Hitting tips

[DJ]

OK, I've had the game about a week and overall, I really enjoy the game. It's a nice change of pace for me and the R-stick controls are easy to grasp.

I've got CPU Hitting and HUM Pitching tuned just where I want them. Where I'm struggling recently is hitting the baseball.

Using the swing stick, I was really coming up empty when using the Power Swing. I know it's not a guaranteed long ball when you make contact ... but that's the problem, I seemed to rarely hit the ball. I'd seemingly be right on the ball yet foul it straight back or my bat would break on a pitch down the middle (lol) or I'd hit a weak grounder.

Switching to Classic hitting, things improved a little.

The biggest problem I'm having with either method of hitting is timing. I have Pitch Speed at 65 and right now, I seem to be all over the map. I'm either way late or way early on pitches. When I do make solid contact obviously the hit quality is better, but I'm really struggling to find that groove.

I think because I started off hitting a few HR's with the Swing Stick (playing PRO default), I kind of fell in love with the long ball and now, my timing is all jacked. I'm not working counts and swinging at anything close and not at pitches I want to swing at.

So, I'm looking for tips that may help improve my timing. I'm willing to go back to the Swing Stick; it's not like I'm settled on Classic or anything.

Thanks guys.

[sell445]

Re: Hitting tips

Just try to be patient, I sometimes get over anxious and end up swinging early on a 96 mph heater down the middle. Let the ball get to you and try to slap hits to the opposite field until you get the timing down. Swinging early on an outside pitch will result in a grounder most of the time.

Avoid low pitches (even low strikes) at all costs unless you are protecting the plate with 2 strikes. Go into each at-bat with the mind set to only swing at pitches above the belt.

You can also try changing the batting camera angle. This really helped me a lot. I use batter cam 3, zoom 8, and height 6. It really helps me determine balls and strikes a lot earlier in the pitch.

Hope this helps.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Hitting tips

I've switched back and forth from classic to the new methods. I've had similar success with both, but have stuck with the classic methods lately. I've only hit 4 homers in franchise games, very frustrating, and have right around 10 doubles in all franchise games. For me anything hit in the air results in a flyball out. Once in a blue moon I'll get a gapper to the wall, but that's rare.

I have a hard time waiting for a pitch, so I'll usually swing at anything no matter what the location is. I have gotten better, but still swing a lot at terrible pitches.

Patience is a key, and then making sure you use the left stick for direction. I've found that depending on what side the pitch is going I'll move the stick that way. My last few games have included a lot of hits, all in double digits, my problem is that most hits are singles. Usually I'll get runners on and hit into a double play, then get another single and another ground ball.

[DJ]

Re: Hitting tips

Just try to be patient, I sometimes get over anxious and end up swinging early on a 96 mph heater down the middle. Let the ball get to you and try to slap hits to the opposite field until you get the timing down. Swinging early on an outside pitch will result in a grounder most of the time.

Avoid low pitches (even low strikes) at all costs unless you are protecting the plate with 2 strikes. Go into each at-bat with the mind set to only swing at pitches above the belt.

You can also try changing the batting camera angle. This really helped me a lot. I use batter cam 3, zoom 8, and height 6. It really helps me determine balls and strikes a lot earlier in the pitch.

Hope this helps.

I'll check out the camera suggestion. I actually don't mind the default one.

I'm the same way with those meatballs down the middle; I get too excited and swing way too early and miss. I think jumping into Franchise Mode quick hastened my aggressiveness at the plate.

I'm going to go back and just play MLB Today or Exhibition games for a while until I get the timing down, using both methods of hitting to see which one is better for me.

Question: If you just used "contact" swing (up on the R-stick) could you use the same settings as "Classic" swing since they are essentially the same swing?

[Alai]

Re: Hitting tips

Just remember these two things:

Normal swing: Swings later, and longer
Power swing: Swings earlier, and shorter

You just need to make simple adjustments between the two swings and the fouling will actually disappear.

[Theamazingtiny]

Re: Hitting tips

I found ever since moving my difficulty up to allstar I've been struggling mightly to get hits. Pro just seemed to easy. I'm gonna stick with it and try to get better but. I keep getting 1 hit by so-so pitchers. The devestating combo for me seems to be two-seamer and changeup because two-seamer comes up in the pitch recognition thing as fastball but almost every pitcher throws like an 85-89 mph 2seamer so it completly throws off my timing. So it's like FASTBALL and I gear up for a swing and am waaaay early. I also have the problem with meatballs down the middle I get so excited at a meatball changeup down the middle I swing waaaaaaay early.

[DJ]

Re: Hitting tips

Had really good results today in an MLB Today game I played, Colorado (me) @ Chicago.

Scored 6 runs on 7 hits in the first inning, chasing the Cubs' starter from the game after 2/3 of an inning ... he'd thrown 34 pitches (21 strikes) to that point.

I hit 3 home runs, 2 doubles and a triple (Cargo) and finished 15 hits total. I really tried to work the count and focused on being more selective at the plate. It definitely helped as I walked 3 times and only struck out 6 times.