r/MLBTheShow • u/Ardnekz • 1d ago
Question Hitting Problems; PS5
I play on PS5 and I’m very low ranked. I play a decent amount of online but I feel like no matter what I can’t see pitches or do better hitting. Are there any tips anyone can give me to improve on my hitting?
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u/BarNecessary6506 6h ago
Stick to offline. Be patient at the plate and wait for a pitch you know you can crush.
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u/notbrandonzink 20h ago
I’ll give you some tips that have helped me the most (mainly CS online player but I’ll stumble into WS here and there), in order from easiest to hardest to implement:
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Turn off your PCI. No visuals, it’ll take a game or two to get used to but it’s helped me a ton. I used to be late on a lot of stuff because I think my brain was waiting for the PCI to get there before hitting X, now the PCI movement and button timing feel more independent.
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Get one of the gamer freak attachments for your left joystick. Doesn’t matter which, I use one that doesn’t raise it much but gives me a lot more control and grip. They last for a year of solid play (I take it off for other games) and cost $15-20.
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Practice sitting on pitches and don’t be afraid to strike out looking. My “default” is sitting up and in fastball, then reacting. Once I feel like I’m getting the pattern of my opponent down, I’ll switch it up some PAs. No strikes, I’m sitting a single location and pitch, trying to guess what the first pitch will be. One strike, I’m sitting on an area, usually a quadrant of the zone. Two strikes, back to up and in and react from there. Don’t be afraid to use some contact swings early in the game, a perfect perfect contact swing can still be gone with all the 99s. You’ll see more pitches, get more walks, and tire out their starter. I score a majority of my runs from the 5th inning onwards.
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Be early, be under. I’m still working on this one, but if I struggling to hit a guys fastball, I’ll think that before each pitch. Early and under on a fastball and it’s probably a bomb, you’ll look silly against other pitches. But I’d rather a guy not want to throw fastballs in the zone than just be spamming them and I’m fouling them off.
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Play on a monitor. Doesn’t have to be super nice or anything, but playing on a big TV feels like playing underwater to me, even in game mode.
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u/Mr-Cheek-Clapper 1d ago
Have you tried buying a new monitor, controller, hardware, gaming chair, changing your ps5 time zone and enabling your vpn? That’s what helped me hit better.
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u/OneRepresentative424 33m ago
Underrated comment. I think. I hope this is satire. If this is an MLBTS tragic showing us the bs a Sony company makes their own console owners go through to play a pretty simple game competitively? I’m here for it 😂
You forgot buying an Xbox so your Sony owned game runs better 🫠
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u/Far_Violinist6222 1d ago
Force yourself to take pitches. With zero strikes im waiting on a specific portion of the zone (like up and in). One strike I will only swing at one half of the plate (like only swinging at an inside pitch). With 2 strikes im swinging at anything close to the zone of course
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u/RogerUnc 1d ago
Being patient at the plate was the single biggest factor in me becoming better at hitting. If you are seeing under 10 pitches every half inning online, you probably need to start looking and taking more. Pick your spots and areas. You don't have to be good at hitting every pitch, you need to be good enough at finding the pitch you want.
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u/notbrandonzink 20h ago
Agreed, 15 pitches an inning is my goal, even if I’m not producing much offense. Easier if you’re getting hits, but you can still knock a starter you’re struggling with out in the 6th or 7th that way.
1
u/MGoBlueDO 1d ago
What kind of tv or monitor do you use? It could be lagging. I like to move the pci like it’s a catchers glove. When the player lifts his left that’s when I swing. There is change in stride with fastballs vs offspeed. That helps me tell what is coming.
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u/Bakpaksamuel 1d ago
You should mention how long you’ve been playing too. Think that’s a big factor.
For me (playing for about a year)…
Watch to ball from the release point. Don’t keep your eye there, work your way up or down.
Hardware is important. Got to have a good monitor and good internet. Also hear that Xbox is the better platform to play on btw.
While playing online, try to get to know your opponent. What does he throw in 3-2 counts. Is he favoring a part of the box?
Your batters stance is telling you what’s coming. Didn’t pick this one up for a while but depending on the card/player you’re using, they have a windup while the ball is coming your way. I tend to like batters that have a high knee batter stance because it helps me time the pitch (this is something that becomes super important in the higher levels)
It’s a game, try to have fun. Whenever I get my ass kicked or start getting pissed, things get worse imo. I remember that this is a game and I’m doing it because how fun this CAN be.
Hope this helps
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u/Smart-Bite9306 1d ago
Have you tried using the hitting depth of field? And try focusing on the release point on every pitch. Use the batting practice before playing to get your timing down.
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u/Ardnekz 1d ago
I haven’t tried the hitting depth, also, how should I focus on the release point?
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u/BlindSwaggNinja 1d ago
When the pitcher is letting go of the ball is where you want to try and start tracking the ball.
I usually just watch the guy throw a couple pitches so I can kinda figure out where his release point is.
If you go into batting practice you can watch a guy throw as many pitches as you’d like to get the hang of it.
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