If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

[brifoxdawg]

MLB 16 is the first of "The Show" series that I have played regularly. I have recently been giving zone hitting a try seeing as everyone and their mother on YouTube is jacking dingers on every other pitch using this setup combined with the fact that using a strictly analog, zoneless hitting setup up until now has produced little to absolutely no offense at all for me.

Is it possible to have a solid offensive game (scoring say 4+ runs a game) without using zone hitting? Also, since making the switch to zone I am having a really hard time getting extra base hits with this setup. I have probably played 12 games and I can only remember hitting 2 doubles and 1 home run for sure. Why can I not hit for power?

If I choose to go back to zoneless analog/button hitting, will I never be able to hit effectively?

[BegBy]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I cannot hit at all this year. I only use directional/buttons. I have been on a 25 game losing streak. I hit on beginner. It's that horrible. I make solid contact. More often than not (due to beginner) my contact is always good with a huge green PCI, but I hit pop ups, or just garbage, usually literally right into fielders' gloves. It honestly looks scripted.

I have never had hitting issues like this with this title. I have been playing 15 the past few days just because 16 is really no fun at all.

Lots of people on these forums agree hitting is difficult this year, and lots think it's the easiest it's been. You'll also find that the majority of guys play either zone or directional and swear by the method they use. For me, when I did try zone, I had really good results, but I just don't like it and I refuse to play it.

I'd suggest not being stubborn like me and switch to zone. Or switch to 15.

[redsfan4life]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

You can still play fine with directional but it is a crutch imo. You'll never improve much as a player since you're relying on the game to give you 'luck' for lack of a better word. There's some in zone, but generally if you square the ball up you'll get good results more often than not.

[brifoxdawg]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I cannot hit at all this year. I only use directional/buttons. I have been on a 25 game losing streak. I hit on beginner. It's that horrible. I make solid contact. More often than not (due to beginner) my contact is always good with a huge green PCI, but I hit pop ups, or just garbage, usually literally right into fielders' gloves. It honestly looks scripted.

I have never had hitting issues like this with this title. I have been playing 15 the past few days just because 16 is really no fun at all.

Lots of people on these forums agree hitting is difficult this year, and lots think it's the easiest it's been. You'll also find that the majority of guys play either zone or directional and swear by the method they use. For me, when I did try zone, I had really good results, but I just don't like it and I refuse to play it.

I'd suggest not being stubborn like me and switch to zone. Or switch to 15.

I agree. I guess I will stick to zone and grind out the learning curve. A 25 game losing streak could very well be imminent though.

[KBLover]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

Is it possible to have a solid offensive game (scoring say 4+ runs a game) without using zone hitting? Also, since making the switch to zone I am having a really hard time getting extra base hits with this setup. I have probably played 12 games and I can only remember hitting 2 doubles and 1 home run for sure. Why can I not hit for power?

If I choose to go back to zoneless analog/button hitting, will I never be able to hit effectively?

Yes, it is possible. Use whatever interface you find most comfortable, though. There is no "one right interface".

If you aren't sure, leave everything the same except change interface. Try them all out and see which one gives you result you like the most often.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I'm ranked in the mid 1600s in Diamond Dynasty, and only have been using directional. I've only lost 2 or 3 times so far in the 9 inning games. Eventually, the results come and I'll score 4+ per game, usually. If you can pitch, you can win using directional, for sure.

[Panopticism]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I've played a lot of games with each of Directional and Zone, and the difference in my results over time was hardly statistically significant when playing against the CPU. It's far more rewarding to use Zone effectively, but you need to be careful not to fall into bad habits.

Against human opponents, Zone is a no-brainer for me.

[iamgramps]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

It's a matter of comfort. Although I use zone, I've had success with directional. It feels as if I have more control using directional.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I'm confused. I thought a batters attributes mattered more on Directional & the users skill mattered more on Zone. Is that wrong?

[KBLover]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I'm confused. I thought a batters attributes mattered more on Directional & the users skill mattered more on Zone. Is that wrong?

