Approach to Hitting Issues!

[vinnycast27]

Like sooo many before me hitting is a real struggle.

i have a few questions that hopefully you OS people can help me with.

i understand the hitting machine on the game so that doesn't need explaining i have problems with how to approach each AB or how the read the pitch thrown.

Reading the Pitch Out the Hand

I use guess pitch and basically SELECT UP and MIDDLE Fast BALL quite often this is because i never seem to hit well with the ball Up in the zone so i generally look for a bal down unless of course it flases the location indiacator.

i've been told, look for delivery coming out the hand, you can see the pitch type. In the past i've simply seen the pitch come flying towards me ad if it's near the zone ill frantically swing and MORE often than not i get "VERY LATE" or "LATE" this is because i can't ever judge the pitch coming at me im simply defending the plate, which is a terrible way to bat.

Are there any tips you can give me to help, determine what is coming at me. The pitcher's hand/release point is AROUND the top of my K zone on RTTS but i've no real way of telling how big the break is or what speed the pitch is. I notice its a heater as it comes Straight out of my hand but like i mentioned above by the time i realise its a heater my LEFT stick reactions are soo slow and i often foul or Pop up to first.

Approach to Hitting

I generally like to take the 1st pitch...but if it's in my guess pitch zone i'll try and hit it if not i'll leave it.

Now after this 1st pitch i struggle, i often have the guess pitch zone on up and if its not there i generally take pitches but if you're all of a sudden 0-2 or any 2 strike count it's a struggle to hit.

I say this because i have no predetermined location where im kid of sitting with my left stick. ie. Do you guys move the left stick say to the inside as the pitcher is winding up and then swing if its inside or frantically move it outside if the pitch isnt there or do you just say to ur self i'm not going to move my left stick across intime so ill take the strike or the ball regardless.

Or do people leave the PCI in the middle and then try to react where the pitch is going.

I basically struggle to read the pitch come towards me but also seem to find i ALWAYS pop up to the 1B in foul ground or hit a fly ball to the CF or RF i guess this is because im LATE??

is there any advice you can give me guys. i feel as though i'm approaching every Ab quite clueless at the moment.


thanks guys

[Skyboxer]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

My Method:
1st I highly suggest offset batting camera.

1: Depending on the player I usually always take a strike first (Especially with lead off man) The times I don't do this is when I get the CPU in trouble and I get that "feeling" they just want to get a strike and I will be more free swinging.

2: I always concentrate on pitchers hand and watch the ball come from the hand.

3: Even on 2-1 counts I only look for a certain pitch/location. If I don't get it I take. That will lead me to (Obviously) a 3-1 count or a 2-2 count.

4: 3-1 Same as #3 if it goes to 2-2 I then protect and I have worked a walk even in those situations. Biggest mistake is starting to hack when you get that 1 strike on you. You still get 2 more so don't be to anxious.

5: After twice through the lineup I check out the pitcher tendencies and make any adjustments I feel I need to make.

As far as the PCI I don't use it but I do move the stick around a little while pitch is coming. Nothing drastic just something to keep me loose.

[davewins]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

I honestly think the offset works nice because it sits lower. That's why it's easier to judge high and low and break better. However since it's offset it's hard for me to judge inside/outside.

I think for the future they should add a camera angle or make it so we can customize our own. I would like a camera angle that sits very low and a little more zoomed in so it's easier to tell high/low strikes. The MVP cam was pretty decent.

For suggestions for you is I would try what he said above me but also you can try another strategy which requires patience but it can help draw walks. Turn the PCI on and move it middle in. I play with default batting cam so I can see inside/outside better but you can use whatever you want. What I do is sit on the inside half of the strike zone and wait for something there to hit. All I have to do is time it and MAYBE make minor adjustments high/low. Give it a shot and be PATIENT.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

I honestly think the offset works nice because it sits lower. That's why it's easier to judge high and low and break better. However since it's offset it's hard for me to judge inside/outside.

I think for the future they should add a camera angle or make it so we can customize our own. I would like a camera angle that sits very low and a little more zoomed in so it's easier to tell high/low strikes. The MVP cam was pretty decent.

