Do you use the L-stick when batting?

[Hbats1000]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

Also, if you use GP and keep zones on, your limiting yourself as well. You train you eys much more effectively with it all of. When i first got the game 2 pitches 1. high fastball and 2. low curveball killed me. through practice I lay off thos pitches way more than most of the time. If you want to get better you must train your eye and rely on natural skills not crutches such as GP. I can recognize a CB 2 feet short of the plate with ease.

[LenmB]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

This is what I thought..becausing moving it at release is very very difficult

Well, I do, but not with pitches on the corner (when I'm on). ML hitters also swing at easier to reach pitches and take strikes they don't like.

[sportyguyfl31]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

Well, I do, but not with pitches on the corner (when I'm on). ML hitters also swing at easier to reach pitches and take strikes they don't like.

For me, if the pitcher has a 94 or above fastball..I have to guess the location..i cant move the LS at release.

88-92, I can get my Ichiro on, but 94+, no way.

[LenmB]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

For me, if the pitcher has a 94 or above fastball..I have to guess the location..i cant move the LS at release.

88-92, I can get my Ichiro on, but 94+, no way.

Practice. Like the other guy said: turn off the help and you won't like it at first. But if you concentrate and learn from your mistakes you will get better.

I went from veteran at around july last year to HOF now.

I remember the first game I played with MLB '08 (when the timing was altered in relation to '07) was O's vs. Yanks and CC almost no-hit me b/c I couldn't hit the FB. Now I say: CC bring it on! It's the mix with the slider that may fool me, but not JUST the fastball.

[Hbats1000]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

I play on HOF and I always have the L-stick in the natural position before the pitch no matter the pitcher and the count. Of course I think about what could be coming, and basically I take the pitch when it's not what I was looking for (let's call it the natural Guess Pitch if you like). With two strikes I just react. I often check swing on balls (and sometimes strikes) at the corners.

What I do is keep the L-stick hight and off to the arm of the pitcher. so with r-handed pitchers i keep it high and left and with left handed pitchers i keep it high and right. of course, depending on the players tendencies im facing i may just keep it low or just keep it hight or not move at all, but until that point its high. for me, i find it much easier to react when i keep it high and have to move it down as opposed to keeping it in the middle and moving it all around the strike zone

[Hbats1000]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

Practice. Like the other guy said: turn off the help and you won't like it at first. But if you concentrate and learn from your mistakes you will get better.

I went from veteran at around july last year to HOF now.

I remember the first game I played with MLB '08 (when the timing was altered in relation to '07) was O's vs. Yanks and CC almost no-hit me b/c I couldn't hit the FB. Now I say: CC bring it on! It's the mix with the slider that may fool me, but not JUST the fastball.

I once heard from a very wise baseball legend. "All great hitters have a simple approach to hitting. I believe hitters should think and anticipate fastball always and adjust to anything else."

[LenmB]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

What I do is keep the L-stick hight and off to the arm of the pitcher. so with r-handed pitchers i keep it high and left and with left handed pitchers i keep it high and right. of course, depending on the players tendencies im facing i may just keep it low or just keep it hight or not move at all, but until that point its high. for me, i find it much easier to react when i keep it high and have to move it down as opposed to keeping it in the middle and moving it all around the strike zone

That's something I also toyed with. But the one thing I have trouble with is letting the L-stick go when the pitcher throws it right down the middle. So I found myself popping up and fouling off a lot of meatballs.

I also tended to go after pitches just outside the zone. But that was a small problem.

Do you have these problems?

[Hbats1000]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

That's something I also toyed with. But the one thing I have trouble with is letting the L-stick go when the pitcher throws it right down the middle. So I found myself popping up and fouling off a lot of meatballs.

I also tended to go after pitches just outside the zone. But that was a small problem.

Do you have these problems?

At first but not anymore.
Its all about discipline. when you keep the pci in the middle and dont move it, you should have the mind set to NOT swing at anything that is not over the middle of the plate. Ive taken that mindset and applied it to moving the PCI. I minimize the area of the plate I focus on and ONLY swing at pitches WELL within the strike zone but at the same time move the PCI.

For example, when not moving the pci you might swing at a strike slightly low and away and outside of the pci, result = ground ball. Ive trained my eye so that i still swing at the same pitch but I move the pci to the pitch location, result = line drive. Also, I always anticipate fastball, so when a meatball comes I crush it. Use the pci but discipline your eye so that you move it to the pitch location every pitch but only swing at pitches in the strike zone.

