Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

[IcyVegeta]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Zone for me. Also use meter pitching.

[TonyDanzaFan]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

This thread has been a God send. I've been using directional for most of the year. I experimented with zone and analog when it came out but found directional to be the easiest. Well, I did alright for a while. I was decent offensively, I'd go through hot steaks and slumps which were incredibly frustrating. I've been in a prolonged slump for about two weeks now. I can get hits but for some reason I can't score. Maybe 2 or three a game whereas when I'm hot it's around ten.
Anyway, I saw this and because I've been awful lately I decided to see what others were doing. I switched to zone and I've kept the words timing timing timing in my head just like the other poster said and it's been insane the results I've seen. I place the pci a little below the middle and just follow the arm. It's actually made taking pitches easier and I'm not swinging out of the zone as much because im following the ball. First game I'm only in the fifth inning but I'm leading 13-0. I've hit like five homers. I have had a complete power outage recently but it feels good to hit homers again. In five innings I've batted around twice in an inning. It feels amazing that I'm actually able to hit again and I can jump up in difficulty now because I felt ridiculous getting murdered on veteran.

[jackbquick]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

For those using zone, what camera are you using and what is your strategy for utilizing the PCI?

I'm using the wide camera, which is the best non-zoomed camera for providing depth perception. The weakness of this camera is that it is difficult to discern balls/strikes on pitches low in the zone.

I place the PCI in the upper corner corresponding to the pitcher being right/left handed, so I just have to worry about moving the PCI down and/or across. I've found this approach to be very effective for consistently putting the PCI on the ball. I make a lot of good contact and get my share of hits.

My biggest issue is that my power numbers are too low. From batting practice mode, I've noticed that home runs tend to often occur with Early timing. In actual games, I have a lot of good timing, but not much early timing. I find when trying to work early I'm incredibly vulnerable to change-ups and sliders, which tend to be the most commonly used pitches by the CPU and online-users.

[Chetballard]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I also have asked which camera is the best, and for the most part Default is best for me. I kept switching cameras because I wanted to find the best one. Wide is not bad, and I used it for a bit and its good for timing but not so much zone. I also just switched to zone and have won 9-0 and then the next game with same camera, zone placement usage lost 2-0. Its going to take a bit of time to get use to and also finding a good camera takes a while

Just find one u like and get use to it, u want a camera where the pitchers release is close to your eye level. People have TV's in all different positions so that matters as well.

I find the best way to practice is play a exhibition game, and adjust from there. I find that mode is better than the actual hitting practice mode

[ph33]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I use zone hitting, and I use E. Catcher Zoom.

It was really weird at first, everything seems too big and some people might have a harder time distinguishing strikes from balls at first, but with enough practice I feel like I understand my timing more. Feels like I'm actually in the box, and it's helped my plate discipline a ton.

[Dag_BoomStick]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I find myself in an odd position. Prior to making this topic I had been hitting on directional but directing like I was in zone. I used zone for a little and had some success the first night. The next night not so much and last night I was going back and forth between zone and directional bc of my struggles at the plate to find my spot. Knowing how directional and zone works now I find myself focusing more on that then watching the pitch and went 1-4 last night (1 of the losses was a blue screen to a lag switcher when I was up 6-3 in the 7th so let's just call that 2-3). I feel like in the long run zone will be my best bet but I need to commit to it fully and practice with it more. I have hit more hr with zone over the last few days compared to directional 7-4 in about an even number of at bats but when I use zone I find myself popping sky high on the infield more due to me coming from a strictly fps background and being very twitchy naturally in my stick moving. Anything from middle to 1/3 down in the zone I will pop up bc I'm diving my bat to far low. I do have a set of kontrole freaks I don't use purely for the fact I didn't like how slow it made me aim in fps games but I think if I use zone coupled with my controle freaks I might just start destroying some pitches that I'm popping up. I tried using the thumb technique explained in the how to hit zone video that was posted here but that just made my reactions to slow and felt to unatural and forced on my end. Anyone else use kontrol freaks or any other kind of stick extensions for batting with zone? I truelly think if I used them for this my problems of popping out might be fixed.

[jackbquick]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I just lost 3-2 despite having 16 hits. One of the runs was the result of a wild pitch. Only had one extra base hit.

