It must be an approach thing then because the only time I get the "black hole" effect is when most of the circle is in the strike zone and I mis-time the pulse. I play on Legend with consistency (the slider that controls the speed of the pulse) at 2 and the only time I miss in the middle of the zone is when I'm being careless. I get the feeling that people are too afraid to aim way out of the zone, because when I'm trying to clip the corner I usually aim in the other batter's box and I either miss out of the zone or paint the corner...