I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

[Bobhead]

I'm really happy with physics overall this year. I can see some big improvements, on hit variety and more line drives and such...

There are only a couple of things that seem off. One of the things I feel is significantly "off"... is the timing window. When you hit in real life, there's a discernible, palpable difference in time between an early swing and a late swing. You consciously swing early when you want to pull the ball, it doesn't just happen by accident. You even see hits where the hitter was wayyyyyy out in front, but hit the ball in the right spot to where it goes into fair play somewhere.

This year in The Show I don't feel like the timing window is anywhere large enough to feel right. Just a tad late and the pitch is way off foul somewhere (and foul by a wide margin, not like down the line just foul). I dont really feel like I can wait on pitches and try to hit one down the line.

Even with the slider at 10 It just feels too condensed. I'm getting hits, don't get me wrong... I'm not saying hitting is hard. But the timing window being as small as it is takes away the satisfaction of purposely hitting the ball in a particular direction, or even purposely fouling balls off (ie swinging really late on purpose).

I think if the timing window were expanded, and foul balls were increased, the batting physics would literally be perfect this year.

Thoughts? Am I on an island all alone here? Or do other people feel the same?

[cusefan74]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

I don't feel the same. If I want to go the other way with the ball I can. If I want to pull it, I can. I just think there is no problem with it at all.

[Baseball Purist]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

I've seen two things that maybe illustrate you do have a point.

1. So far, I have substantially more hits with late timing. Balls that I'm late on, generally travel further and have a greater chance of landing fair, even if for an out. Balls that I'm early on, generally go foul, or do not have the same success rate as my hits with late timing. I understand staying back on the ball and trying to work the opposite side of the field, but the % of hits should not be decreased if you're early and still making solid contact.

2. I think at this point, a good majority of players have had more of an issue this year hitting the changeup. This kind of goes with my first point. In years past you could crush a changeup if you were slightly out in front, but this year more time's than not, it's going foul or for a weak out.

All in all, I agree the timing window has decreased in this version.

[redsfan4life]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

Couldn't disagree more.

[Houston]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

Currently the pitches flatten out , really hard to explain but once they hit there finishing point they for some reason dont look like they have in the past to me. I did however fix this issue when you raise pitch speed between 8-10. I have always use 10 but when you look at some other pitchers in the league that throw 89 low 90's and the breaking stuff look a tad to fast on 10, so use 8 and it fixes a lot of this stuff, now does a 99 look as it should on 8 ? No but all the other pitches look exactly how they should so I compensate all of that and use 8. Now dont get me wrong 97-99 maybe even 100 mph doesnt really look all that bad on pitch speed 8.

I would say use pitch speed 8
But on control use 4
and consistency use 4

Believe it or not these 2 sliders are tied in to how the pitches are moving and breaking as well as the ratings of a pitcher.

[CaseIH]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

I'm really happy with physics overall this year. I can see some big improvements, on hit variety and more line drives and such...

There are only a couple of things that seem off. One of the things I feel is significantly "off"... is the timing window. When you hit in real life, there's a discernible, palpable difference in time between an early swing and a late swing. You consciously swing early when you want to pull the ball, it doesn't just happen by accident. You even see hits where the hitter was wayyyyyy out in front, but hit the ball in the right spot to where it goes into fair play somewhere.

This year in The Show I don't feel like the timing window is anywhere large enough to feel right. Just a tad late and the pitch is way off foul somewhere (and foul by a wide margin, not like down the line just foul). I dont really feel like I can wait on pitches and try to hit one down the line.

Even with the slider at 10 It just feels too condensed. I'm getting hits, don't get me wrong... I'm not saying hitting is hard. But the timing window being as small as it is takes away the satisfaction of purposely hitting the ball in a particular direction, or even purposely fouling balls off (ie swinging really late on purpose).

I think if the timing window were expanded, and foul balls were increased, the batting physics would literally be perfect this year.

Thoughts? Am I on an island all alone here? Or do other people feel the same?

I think you might be right. I figured it was just me, but maybe its not.


I didn't want to say anything because I know my hitting experience is much different than probably most everyone that plays the game.


I wonder if the devs could chime in and say if they happened to tweak that part this year.

[Go Yankees]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

Im not sure but do you use the directional hitting? That helps alot especially if your smart and know where the pitcher is trying to pitch, like, if you know he's going to pitch you inside on the next pitch then you just hold the left thumbstick left then if the pitch is inside you will probably smash it down the 3rd base line if your a right handed batter, but if you think the pitcher is going to pitch you inside, hold the left thumbstick left but the pitch is outside then you will probably still pull the ball it will just not be a smash down the line, it will be a dribbler to 3rd or a easy popout to shortstop or some weak hit.

[volsfan39]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

I think the hitting is really good this year a bit harder yeah but as far as early or late I think it's a good balance. Most of the time the pitch I hit does what it should do...Directional hitting has made timing that much better! I don't use it often but for certain situations it's a plus. I also like the fact that just because you are looking for a pitch down you don't always hit it on the ground. I have ripped liners in the gap and down the line looking low and have topped grounders looking high swinging at a low pitch it works well..

[TheZomBee]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

Currently the pitches flatten out , really hard to explain but once they hit there finishing point they for some reason dont look like they have in the past to me. I did however fix this issue when you raise pitch speed between 8-10. I have always use 10 but when you look at some other pitchers in the league that throw 89 low 90's and the breaking stuff look a tad to fast on 10, so use 8 and it fixes a lot of this stuff, now does a 99 look as it should on 8 ? No but all the other pitches look exactly how they should so I compensate all of that and use 8. Now dont get me wrong 97-99 maybe even 100 mph doesnt really look all that bad on pitch speed 8.

