To use the L stick or not.

[thdudeabides]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

Some people here, playing on high levels of the game are "swing only" guys. If you can hit effectively at high levels without using the L stick, then whats the point of using it at all?

I've always used the L stick to hit because it seems more realistic to have to swing "at" a particular pitch as opposed to just timing it and allowing the computer to determine bat placement, but in my experience, the effect of the L stick seems minimal at best, seems maybe I should just start using the "swing only" method.

IMO it would be nice to give the user the option of swing only or directional hitting, and when using the directional hitting, make placement of the L stick more relevant then it seems to be now.

[fistofrage]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

You definitely do not need it to get a realistic amount of hits. I don't use it and with power at 5 on legend I was getting too many HR's. 5 HR games.

That said, there would be some times I probably should use it. With 2 strikes on me The AI can sometimes paint the High inside corner and its just pop-up city if I even hit the ball at all. But I just figure its a good outr pitch by the AI. I have a feeling if I mastered the L-Stick, I'd get WAYYY to many hits.

[BIG CAROLINA]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

I thought that on higher levels that NOT using the L Stick will punish your hitting stats? I guess not. For something that is so vital as putting the bat where the ball is there should be some form of punishment for not doing so.

So basically you can hit with your eyes closed once you see the pitcher start his wind up if you are used to the timing.

Not knocking anyone who does not use it, that is just my opinion that is all

[fistofrage]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

I thought that on higher levels that NOT using the L Stick will punish your hitting stats? I guess not. For something that is so vital as putting the bat where the ball is there should be some form of punishment for not doing so.

So basically you can hit with your eyes closed once you see the pitcher start his wind up if you are used to the timing.

Not knocking anyone who does not use it, that is just my opinion that is all

It does. Like I said, with just timing, if you go down to 2 strikes and see a ball around the letters that is too close to take, you are going to pop it up 90% of the time. Same with swinging at balls on the corners. Hard to get good wood on those.

Like Ted Williams said, you'll usually get 1 good pitch to hit. If you are patient, this is true. And thats why some guys can get good averages by not using the L stick. They are patient until they see a good pitch. If you swing at the 1st pitch consistantly and don't use the L-stick, you'll be lucky to get more than 5 or 6 hits a game.

I would imagine that the averages would be too high for me if I used the L stick and was able to make more solid contact on X number of swings per game.

[hendry70]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

So basically you can hit with your eyes closed once you see the pitcher start his wind up if you are used to the timing.

No. You still have to wait for a good pitch to hit.

[chuckm1961]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

This is all speculation, but it's all based on the facts as I know them.

Fact #1 -- You can hit the ball without moving the left stick.

Fact #2 -- The more you "center" the bat on the ball with left stick movement, the better your chances of a solid hit. I have seen left stick movement make a HUGE difference in my hitting.

What do these facts suggest?

1) Moving the left stick, if you can do it right, will lead to better hitting in the long run. User skill level is a huge factor here.

2) Slider settings also matter a great deal. Not only your Contact and Solid Hit settings, but the CPU Pitcher's settings. If you set up the CPU pitcher to nibble around the corners and he does so, you are going to make a whole lot less solid contact by leaving the left stick alone UNLESS THE PITCHER THROWS THE BALL INTO YOUR PCI ZONE.

By this theory, slider settings for CPU Pitch Control, Strike Frequency and the other one (I can't remember right now) are playing a huge part in the different results we are all seeing.

Along with the difficulty level we are playing ....I'm guessing that you see a lot more "meatball" pitches on Veteran than you do on Hall of Fame. Thus, without moving the left stick, you are going to hit better on Veteran on average.
...............

Bottom line... methinks, the "left stick" debate is complicated. Should you use it or not? That depends on a large numbers of factors. There is no right or wrong answer.

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

i thought this was interesting, ive always use the left stick to aim. recently tried without and i agree i think the difference is generally minimal, i do see a difference on contact but at the same time it has made me a little bit more aggressive but not in a bad way, before i would take pitches regardless, i wouldnt necessarily look for a certain pitch early but i would get my eyes used to the timing of the ball while i wait for the 2-2 count. now im more confident to "take risks" early in the count, as a result im hitting more homeruns.

[EddieBa26]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

Yep.

Through 52 franchise games ive hit 47 homers, middle of MLB.

Can you tell me what you're sliders are? I don't use L unless I need to hit the ball to a certain for situational reasons and all I hit are singles. I rarely get extra base hits. Maybe my timings off or I should be adjusting my sliders.

[PsychoBulk]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

My own.

Check this very forum, theyre rather popular, youll see

[EddieBa26]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

My own.

Check this very forum, theyre rather popular, youll see

Cheers thanks. (Where in the UK are you? My best friend is from Newbury in Berkshire)

[PsychoBulk]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

A fair way from there, about 300 miles North.

[jnegs]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

I'm kinda confused, how are you supposed to hit balls low in the zone if you don't use the L-stick at all?

Exactly

[tree3five]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

Exactly

I still hit pitches low, high, and even out of the zone, I can still hit them hard too.

[Bulldogs78]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

What?! I been using the left stick since MLB the Show came out! So basically you don't have to use the left stick? You can just press x or o and time it right and the batter will adjust to it automatically?

[tree3five]

Re: To use the L stick or not.

What?! I been using the left stick since MLB the Show came out! So basically you don't have to use the left stick? You can just press x or o and time it right and the batter will adjust to it automatically?

Well I play on All Star and its a little more forgiving if you dont use the L stick. I think on the higher levels you need to use it. Timing seems to be the most important thing whenhitting on the lower levels (Allstar and down)