MLB 15 The Show News Post

MLB 15 The Show: Zone Hitting Guide (Video)

11:28 AM - April 23, 2015 by RaychelSnr

This post is the first in a new series from Jake Berger entitled, "The Show Training 101". You can check Jake out on YouTube here.

Welcome to the first episode in my new series, The Show Training 101, where we’ll take an in-depth look at various mechanics and control schemes, analyze how they’re implemented in MLB 15 The Show, and explore the ways in which you can leverage your newfound knowledge to take your game to the next level.

Read More - MLB 15 The Show: Zone Hitting Guide (Video)

Game: MLB 15 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS Vita / PS3 / PS4Votes for game: 31 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 Wolverines05 @ 04/24/15 12:36 PM

that makes me so happy haha!!! make sure to share the youtube vid then!!! im hoping this can help grow my channel and it seems to be helping a lot of people out!

# 22 sbmnky @ 04/24/15 12:43 PM

Very cool, and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Can't wait to try. I try not to play with the PCI on, but will try with the outline ON - you made some solid points about speed and location of pitch. Well done.

# 23 joewillyjets @ 04/24/15 03:37 PM

holding the right trigger after the pitch does not list the pitch speed. i wish it did.

# 24 Wolverines05 @ 04/24/15 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joewillyjets


	holding the right trigger after the pitch does not list the pitch speed. i wish it did.

youre right... that something so simple that was in previous years... good catch though. i wrote that in the script assuming itd be in!!! my bad on that one. but seriously theres no good reason that little bit of info shouldnt be displayed.

# 25 agentlaw13 @ 04/24/15 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yausser1017


	This is a great video. I actually have been having some serious trouble hitting in this years game, and I tried 3 games using your tips in the video. I changed the position of my thumb on the left analog stick, and holy cow I can hit again. First game the other guy quit out at 7-0, I had 15 hits. Before that, I was lucky to have more than 5 hits. Great video, thanks!!!!

Same here man. I started hitting with zone in '14 once I heard pure analog (with stride) wasn't gonna be in 15. Adjusted pretty well when playing '14 but with '15, it has been tough and frustrating. I've welcomed the challenge and realize hitting in this year's game is tougher. But I haven't been getting the hits and stats that make the game feel realistic. I've had so many games in my franchise where my pitchers would throw a hell of a game only allowing 1-2 runs and we would end up losing due to my lack of hits. My pitchers hate me. Lol

I have now played about 10 games in my franchise since I read the article and changed my thumb position on the left stick. Sounds like it wouldn't help much, but man it has done wonders for my hitting! I haven't been racking up 15-20 hits a game or anything, but I'm getting realistic hit totals and variety. Also, my games are actually now competitive and I'm more confident at the dish. Still striking out from time to time but the small adjustment has made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the game. I now feel like I can turn my 36-35 2015 Indians around and make a playoff push (only trail the ChiSox 6 games for first in the division)!

Appreciate the video and the tips. Awesome job!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 26 Wolverines05 @ 04/24/15 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentlaw13


	Same here man. I started hitting with zone in '14 once I heard pure analog (with stride) wasn't gonna be in 15. Adjusted pretty well when playing '14 but with '15, it has been tough and frustrating. I've welcomed the challenge and realize hitting in this year's game is tougher. But I haven't been getting the hits and stats that make the game feel realistic. I've had so many games in my franchise where my pitchers would throw a hell of a game only allowing 1-2 runs and we would end up losing due to my lack of hits. My pitchers hate me. Lol I have now played about 10 games in my franchise since I read the article and changed my thumb position on the left stick. Sounds like it wouldn't help much, but man it has done wonders for my hitting! I haven't been racking up 15-20 hits a game or anything, but I'm getting realistic hit totals and variety. Also, my games are actually now competitive and I'm more confident at the dish. Still striking out from time to time but the small adjustment has made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the game. I now feel like I can turn my 36-35 2015 Indians around and make a playoff push (only trail the ChiSox 6 games for first in the division)! Appreciate the video and the tips. Awesome job! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

glad to hear youre having success!!! i was also thinking that the pci would work perfectly when trying to bunt. instead of just pressing a button, you should match the pci with the ball. and much like when hitting regularly, if you get on top of the ball, itll go on the ground. if you get under it, youll pop it up.

# 27 Bobhead @ 04/25/15 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolverines05


	when you try it, please let me know how it goes!!!

I tried it and I don't really know if I like this. It seems to lower my reaction speed quite a bit (ie that I have to move earlier because my thumb moves way slower in this position). Add to that it's a bit uncomfortable.

# 28 sbmnky @ 04/25/15 03:14 PM

My biggest problem is over extending the direction of my PCI in any direction - except up - even when I use the modified thumb placement. It seems like PCI placement is more important this year and I'm suffering severely at the plate. I've even had to reduce my hitting difficulty from HoF to AS.

In years past, I would never use contact or power buttons, but I may start to incorporate them into this year's offering.

3 questions that would put everyone's responses in context - for me at least:

1. What difficulty are you currently playing on?
2. What is your pitch speed?
3. Do you use contact and/or power buttons? Why?