[REDRZA]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

How boring is it to use auto fielding? I do that as well. I guess according to you I'm not allowed to do that either. Everyone plays a different way, there is no right or wrong. Why can't people grasp that?



I have no issue with Rookie other than it's just too easy. I don't understand why you would be against multiple options? I don't understand why the L Stick is a MUST. If someone doesn't want to use it I don't understand why they should have to?

People are obsessed with playing exactly like major league hitters do, absolutely obsessed with it. They forget it's just a video game and is meant for our enjoyment. Everyone plays differently, one way is not better than another. I don't understand why people can't understand this.

If I get more enjoyment out of using timing only what's so wrong with that? I paid my $60 just like you did, we don't have to play the same way.

Yep, we are totally different gamers. I want as much user control on every level for the challenge and to feel the reward when i make a play in the field, paint the black for a huge out, and use the L Stick to place my bat WHERE the ball is PITCHED. As for auto fielding, and a simple button press to hit no matter location, well i might as well just watch the cpu vs cpu.

I never once said i want options eliminated, i just want the hitting to be AS ITS DESCRIBED in the manual! For the last time, the manual states the only level thats 'timing only' is Rookie. I didn't say it, the game itself does. Once you play HOF or Legend, to be successful you should be forced to swing where the ball is pitched! Its SUPPOSED to be hard to hit on higher difficulties. Thats all im saying.

[Dook517]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

Do you have to have PCI "On" to use the left stick on Veteran difficulty and up? I know with it "on" you get the yellow circle. I'm just wondering if it works without having the yellow circle on the screen. I know the in game directions say to use the L-Stick on Veteran difficulty and up but why does the game have PCI "off" by default then?

Thanks.

[LenmB]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

Do you have to have PCI "On" to use the left stick on Veteran difficulty and up? I know with it "on" you get the yellow circle. I'm just wondering if it works without having the yellow circle on the screen. I know the in game directions say to use the L-Stick on Veteran difficulty and up but why does the game have PCI "off" by default then?

Thanks.

It doesn't matter. It's only usefull to get a feel what the PCI does when you move the L-Stick. Some people use it to follow the baseball. If it helps you it's ok, but it doesn't alter difficulty or anything. Just user preference.

I think it's handy but it really makes hitting feel 'ugly' to me. I just don't like the color yellow there.

[Dook517]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

Thanks. Yeah, my same thought. I prefer not seeing the yellow thing on my screen. It's good to know the L-stick is active even with the yellow thing off. Thanks!

[Ljm623]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

I'm starting to get a feel for using it now.. i never really used it until i read this thread and decided to give it a go, i'm starting to like it now.. what i do is just keep the PCI to where i think the ball is going, if it's not anywhere near the PCI i take the pitch, but on two strikes, i just protect the zone and see ball hit ball.. I'm gonna try to practice more to get a feel of moving it with the pitch instead of just keeping it where i think it will go .. and yeah as stated above, i keep the visual circle of the PCI off, i too don't like that color circle taking up the hitting zone... glad i seen this thread, cause i probably would have just kept on playing without it, i am liking using it

[Dook517]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

I'm starting to get a feel for using it now.. i never really used it until i read this thread and decided to give it a go, i'm starting to like it now.. what i do is just keep the PCI to where i think the ball is going, if it's not anywhere near the PCI i take the pitch, but on two strikes, i just protect the zone and see ball hit ball.. I'm gonna try to practice more to get a feel of moving it with the pitch instead of just keeping it where i think it will go .. and yeah as stated above, i keep the visual circle of the PCI off, i too don't like that color circle taking up the hitting zone... glad i seen this thread, cause i probably would have just kept on playing without it, i am liking using it

I also never used it before and am trying to get the hang of it. After golfing one dead center with Vlad Guerrero (and it feeling like I actually golfed it), I may be hooked.

[d-c_138]

Re: Do you use the L-stick when batting?

The L-stick does make a difference as long as you are not playing on easy. I've tested this thing out and tried hacking at balls that are low or high (in the strike zone) with perfect timing and the after report says the contact was weak.

I think about it, if you just have to press square or x without following through or aiming the game would not be as realistic and it would just be boring. I think you guys are judging at balls that get his for base hits and are not in the middle. Sometimes it does happen because the contact was decent enough to spring a fastball past an infielder.