The complete lack of power is killing any possibility of enjoying this game. I'm squaring up a decent amount of balls, but everything is dying at the warning track or hanging up just long enough to be run down in the gap. With each passing game I get closer to putting the controller through the TV.

[BentleyA]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Okay I will try and respond to everyone just based off of what I remember reading.

To whoever mentioned that it helped them to just remember that timing is the first thing to think of and your thumb will follow, I am happy I could help you there. It really has done me wonders.
One little bit to add to that timing thing. Make sure you understand the spray chart of the hitter you are using. If you are trying to power pull pitches with a guy that is not a pull hitter, it won't work as well. If your using a pull hitter, well you won't get much power out of them going the other way (although you can still take advantage of shifts). I was trying to pull/go opposite field a lot with Joc and I struggled mightily with him. Last two games, I have focused on crushing pitches to the allys or to center and have hit two homers with him.
Just keep that stuff in mind. If you read the strategy guide in the pause menu, it does mention that the hitters spray tendencies DO matter.

As to the people that are struggling because they move the PCI too much and pop stuff up a lot, well I am right there with you and recently struggled with the same thing.
I recently got through it though by understanding what I was doing wrong and working to correct it. I do hit more grounders now on low pitches, but that means I am now crushing pitches in the middle of the plate. Also keep in mind that, ground balls have higher BABIPs than fly balls, so grounders are not necessarily a bad thing.

Also, don't try and cover the entire plate at once, ESPECIALLY in a hitters count! That is really key. Look for the pitch you want. This can be done by noticing your opposing pitchers tendencies (this could also include someone online starting each at bat by throwing at the "cold" zones for each batter. I noticed a lot of people do this). Where they throw, the pitch they throw, and it what count. If its 1-0, 1-1, 0-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-0 just look for a pitch in a certain zone and lay off anything else. There is no need to swing at a pitch you don't want. You might look like an idiot swinging at something offspeed looking for a fastball, but when you do get the fastball, then its boomstick time. For an example of this, watch Nelson Cruz for a couple of games. He looks silly sometimes swinging at a million miles an hour at a breaking ball in the dirt early in the count. Then he protects and uses the whole field to get a base hit with two strikes. There is a reason he's batting like .330 while still also hitting 19 bombs so far.
With that said, USE contact swing with 2 strikes! This is especially useful on inside pitches. I can not even count how many times guys try to throw inside on me with two strikes and since I am trying to protect, I am not necessarily looking only for that pitch. With a contact swing, you most likely won't shatter your bat and will either foul it off, or will get a bloop single. I probably get 1-2 bloop singles per game by doing this. I am by no means a great hitter, but this is one reason I am hitting nearly .330 in 250+ ABs with 77 overall Justin Turner (if your looking for a lead off guy or just a guy to get you lots of hits easily, he's only a bronze and easy to use).

Lastly, keep in mind that in the 2014 MLB season, the Tigers lead the league in team batting average by hitting .277 (The median was .253), so do not get discouraged .

As for Jack, try playing with your lineup. I actually have struggled with the same problem. I average between 8 and 12 hits per game but I think my runs per game is around 3... that is on the rise though as I have adjusted my lineup and added one more power bat (Flava Fraz!).

[Twinkie12]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I actually use zone hitting with the PCI turned off. Played that way for years. It's less distracted but Im still in total control.

My strategy varies depending on the hitter, count, who I'm facing, and everything else. Hitter's count, I'll look for my pitch up or down in the zone and sit on it, and if it doesnt come, lay off. Two strikes with a good hitter up, resort to timing and don't touch the left stick.

I find it much easier to use the left stick and go with the pitch rather than place it somewhere before the pitch. Sometimes you go with the pitch and zone ends up a little off, but when you hit it perfect it feels soooo good.

[BentleyA]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I actually use zone hitting with the PCI turned off. Played that way for years. It's less distracted but Im still in total control.

My strategy varies depending on the hitter, count, who I'm facing, and everything else. Hitter's count, I'll look for my pitch up or down in the zone and sit on it, and if it doesnt come, lay off. Two strikes with a good hitter up, resort to timing and don't touch the left stick.

I find it much easier to use the left stick and go with the pitch rather than place it somewhere before the pitch. Sometimes you go with the pitch and zone ends up a little off, but when you hit it perfect it feels soooo good.

Good point about looking for your pitch and have not tried leaving the PCI in the middle with 2 strikes. i will have to give that one a go.

