PCI placement with Zone Hitting

[buziii]

I've played MLBTS for several years and had settled on Directional Hitting. I decided to give Zone Hitting another try a couple of weeks ago and would like some insights to help me. First of all, I'm older, slower reflexes, and have no desire to become an expert at this game. I'd just like to make hitting a bit easier for me.

Do most "normal" zone hitters chase the pitch around the zone with their PCI or put in an area pre-pitch and wait for their pitch? I don't think I can move it around successfully during the pitch. I tend to lean it a bit lower than middle to influence getting it in the air, unless I want a ground ball. I'll lean it even lower with a low-ball pitcher, or if I anticipate a low pitch with two strikes.

Does it make sense to lean it inside to try to influence opposite field hitting?

I'd appreciate some insights on approaches for zone hitters.

[FindingTim]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

I find myself "guessing" pre-pitch based on a hunch - but honestly, even if I guess the pitch type and location, it's still a challenge to time it correctly and keep the PCI in the right spot.

With a guy like Kluber I'll keep it a little lower in the zone, sort of prep for the sinker, and work from there.

Take this with a grain of salt. I've been winning with pitching, but my hitting is challenged. I probably go yard once every 10 games or so.

[MightyMaxxx13]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

I’ve been using zone for the past few years, playing consistently on hall of fame and occasionally online as well. I find I have to change my approach every so often to break out of slumps, but for the most part I’m trying to keep the PCI near the middle of the plate and looking for a fastball. If you start hunting pitches on the edges of the plate you’ll get into the habit of jerking the PCI. Trust me, it’s much more frustrating to miss a meatball because you jerked the PCI down than to chase a slider off the plate every so often (or pretty often, if you’re me).

Also, don’t watch the PCI. Watch the pitcher through the duration of his delivery. Track the ball out of his hand and follow its path all the way into the zone. If you have to, take batting practice in practice mode for 20 minutes before hopping into a game.

[garry1221]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

I'm in a similar spot. I'm not great with the sticks, and always had issues tracking the ball. I don't know if the PCI getting sliced made the difference, or if something in the mechanics changed, but it's been easier to track the ball and move the PCI this year. I have my PCI set to fade outer/center 3 dots, leaving only the middle visible. I'll typically hover towards the bottom of the zone. I find it easier to move the pci up than down.

[Will I Am]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

My problem with guessing is when I guess correctly I'm like holy crap I'm gonna kill it only to swing way to early.

[bkrich83]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

My issue is my inability to lay off pitches I know I can do anything with. Particularly fastballs up and out of the zone and off-speed down in the zone. My chase % must be through the roof. I do have guess pitch disabled as well.

All that said, while I occasionally will play a game on Analog or Directional, I do find zone hitting by far the most fun and rewarding method to play with.

[buziii]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

Also, don’t watch the PCI. Watch the pitcher through the duration of his delivery. Track the ball out of his hand and follow its path all the way into the zone. If you have to, take batting practice in practice mode for 20 minutes before hopping into a game.

Yes, I focus on the pitcher and his release I fade all the PCI elements to make it easier to focus on the pitch. I don't try to move the PCI during the pitch. I do notice in the post-pitch feedback, the PCI apparently moves, typically up. Maybe I unintentionally move it up when I'm pushing the swing button. So I'm focusing on keeping the controller still when swinging. Easier said than done.

[IgotSyphillis]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

I think the best way to do it is the put the PCI in the upper part of the zone pre-pitch. That way if the pitch is up, you’re already there. If the pitch is down the middle, you just let go, and if the pitch is low you just push down. So you really are only moving the PCI down on low pitches so you’re now worried about jerking the PCI all over the place.

[Padgoi]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

My issue is my inability to lay off pitches I know I can do anything with. Particularly fastballs up and out of the zone and off-speed down in the zone. My chase % must be through the roof. I do have guess pitch disabled as well.

All that said, while I occasionally will play a game on Analog or Directional, I do find zone hitting by far the most fun and rewarding method to play with.

Same issue here. I chase entirely too much high cheese and low offspeed stuff. And the cpu knows it, they feed it to me all day.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[buziii]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

My issue is my inability to lay off pitches I know I can do anything with. Particularly fastballs up and out of the zone and off-speed down in the zone. My chase % must be through the roof. I do have guess pitch disabled as well.

All that said, while I occasionally will play a game on Analog or Directional, I do find zone hitting by far the most fun and rewarding method to play with.

I agree with this too. But I chased that crap on Directional too!

I also have found I enjoy playing with zone hitting more. I also think I get higher exit velos with zone, and not as much weak contact. I don't know that I'm getting more hits, but it feels better. I also like the increased feedback, so I know a little more about the swing I just made, and why it did or didn't go well.

[Fiddy]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

My issue is my inability to lay off pitches I know I can do anything with. Particularly fastballs up and out of the zone and off-speed down in the zone. My chase % must be through the roof. I do have guess pitch disabled as well.

All that said, while I occasionally will play a game on Analog or Directional, I do find zone hitting by far the most fun and rewarding method to play with.

Same thing here, I have trouble at times laying off pitches with the pci. Directional and Analog I seem to have decent success but you don't get the variety you get with Zone IMO.

[bkrich83]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

Same issue here. I chase entirely too much high cheese and low offspeed stuff. And the cpu knows it, they feed it to me all day.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Yup and I tell myself to lay off those pitches before the pitch and I still end up chasing. Once the CPU finds you chase those, and the CPU confidence for that pitch rises they will continue to pound you with those pitches.

So frustrating but in a good way. I don't mind being punished for my lack of plate discipline.

[bkrich83]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

I agree with this too. But I chased that crap on Directional too!

I also have found I enjoy playing with zone hitting more. I also think I get higher exit velos with zone, and not as much weak contact. I don't know that I'm getting more hits, but it feels better. I also like the increased feedback, so I know a little more about the swing I just made, and why it did or didn't go well.

Same thing here, I have trouble at times laying off pitches with the pci. Directional and Analog I seem to have decent success but you don't get the variety you get with Zone IMO.

You guys both alluded to it, but I for sure find a much wider hit and contact variety on zone.

[speedkills]

Re: PCI placement with Zone Hitting

As I've gotten old(er), my stick skills have suffered which is why I don't bother playing multiplayer for the most part. But I've always used Zone Hitting/PCI in baseball games going back to World Series Baseball '95 on Sega Genesis (see old above). I start with PCI centered and look for fastballs down the middle. I focus on the release point of the pitcher and try to track the ball from there. I will move the PCI but I pretty much suck at low breaking balls. I've gone back and forth using guess pitches with feedback on/off. I'm currently using quadrant feedback and protecting the lower part of the zone when I get behind in the count. If I'm down 0-2 I'll start using contact swings until I even up the count some.


I tried using directional hitting and just can't do it. It gives up too much control for me.