No, but if you're not adept with controlling the PCI, the combo of influence plus adjusting your own timing to try to direct the ball can feel like you're more in control.

While the ratings dictate and the extent of "user skill" from a stick skills standpoint is hitting "X" or "X" + "L-stick pushed in on direction", depending on your approach, it can be some measure of control with what the player attempts to do.

To me, the only real difference is the player might not put his PCI in a place conducive to what you're trying. If I want to pull the ball and the pitcher is middle to a bit away, but I try to pull anyway and say it's Schwarber or Chris Davis up so I'm influencing flyball.

If Schwarber puts his PCI above the ball, I'll probably get a pulled grounder. If he's on "around" the ball, the pull might have him pull it foul or even weaker grounder. If he's "inside" the ball, it might go opposite field anyway but over the SS head instead of to the right of the 3B, or if pulled enough, maybe a grounder up the middle, etc.

That's where the ratings come into play. But it doesn't have to be "hit X and let RNG to do the work", imo. At least, that's not how I play it unless I really have no tendency I want the player to utilize, which is rare.

[tcorb95]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I used directional for a long time but it just felt broken to me in this game. I didn't feel like I was being rewarded for good timing instead hits were just random. So I made the switch to zone and it took awhile to get used to but I love it now and once you get used to it its kinda op but it's either this or no hits at all. I've scored 30 runs my last 3 games and it hasn't been against the best pitching but zone lets you take full advantage of bad pitching

[Mercury112491]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I used directional for a long time but it just felt broken to me in this game. I didn't feel like I was being rewarded for good timing instead hits were just random. So I made the switch to zone and it took awhile to get used to but I love it now and once you get used to it its kinda op but it's either this or no hits at all. I've scored 30 runs my last 3 games and it hasn't been against the best pitching but zone lets you take full advantage of bad pitching

I'm in the same boat. I've always been a directional hitter but I was having too many games where I felt I was making good swings and good reads on wether to pull or push the ball and gettingn nothing for it. It felt totally random.

I tried going to zone a few times but I hated it. I was late on everything and I couldn't lay off on any pitches. Well I finally changed the camera to Show 15 and now I've been having a ton of success with Zone. The game went from hair pulling frustrating to fun. If I pop a ball up I know it's usually my own fault for swinging under the ball. Much more rewarding in my opinion.

[EWRMETS]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

This is probably viewed as cheating but after I crushed the CPU on veteran Directional but couldn't hit on All Star, I started guess pitching fastballs high on 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 2-1, 3-1 counts and not swinging if I did not guess correctly. This helps getting more walks and when you guess right, you're able to drive the ball more often. It doesn't seem completely cheap as I still have been shut down by the CPU and I think it somewhat mirrors how real life hitters approach at bats.

[WhiteBunny]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

This is probably viewed as cheating but after I crushed the CPU on veteran Directional but couldn't hit on All Star, I started guess pitching fastballs high on 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 2-1, 3-1 counts and not swinging if I did not guess correctly. This helps getting more walks and when you guess right, you're able to drive the ball more often. It doesn't seem completely cheap as I still have been shut down by the CPU and I think it somewhat mirrors how real life hitters approach at bats.

I don't feel it like cheating. I often guess pitch for fastballs up in the strikezone with sluggers. The HR is not guaranteed at all. I've seen groundballs, linedrives, even a few popups.
Usually ( with sluggers ) the first pitch, for me, is always a guess pitch. It's also good to build the count in your favour. If the first pitch is a strike, then i don't guess anymore.
BUT if you feel like you're cheating, you can change the guessing feedback and still get a bonus/malus. For me, it's a fun mechanic ( with default feedback ), maybe not so much realistic but fun gameplay wise.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: If I Dont Use Zone Hitting, Will I Never Be Able to Hit Effectively?

I actually made a slider set to deal with this issue myself. I used to use Zone and just center swing, but now I use directional and I am loving it. I'd post a link but I am the lazyzz.

I suggest some time in batting practice to work out the interface/slider set that works best for you.