you are trying to hit other way....also hurts your chances.

So the idea is to time the pitch perfect, and make sure your coordinate the direction you are trying to hit with its location in the zone.

Old post from el_mayimbe.

[jcar0725]

Re: Zone vs directional

I went to Timing this year, but in the past it's been Directional for me. As said already, it's more ratings based. It's nice to see the variety of hits. It feels great when you have perfect timing and CRUSH a pitch. If feels deflating when you have perfect timing and either line one right at an outfielder or hit smashed grounder into a tailor-made double play. It's frustrating as all when your swing timing is good, but your guy still swings and misses. But all-in-all, I think it makes for a great experience with good replay value.

Also, it's worth noting that I started going to Directional (from Pure Analog) a few years ago when I started co-oping an offline Franchise with a co-worker. He wasn't into all the intricacies of the analog or even the metered pitches. I felt I was dumbing things down with Directional hitting and Classic pitching, but what I found was an easy pick up the sticks and play without over complicating things and more realistic gameplay.

I know this thread is about hitting, but the Classic pitching is what really sets the table for realism. If a pitcher has a bad pitch, it's noticeable. If he has a great pitch, you can really fool the CPU. However, if the pitcher only has one good pitch and the rest are junk, you probably have a guy that you can just as easily see an early exit as you're able to go six or seven strong with a quality start.

To me, what's great is cracking open a beer...Then playing with Timing (Directional) hitting with Auto-Baserunning (you can still take over and advance/steal extra bases), Classic pitching, and Auto-Fielding/Throwing. I'm not so involved, so I can set the controller down while the game is still moving along and enjoy a cold one. Yet, I still have enough influence on the game with the right amount of balance of relying on the player ratings. Sometimes you get frustrated with goofy throw decisions, poor baserunning, and pitches that you know you should've crushed. That's the beauty of baseball to me.

Great comment. Captures the essence of the game.

Sent from my thoughts

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Zone vs directional

I usually guess low and then if I don’t guess right I don’t swing until two strikes.

With ZONE you can use the PCI ANCHOR where you can "anchor" the PCI in a particular spot in the zone and then you will swing in that zone unless you choose to move the PCI during the pitch.

Ex: you think the pitcher is going to throw a high fastball, you can "anchor" the PCI at the top of the zone and if the pitcher throws the ball in that area, you don't need to move the PCI, and based on your timing, you can square the ball up.

You said, I believe, that you guess location already, this is a similar feature except there are no bonuses/penalties for guessing wrong.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Zone vs directional

I use directional and I sometimes influence the swing but its pretty rare.

Sent from my thoughts

Hey jcar do u use the new timing mode or u use directional