For suggestions for you is I would try what he said above me but also you can try another strategy which requires patience but it can help draw walks. Turn the PCI on and move it middle in. I play with default batting cam so I can see inside/outside better but you can use whatever you want. What I do is sit on the inside half of the strike zone and wait for something there to hit. All I have to do is time it and MAYBE make minor adjustments high/low. Give it a shot and be PATIENT.

Outside I'm good with as I know if the ball is in same line of site with the pitcher it's outside. Now of course it can break in but at least at the start I know its outside.
Inside it's a 50/50 deal

[vinnycast27]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

thanks guys.

I use the default batting camera and the PCI off.

Obviously i realise the plate coverage is still on just not visable but i think having it "on" is a good idea simply because although i move the left stick i don't EXACTLY know where and how much of the plate im covering.

i think a problem is where i "preset my guess pitch location" as i mentioned it's always UP in the Middle so after 2 pitches if im 0-2 i never know whether or not to keep it up and in the middle or now maybe move it low in the middle or pick a side.

Lets say i keep it UP in the zone, i pretty much dnt present my left stick at all, im waiting for the pitch but its all a reflex reaction to pretty much protect the plate.

With PCI on i could now see more of the zone im covering and look to get more solid contact or see WHERE the pitch is going earlier.

How about Pitch type skills out the hand not via guess pitch. are there certain traits easily identifiable when hitting to realise what kind of pitch is coming towards you and it's potential length of break.

finally, i mentioned im always late on my swing, esp fastballs, i always foul it to the 1b via pop up. is there a certain way of establishing the timing of your swing. i try swinging early and im REALLY early, has anyone found a useful way of getting their timing in sync?

[The Radness]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

Try not using the guess pitch at all, or very sparringly. I beleive you get a stat decrease if you guess wrong. Also, when you see that you guessed "right", your more prone swing at pitches that would otherwise be balls.

Try tuning off guess pitch and be more disciplined at the plate. Just because its a strike doesn't mean you have to swing at it.

[davewins]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

With PCI on you get a better idea of the strike zone because by default it just sits right in the middle of the zone. What could be a good approach is keep it right in the middle and when the pitch comes in be patient and make sure you read the pitch. Don't just swing. Try your hardest to read the pitch AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Then ask yourself is it going to land in the yellow circle (pci) if the answer is yes then try to time it. Obviously this all takes place in your brain in much faster time so you have to be patient and even if you know it's a strike early in the count but don't think it's your favorite pitch then don't swing.

Or just find out what you can hit hard and wait for that. Just like Ortiz might be looking middle in (because he is a pull hitter and can hit that good) maybe you should look for low pitches or pitches that catch a lot of the plate. Whatever is good for you. Just go into bp and WAIT for your pitch. Keep practicing waiting for your pitch and putting a good swing on it. In the strategy guide it even says that you should see one good pitch to hit in every at bat.

See the ball, hit the ball is one approach but for me I just always end up late on everything except off speed pitches. The most I can do with a fastball is hit a single up the middle or oppo field. I can not hit for power when I see the ball hit the ball. I hit for power when I guess location and sit on that location and then time it right. Specifically middle in.

[crumpled_heap]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

yo i been playin baseball games since u guise were in diapers

what i do is look at the ball as it leaves the pitchers hand

if it's a strike i swing, if it's a ball i take, it's as simple as that

i have guess pitch and strike zone turned off

i think u guise are reading to much into it, you don't have to guess n hold da stick before da pitch and guess dis and guess dat just look at the pitch and swing accordingly, simple as dat.

[Metsfanx]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

Only use guess pitch/location in the proper scenario. You should not be using guess anything when you're behind in the count. Use it 0-0, 3-1 etc.

Also, someone on here gave a great strategy that worked for me. Basically on a 0-0 count look for it in one spot, in your case maybe a fastball up & middle. if you don't get it don't swing. If it's a ball, then repeat....if a strike and you're down in the count then from that point on put your PCI to cover the lower part of the zone. If the pitch is there....swing. If it's up in the zone RELEASE THE LEFT STICK, don't try to move it up. If you release it immediately centers, this is the key IMO. It allows you to foul off that high fastball that you would otherwise not be able to catch the PCI up to. Of course if it's out of the zone let it go.

Can't say that I'm a great hitter at all, but this strategy has moved me from a .220-.240 hitter to a .300+ hitter. Got my RTTS guy into AAA.