# 29 Speedy @ 04/25/15 04:44 PM

Good video...concise and to the point

# 30 Wolverines05 @ 04/25/15 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbmnky


	In years past, I would never use contact or power buttons, but I may start to incorporate them into this year's offering. 3 questions that would put everyone's responses in context - for me at least: 1. What difficulty are you currently playing on? 2. What is your pitch speed? 3. Do you use contact and/or power buttons? Why?

I play on all star.

Pitch speed I use default settings

I only use power if I'm way ahead in the count or if i guess both pitch type and location correctly. even then, i use it cautiously. I use a contact swing if im deep in an at bat with two strikes with runners on base.

what bout you?

# 31 sbmnky @ 04/27/15 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolverines05


	I play on all star. Pitch speed I use default settings I only use power if I'm way ahead in the count or if i guess both pitch type and location correctly. even then, i use it cautiously. I use a contact swing if im deep in an at bat with two strikes with runners on base. what bout you?

Over the weekend, I bumped back to default hitting/pitching HoF - and default pitch speed - and started to hit the ball really well. Lots of singles and doubles, and I was spraying the ball over the field. But, I'm not hitting very many homers, which is why I was asking about power button.

Through 15 games of franchise, I had hit 3 HR. I must have hit 5-7 that were crushed (good timing, PCI right at the ball) that were caught at the wall. And I would see CPU miss with PCI and have early or late timing and hit a HR.

Are you guys seeing a lack of power? I'm really enjoying HoF in other aspects.

# 32 bravo1914 @ 04/27/15 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RangersCruz


	what if you just keep it at the middle and press x?

I think it will be fine but the problem is when you get in higher difficulty. The PCI is smaller

# 33 Wolverines05 @ 04/27/15 02:15 PM

So I actually bumped user power up two notches. power on default settings is definitely a bit low. I'll also make a slider video set that should be useful to a lot of people at some point.

# 34 aukevin @ 04/27/15 02:44 PM

One thing that would help my hitting would be if you could continue to move the PCI after pressing X. My coordination isn't always the best at moving the left stick before pressing x.

# 35 sbmnky @ 04/27/15 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolverines05


	So I actually bumped user power up two notches. power on default settings is definitely a bit low. I'll also make a slider video set that should be useful to a lot of people at some point.

Yeah, I ended up bumping power up two notches as well. I hit a couple HRs in the first game after the adjustment - both with LH hitters. One was pulled on a middle-in hanging CB and on to L-CF on an up and away FB. PCI was on point, but I was early and late, respectively, on the HRs. Neither felt cheap - but that could be because I was so happy to finally hit a HR!

# 36 Wolverines05 @ 04/27/15 04:52 PM

For anyone interested, I posted my directional hitting guide. you can take a look here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcAmxpCPLJ4

I may try to make a new thread for directional hitting.

# 37 mvp_status @ 04/27/15 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbmnky


	Over the weekend, I bumped back to default hitting/pitching HoF - and default pitch speed - and started to hit the ball really well. Lots of singles and doubles, and I was spraying the ball over the field. But, I'm not hitting very many homers, which is why I was asking about power button. Through 15 games of franchise, I had hit 3 HR. I must have hit 5-7 that were crushed (good timing, PCI right at the ball) that were caught at the wall. And I would see CPU miss with PCI and have early or late timing and hit a HR. Are you guys seeing a lack of power? I'm really enjoying HoF in other aspects.

Yea I was experiencing the lack of HR's also. I can definitely co-sign moving the power slider up a few notches. I bumped the power slider up to 7 and am seeing a much more realistic rate of longballs now. I was on All-Star and I only move the PCI in hitters counts, so that may have had something to do with the drought. But I'm glad I can enjoy the game the way I'm used to playing now, up until I bumped the power slider up, I was thinking about the trade-in value for this game lol

# 38 gman2774 @ 04/27/15 06:10 PM

Only human power or cpu as well?

# 39 KingV2k3 @ 04/27/15 06:42 PM

I've been using Zone for years, but since I like the "clean screen" look, I don't have the PCI visible...

This video gave me the idea to go into practice mode with it on and brush up on coordinating the movement of the L3 stick more tightly with the button press...

I used to just move it / hold it there and THEN decide to swing, as opposed to moving it in conjunction with the swing, which is much more effective...

I can now visualize the outline of the PCI with it off better as well...

Sometimes, it's a good idea to back to reviewing the basics in practice mode, no matter how long you've been playing the title!

That being said:

My favorite way to use Zone is to drop it down to the lower half of the zone to protect against the CPU's propensity to pound that area, and also defend against sinkers / curves / sliders / changeups that drop...

If I see or sense that the pitch is coming in higher, I just let go of the stick and it reorients itself to the middle (default)...

Pretty basic, but "foolproof" application:

Hold / access (and possibly) release...

# 40 iLLWiLL @ 04/28/15 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingV2k3


	That being said: My favorite way to use Zone is to drop it down to the lower half of the zone to protect against the CPU's propensity to pound that area, and also defend against sinkers / curves / sliders / changeups that drop...

^^^ This is how I use the PCI/zone hitting as well. I of course have issues hitting high pitches, though. Perhaps I should try letting go of the stick for high pitches like you do ...

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