To use the L stick or not.

[pbz06]

I hit a lot better with the L stick. You can get away without using it, but the pitch and your timing has to be spot on. It's easier to smack opposite field gappers on a low and away pitch when using the L stick. Without it, I weakly ground out.

I'm towards the top 3-5 in XBH and homeruns with the Jays.

It feels good when your timing with the L stick is spot on.

[tree3five]

I dont use the L stick and have great results on All Star level. I hit a bomb today with Adam LaRoche that was a low pitch (almost out of the zone). So from my experience the L stick is not needed, though it may help a little, I dont know.

[KingV2k3]

I like to use it on every pitch except a two strike count whereby not using it I feel like I'm "shortening up" the batters swing for plate coverage...

I believe it enhanses the batter vs' pitcher strategy "duel" b/c you have to think about what type of pitch he's likely to throw in that count / situation, where he's going to try and locate it and finally, if it's a hittable ball...

Pretty similar to real life, IMO...makes you wait for "your pitch"...

I also use the R3, which is great to try to hit sac flies, stay out of double plays...hit a hot shot grounder back up the middle, influence bunts, etc...

Once again, as you'd have to do IRL...

Love these features...but, to each his own...I'd be kinda bored w/o it...

[Howie75]

I tend to agree..I use the L stick except for some 2 strike counts, or when I am sitting 3-0 w/ a good hitter and wating for a fastball down the pipe.

It reinforces my discipline in that case.

[FunkDockta27]

doesnt the book or controls in game somewhere say the R stick? i could be wrong but i always thought it was the R stick....i dont use it either way and my power is average at best...prior to .07 i used Oakland, now im Tampa Bay...still middle of the pack

[DrUrsus]

Quote: Originally Posted by FunkDockta27

doesnt the book or controls in game somewhere say the R stick? i could be wrong but i always thought it was the R stick....i dont use it either way and my power is average at best...prior to .07 i used Oakland, now im Tampa Bay...still middle of the pack

R stick is what you use to try to hit a grounder or pull, push (go other way) or hit it in the air. You just push on the direction you want before the pitch is even pitched and it registers. If you have a rumble controller, it gives you feedback that it took the command. I NEVER use the R stick. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for sac flies, but I don't use it.

L stick is for using zone hitting.

I tend not to use the L stick unless I have 2 strikes on me or I am hitting with a really weak hitter like the pitcher or a guy like Koyie Hill so that I can get as much "bat" on the ball as possible.

I usually sit on pitches, but then if I get two strikes I protect using the L stick. But, sometimes, I use the L stick more. I find my discipline starts to wain when I use the L stick too much because I start "chasing" pitches.

[nemesis04]

You can get away without using the left stick but imo opinion your best contact bonuses are with the left stick when you sync it to where the pitch is coming in.

[thdudeabides]

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.