Remember, guessing pitch and location WRONG gives you a hitting penalty. Only use it in the correct situation (when up in the count), and rarely use both the guess pitch and location at the same time.

[davewins]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

yo i been playin baseball games since u guise were in diapers

what i do is look at the ball as it leaves the pitchers hand

if it's a strike i swing, if it's a ball i take, it's as simple as that

i have guess pitch and strike zone turned off

i think u guise are reading to much into it, you don't have to guess n hold da stick before da pitch and guess dis and guess dat just look at the pitch and swing accordingly, simple as dat.

there is no right or wrong way. when I was in diapers I don't think hitting in baseball games was nearly as advanced as it is today.

[Metsfanx]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

if it's a strike i swing, if it's a ball i take, it's as simple as that

You forgot a "dat"

Sorry, but if you've been playing games since we were in diapers, that would you put you about 40? Which means you are way to old to try to pull of the da's, dis's and dat's yo

:wink:

[davewins]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

You forgot a "dat"

Sorry, but if you've been playing games since we were in diapers, that would you put you about 40? Which means you are way to old to try to pull of the da's, dis's and dat's yo

:wink:

hahaha you got that right metsfan!! lol

[vinnycast27]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

Only use guess pitch/location in the proper scenario. You should not be using guess anything when you're behind in the count. Use it 0-0, 3-1 etc.

Also, someone on here gave a great strategy that worked for me. Basically on a 0-0 count look for it in one spot, in your case maybe a fastball up & middle. if you don't get it don't swing. If it's a ball, then repeat....if a strike and you're down in the count then from that point on put your PCI to cover the lower part of the zone. If the pitch is there....swing. If it's up in the zone RELEASE THE LEFT STICK, don't try to move it up. If you release it immediately centers, this is the key IMO. It allows you to foul off that high fastball that you would otherwise not be able to catch the PCI up to. Of course if it's out of the zone let it go.

Can't say that I'm a great hitter at all, but this strategy has moved me from a .220-.240 hitter to a .300+ hitter. Got my RTTS guy into AAA.

Remember, guessing pitch and location WRONG gives you a hitting penalty. Only use it in the correct situation (when up in the count), and rarely use both the guess pitch and location at the same time.

thanks a lot for this!!

so far i've had 5-10 Ab's and ive alredy noticed i've drawn 2 more walks in my last 50 ab's!!!

i basically did what you said...

1. took the first pitch unless right down the middle etc..
2. if ahead took another...
3. if behind picked my guess pitch spot and waited for it...
4. if im now 0-2 id set the PCI low and just try to depend the plate.
5. But im finding in between being 0-0 and eventually on 2 strikes i'm seeing a hell of a lot more pitches and balls thrown. So by seeing more pitches im reading the pitch coming out the hand much more easily.

im obviously not getting tons of hits but i think ive hit around 250 in this mini AB period compared to my usual 100 so it's progress!

one question though...

you say dont use guess pitch because if you're wrong you lose ability?

what does this mean? if i choose UP and in FB and i swing and miss what my PCI goes down for the next pitch? could you clear this up please because other than in the very early counts ie/ 0-0 or 1-0 i will use guess pitch LOCATION, not type but for every pitch after the 1st couple of pitches until im out or the ab is over. i dnt always swing but i always select it before the pitch.

shouldn't i be doing this?

[RedheadKingpin]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

I started hitting the ball a hell of alot better once I stopped trying to guess the pitch.

[Metsfanx]

Re: Approach to Hitting Issues!

There is a penalty for guessing wrong. So say you guess high & inside but the pitch is low & away. Even if you manage to adjust mid pitch and hit the ball, your hit will be "penalized" in some way. Not sure what the exact penalty is, just that because you initially guessed wrong your swing is affected. Only affects that pitch, no carry overs to the next pitch. Same thing as if you guess wrong on the pitch type. It's there to simulate the pitcher throwing you off balance by giving you something different than you were expecting.

Before I knew this I used guess pitch and location on every pitch, figured if I was right bonus but if I wasn't oh well. WRONG.

That's why it very important to only use guess pitch when you're up in the count, or pretty damn sure of what is coming. And if it's not what you're guessing, in alot of cases it's probably best to just not swing at all.