Oh and I totally understand why you play with the PCI off. I might try that too. I kind of wish we could adjust the opacity of the PCI though instead so I could just make it very faint. i hate when it is covering up the pitchers head or arm or release point or something.

[Gambit1193]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I'm hitting sooooo many more homers since I switched to zone and getting a lot more hits in general. I use to hate batting righty on righty but since I've switched to zone I've done a lot better in that situation.

One guy I was struggling with in general before zone was Matt Carpenter. Was hitting like .220 with him but since switching to zone he's up to .250 now. Having a lot more fun with zone.

[Dag_BoomStick]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Last night I had one of my better offensive nights in a while with th PCI hidden. But unfortunately my pitching struggled and went 3-4. Lost two bc of game related issues as well (1 froze one blue screen) my hitting has come around getting a lot more solid contact and not popping pitches up as much. Also sold King felix out of frustration of him not performing. When I'm 7-2 with a 2.4 era with Orel hershiser who is rated at 91 and I'm 3-6 with King felix with a 5.6 era its time to cut him loose. I gave him enough tries and I just can't pitch with him. Took the stubs from King felix and invested in darvish. I've seen some ppl with him be very successful plus I faced him last night and DAMN that 12-6 is dirty. Now if I can only fix my pitching struggles I'll be good. (Off topic but whatever) now my rotation is:

Tom Seaver 12-6 3.1 era
Matt Harvey 10-7 3.2 era
Orel hershiser 7-2 2.4 era
David price 7-4 2.7 era
Yu darvish (yet to start)

[BlessingSpore72]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Last night I had one of my better offensive nights in a while with th PCI hidden. But unfortunately my pitching struggled and went 3-4. Lost two bc of game related issues as well (1 froze one blue screen) my hitting has come around getting a lot more solid contact and not popping pitches up as much. Also sold King felix out of frustration of him not performing. When I'm 7-2 with a 2.4 era with Orel hershiser who is rated at 91 and I'm 3-6 with King felix with a 5.6 era its time to cut him loose. I gave him enough tries and I just can't pitch with him. Took the stubs from King felix and invested in darvish. I've seen some ppl with him be very successful plus I faced him last night and DAMN that 12-6 is dirty. Now if I can only fix my pitching struggles I'll be good. (Off topic but whatever) now my rotation is:

Tom Seaver 12-6 3.1 era
Matt Harvey 10-7 3.2 era
Orel hershiser 7-2 2.4 era
David price 7-4 2.7 era
Yu darvish (yet to start)

Off topic, the only difference in my rotation is i have niekro instead of Darvish, but i should have him and Ryan this week. Hershiser has also been my best pitcher at 5-0 with like a 1.5 era. On topic, i have only played directional and i tried zone last week once and struggled than i switched back to directional in the same game and the floodgates opened. But then some games i cant score if my life depended on it. i may give zone another chance

[Chetballard]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

I have also switched from timing to zone. I now do a lot better online and single player. In addition to me switching to zone, I also switched pitching camera. Its been on broadcast view for years, never changed. I recently change my pitching camera to my batter camera. This adjustment has helped me now I can since both my pitches thrown and the opposing pitchers. It has led to a better understanding of the strike zone/pitch break for when i bat.

Does anyone else think this? or is it just me. Mostly curious to see what others think.

[Dag_BoomStick]

Re: Zone vs directional vs analog?

Off topic, the only difference in my rotation is i have niekro instead of Darvish, but i should have him and Ryan this week. Hershiser has also been my best pitcher at 5-0 with like a 1.5 era. On topic, i have only played directional and i tried zone last week once and struggled than i switched back to directional in the same game and the floodgates opened. But then some games i cant score if my life depended on it. i may give zone another chance

Niekro has been in and out of my rotation. As of right now he sits 5-6 with a 3.60 era. He either dominates or gets smashed. Once had a guy use him against me and pulled him in the 2nd after I got only 1 run on him. Fair to say though that I was hitting him pretty hard just right at ppl more then anything. He ended up using his pen for 7 innings and I lost 3-2.

I've also noticed anytime I face a knuckleballer I'm better off switching to timing. Faced niekro last night and only got 1 run off him over 6 using zone. As soon as I switched to timing I smashed a few homers and chased him from the game. Normally I crush niekro but first time facing him hitting zone didn't work out well for me.