My return to Analog Hitting

[Black59Razr]

So, I was ready to return TheShow and wait for Madden. I got so sick of zone hitting. Not bashing the game at all; best sports game I have ever played; I just reached my limit. Tried timing hitting and hated that. So I decided to give analog hitting another shot.

Wow, I love this game again! I am probably going to keep this game all winter.

This was the first time I tried analog hitting since the patch. I had a hard time with it for the first few games. So I played as the NL allstars against some scrub pitcher; hitting only. After killing him for two games, I decided to try it out for real. The hit variety is different. I wouldn't say there is more variety; its just different. There is a lot more jam shots, duck snorts, and dying quails. Zone hitting was either an out or a rocket for a hit. Home runs are about the same. There seems to be less doubles and line drives. But this is based on only a 4-5 game sample.

The biggest, rather only, hurdle I had to overcome was pulling back on the analog stick. It was very hard for me to concentrate on the pitcher's release while moving the stick down. I wrote this thread because I think this may be every sim player's problem; that is forced to play on zone hitting; like me. The follow through, analog stick up, is no problem. Pushing up on the analog stick takes just as much concentration as pressing the swing button.

When I swing at a bad pitch, 90% of the time its because I lost my concentration on the delivery when I was pulling back. 90% of my good swings are because of the opposite; I was able to concentrate on the release; putting the back swing in the back of my mind.

Analog hitting can become easier that zone hitting, once you have learned how to automatically pull back the stick. I have yet to make this automatic. I have to tell myself to pull back everytime.

It adds a new element to hitting. You can now feel why a weak hitter muscled out a homerun, or how you got a bloop single with a pitcher. Also, you feel why your #3 hitter popped up a 2-0 fastball down the middle. Man, crushing a homerun feels so smooth! There is was more feel than zone hitting.

As far as different player's strides, I stride the same with every player and don't see much of a difference. Hanley's long stride and Albert's no stride work with the same analog stick timing.

The only hitting slider I adjusted is solid hits to 3; which may be why I am seeing less line drives & doubles. The only problem is not being able to influence a groundball or flyball. But I will take that 1 problem over zone or timing any day.

[DJ]

Do you just push straight up or do you push up and the direction the pitch is headed? That was always my issue; all my swings showed the PCI in the left corner. I'm fine with the upswing by my reactions aren't fast enough to also push to the left or right.

[Black59Razr]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJ

Do you just push straight up or do you push up and the direction the pitch is headed? That was always my issue; all my swings showed the PCI in the left corner. I'm fine with the upswing by my reactions aren't fast enough to also push to the left or right.

I always attempt to swing straight. I always use contact swing with 2 strikes, so I don't really have an issue trying to cover inside/outside. Moving it left/right is way to hard for me.

[jacory12]

Makes me want to give this a shot...what are your settings/sliders?

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Black59Razr

I always attempt to swing straight. I always use contact swing with 2 strikes, so I don't really have an issue trying to cover inside/outside. Moving it left/right is way to hard for me.

So just going down and up is providing good results? What difficulty level? I agree that L/R is too tough. My biggest issue in the pas was pulling pitches with left-handed hitters.

[Black59Razr]

Quote: Originally Posted by jacory12

Makes me want to give this a shot...what are your settings/sliders?

All Star Analog hitting
All visual indicators off; strike zone, pitch info, everything
All hitting sliders at 5; except solid hits at 3
All umpire stuff default

Quote: Originally Posted by DJ

So just going down and up is providing good results? What difficulty level? I agree that L/R is too tough. My biggest issue in the pas was pulling pitches with left-handed hitters.

Just straight up and down; I have less contact and more power than zone. But I used to play 6 contact, 4 power, 3 solid hits when I was on zone. I could not find any popular analog sliders, so I just started with everything at 5 and solid hits at 3. If I keep slugging high and on basing low, I may go back to contact 6, power 4.

On another note, when they tweek/improve analog hitting for next year, I don't want to be 2 years behind.

[jacory12]

Quote: Originally Posted by Black59Razr

All Star Analog hitting All visual indicators off; strike zone, pitch info, everything All hitting sliders at 5; except solid hits at 3 All umpire stuff default Just straight up and down; I have less contact and more power than zone. But I used to play 6 contact, 4 power, 3 solid hits when I was on zone. I could not find any popular analog sliders, so I just started with everything at 5 and solid hits at 3. If I keep slugging high and on basing low, I may go back to contact 6, power 4. On another note, when they tweek/improve analog hitting for next year, I don't want to be 2 years behind.

Thanks man I'll try them out shortly. And what about your CPU pitching sliders? 5 as well?

[Black59Razr]

Quote: Originally Posted by jacory12

Thanks man I'll try them out shortly. And what about your CPU pitching sliders? 5 as well?

Reliever stamina at 0; everything else default 5.

You know, its funny how instinctual checking your swing is. I thought I would have a hard time trying to think about checking my swing, but its so natural; just release it even if you start moving it up. Unlike zone, I almost always knows how the check swing appeal will be called; great feel.