Former players will often say that hitting is the hardest thing in any sport that an athlete can be asked to do. That may be true, but in MLB The Show 23, bad pitching settings make the game unplayable. There are five options and each of them has strengths and weaknesses.
Gamers should first play around with these settings, but that doesn't lock them in forever. It's common for MLB The Show 23 players to change up their style when their in-game player or out-of-game individual talent increases. When a player is using the correct pitching settings for them, the game becomes much easier.
Pinpoint
- Recommended for hardcore gamers and pitchers with bad control stats
- Highest ceiling, lowest floor
Many gaming veterans end up using pinpoint pitching after loads of practice. It requires using the right thumbstick to trace a pattern with just the right timing so that the cursor reaches the points as the circle comes to a close.
There are many ways this can go wrong and therefore requires a hardcore gamer to get it right. Some of the best starting pitchers have great control stats and therefore the liability for being less-than-perfect with pinpoint pitching is not worth it. But when using a pitcher with a poor control stat, this setting, when executed perfectly, can provide maximum accuracy to counteract the problem.
Meter
- Recommended for average gamers with quick reflexes and high-control pitchers
- High ceiling, low floor
Meter pitching is right in the middle when it comes to complexity. Players will have to press a button when the meter reaches the top of the zone for speed and then once again as the meter marker slams down, pressing the button as close to the lower zone as possible.
Some of the best relief pitchers in baseball have great control and this will work nicely. It's very easy to hit the maximum speed with meter pitching but the second zone can be tricky since the meter is moving faster and the area is smaller. Players with a higher control stat will find that their second zone is wider, making meter pitching much more viable.
Pure Analog
- Recommended for average gamers with great thumbstick skills and high-velocity pitchers
- High ceiling, low floor
While meter pitching deals with buttons, pure analog pitching is all about thumbstick skills. Pull back on the right thumbstick to get the meter falling slowly down. Then, when the meter is in the zone, slam the thumbstick in the direction of the red zone.
Because the initial meter is so slow, this makes it more accurate than metered pitching because the zone is easier to hit on both ends. Against players with a perfectly-crafted batting stance, gamers that use this will want to execute the move quickly for higher velocity.
Pulse
- Recommended for novice gamers and high-velocity pitchers
- Low ceiling, high floor
Unlike the other three options so far, pulse pitching does not have a way to increase or decrease velocity. As a result, the pitcher being used should have a high-velocity attribute because the gamer can't help speed things up.
Wearing the best equipment available can help with this. Pulse requires players to press a button as the zone is at its smallest which is not all that difficult to time. Even pitchers who have average control stats should find they can regularly hit a specific area.
Classic
- Recommended for non-gamers and pitchers with incredible stats
- Lowest ceiling, highest floor
With a simple button press, this setting will simply throw the ball based on the pitcher's current statistics. Pitchers with great control and velocity will find that this is the most reliable way to play while those with bad statistics will have inconsistent results.
When using one of the best teams in the game, this can be a great setting for kids and non-gamers to get into the game. It's simple and can be effective depending on who is on the mound.
MLB The Show 23 is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.