I would say use pitch speed 8
But on control use 4
and consistency use 4

Believe it or not these 2 sliders are tied in to how the pitches are moving and breaking as well as the ratings of a pitcher.

I don't know how can you guys use 10 or even 8 pitch speed. Maybe my eyes have a slower reaction time or something, but I'm worthless swinging at that speed. Even dropping pitch speed to 4 I'm still late...

[sink4ever]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

That's a really interesting thought, Bobhead. I haven't played a ton yet and right now I'm using DD without touching the sliders, but something has felt slightly different to me. I wasn't sure if it was the change from button timing to analog directional, but you could be onto something.

I'll definitely be paying to attention to this as I play more. You said you increased the timing slider, have you tried decreasing the foul ball slider? I'm not sure if that would only result in more swings and misses.

[Bobhead]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

Im not sure but do you use the directional hitting? That helps alot especially if your smart and know where the pitcher is trying to pitch, like, if you know he's going to pitch you inside on the next pitch then you just hold the left thumbstick left then if the pitch is inside you will probably smash it down the 3rd base line if your a right handed batter, but if you think the pitcher is going to pitch you inside, hold the left thumbstick left but the pitch is outside then you will probably still pull the ball it will just not be a smash down the line, it will be a dribbler to 3rd or a easy popout to shortstop or some weak hit.

No I use Zone. This post is about using timing to control the direction of your hit. While it's possible, it feels way too difficult and sensitive. I'm not saying it's impossible to pull or go the other way, just that it should be a bit easier than it is now.

[RD_Rabin]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

Last year, I totally gave up on online play and DD so I turned the pitch speed down in Franchise and gave myself a lot more control over hitting as a result.

This year on PS4 DD looked more interesting so I have tried to stay at the standard pitch speed in the centre of the slider. I am experiencing a lot more late hits and less good/early ones. I have played around 30 full games since release, plus RTTS, so I think my brain has caught up with the pitch speed, but the window does feel very small to me as the original poster suggested.

On the Vita, nearly EVERY pitch I hit is late (excepy KN), but I put that down to the tiny screen and difficulty in timing the ball as a result.

[@legendm0de]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

This claim sounds ridiculous as a player that uses pitch speed slider of 10 with the human timing and contact sliders 0'd, plus on legend difficulty where pitches come the fastest and most strategic. With all that I don't experience an unordinary issue with timing, contact, pull, power or anything. In fact I find the batting physics nearly 9.9 / 10 perfect literally this way. I say so because honestly, I never find an awkward moment with the ball in any manner which it is put in play (beit aerial, chopper, groundball, foulball, homer, doubled, over the of head, pulled, roped). That's all on MLB 14 The Show, I'd suggest batting would even be made alot more simpler for me in MLB 15 which I have still yet to open, with the removal of even having the zone plus analog controlled stride to deal with in favor of the new or alternative mechanism. A simple reactionary flick of the thumb to take swings, makes timing well basically boring.

With that said, I don't see how you or anyone is seeing such a grave issue with the timing window, there;s never an input lag on the swing unless you are playing online. If you're experiencing timing issues, I find it impossible to lay all (if any) of the blame at the fault of the game personally. Besides, there are so many variables in play to "optionalize" the type of timing you'd like to experience or feel comfortable. It's hardly a one solution issue, there are so many ways to try new things out which is among the reasons why I can't believe this issue can only be solved by them making up some newer drastic measures to change how the game's hitting is played.

[Bobhead]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

This claim sounds ridiculous as a player that uses pitch speed slider of 10 with the human timing and contact sliders 0'd, plus on legend difficulty where pitches come the fastest and most strategic. With all that I don't experience an unordinary issue with timing, contact, pull, power or anything. In fact I find the batting physics nearly 9.9 / 10 perfect literally this way. I say so because honestly, I never find an awkward moment with the ball in any manner which it is put in play (beit aerial, chopper, groundball, foulball, homer, doubled, over the of head, pulled, roped). That's all on MLB 14 The Show, I'd suggest batting would even be made alot more simpler for me in MLB 15 which I have still yet to open, with the removal of even having the zone plus analog controlled stride to deal with in favor of the new or alternative mechanism. A simple reactionary flick of the thumb to take swings, makes timing well basically boring.

With that said, I don't see how you or anyone is seeing such a grave issue with the timing window, there;s never an input lag on the swing unless you are playing online. If you're experiencing timing issues, I find it impossible to lay all (if any) of the blame at the fault of the game personally. Besides, there are so many variables in play to "optionalize" the type of timing you'd like to experience or feel comfortable. It's hardly a one solution issue, there are so many ways to try new things out which is among the reasons why I can't believe this issue can only be solved by them making up some newer drastic measures to change how the game's hitting is played.

You haven't played MLB 15 so why are you even posting here? I specifically said in my OP that the issue I described is something I only experienced this year, not in previous years.

No offense but it seems quite silly to offer a dissenting opinion when you havent even played the game.

[@legendm0de]

Re: I think the (Human) timing window really needs to be expanded

You haven't played MLB 15 so why are you even posting here? I specifically said in my OP that the issue I described is something I only experienced this year, not in previous years.

No offense but it seems quite silly to offer a dissenting opinion when you havent even played the game.

The alarming thing is you're recommending a series altering change to be made with a emphasis on changing the timing window by some mechanism. Based on my experiences with the game, I can't imagine anything like this needs to be done. My main gripe is, I don't want to see a drastic change made within an area that ultimately isn't necessary if user input could've solved the problem alone (ie proper settings, or mastery of control schemes, etc).