2 weeks Ago
MLB The Show 25 I’m a few hours into my MLB The Show 25 review, and I’m already seeing users online agonizing as they try to hit the ball consistently. This isn’t new. It’s something that happens every year around the launch of MLB The Show .
I usually watch the beginners complain and either improve on their own or simply fall by the wayside as they tap out because of what they don’t know. This year, I’ve decided to lend a helping hand. Don’t get me wrong.
I’m not a digital Barry Bonds (man, do I wish this was the year he was added to the game), but I don’t struggle to hit nearly as much as I used to years ago. There is an easy approach for users who simply have a hard time using Zone hitting. While it is the most commonly used hitting mechanic in the game, it isn’t the easiest.
If you’re really struggling, the simple fix is to switch to Timing hitting. If this is your hitting setting, you don’t have to worry about location. The bat will find the ball, and your level of contact and power is based on how well you time your swing.
Your hitter’s attributes will take over from there. If you choose Timing as the setting and then choose Dynamic difficulty, you should find a nice sweet spot. The CPU pitching will improve with your success, but when you start to struggle for too long, the difficulty will adjust with you.
If that sounds like a great experience for you and kills some of the agony you’re experiencing trying to hit the ball, you can probably head over to your console to enjoy yourself. Here’s how you choose Timing as your hitting setting. From the Main Menu Navigate to Settings: From the main menu, scroll to the gear icon labeled "Settings" (usually in the top-right corner or within the options tile) and select it.
Select Gameplay Settings: In the Settings menu, choose "Gameplay" to access the options that control how the game plays. Find Hitting Interface: Scroll down to the section labeled "Hitting Interface" or "Batting Controls" (the exact wording might vary slightly). Change to Timing: You’ll see a list of hitting styles: "Zone," "Directional," and "Timing.
" Highlight the current setting and switch it to "Timing" by pressing left or right on your controller (e.g., D-pad or analog stick) until "Timing" is selected.
Apply and Save: Back out of the menu by pressing B (Xbox) or Circle (PlayStation) until you’re prompted to save. Confirm to apply the changes. This setting will now be your default for all game modes unless overridden in a specific mode’s options.
In-Game (During a Match) Pause the Game: While in a game, press the Start/Options button to bring up the pause menu. Go to Settings: Select "Gameplay Settings" or "Controller Settings" from the pause menu options. Adjust Hitting Interface: Look for the "Hitting Interface" option.
It’ll display your current setting (e.g., Zone).
Change it to "Timing" using the directional controls. Confirm Changes: Exit the menu, and the game will apply the new setting immediately for that session. Note: This might only affect the current game unless you save it as your default in the main menu settings afterward.
However, if you want a little more challenge and want to be able to hop online to find a little success against others, you’re going to need to pick up Zone hitting principles. There are two best practices that helped me improve my hitting with the Zone setting. First, I sit on the pitch that gives me the most problems.
Usually, that’s a big-time fastball up and in. If I do that, I can usually react to another pitch—especially something off-speed. Will you still struggle against pitchers with A-1 stuff and/or users who are really good at mixing up their pitches? Yes, but that’s part of what makes it challenging and fun—at least in my opinion.
Second, I pop into batting practice and customize the settings so that I see a steady diet of the pitch I struggle to hit the most. Again, that’s probably a fastball up and in. The more you see it, the better you’ll be at recognizing it early enough to turn on it.
Here’s a bonus: MLB The Show 25 has a new feature called Ambush Hitting. It’s a nerfed, more realistic version of Guess the Pitch. If you are looking inside and the pitch is headed there, your Plate Coverage Indicator grows, and you get a boost to your timing window.
This will help you make better contact. However, if you pick the wrong side of the plate, your PCI shrinks, and you are penalized in your timing window. note, you can’t use Ambush Hitting with Timing setting because there is no PCI.
Armed with those principles, you should see some improvement in your hitting. Be on the lookout for my full review of MLB The Show 25 on Monday, March 17. MLB The Show 25 hit early access on March 14 and releases fully on March 18.
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