Okay, let’s talk about finding a pitching style in MLB The Show 23. When I first fired up the game, like a lot of folks, I just wanted to get on the mound and start throwing heat.
Starting Out – The Basics
I jumped right into some games. The default setting, I think it was Meter pitching back then? Yeah, the one with the bar that goes up and down. You time the button presses. It was… alright. Simple enough to understand. I could throw strikes, mostly. But sometimes, man, it felt like the ball just wouldn’t go where I wanted it, even with good timing. Like, perfect release, and the pitch still catches too much plate. Got frustrating, especially online.
Exploring Other Options
So, I decided I needed to experiment. Went into the settings, saw all those different pitching interfaces. Looked a bit confusing at first.
- Pulse Pitching: Tried that one next. The circle pulses, you hit the button when it’s smallest. Seemed easy, maybe too easy? It felt kinda random sometimes. Like I wasn’t really controlling the pitch location as much as just timing a pulse. Didn’t feel very involved. Dropped that pretty quick.
- Classic / Pure Analog: Then I messed around with Analog. You use the right stick. Pull back, push forward, aim it. This felt more connected, you know? Like I was actually throwing the ball. It took some getting used to, definitely had some wild pitches early on. Getting the timing and direction smooth was a challenge. Liked the concept, though. Felt more like real pitching.
Diving into Pinpoint
Heard a lot about Pinpoint Pitching. People online swore by it. Looked intimidating, gotta be honest. All those little stick movements, tracing patterns. Seemed like homework.
But I figured, hey, gotta give it a real shot. Went into practice mode. Started slow. Traced those patterns for fastballs, curveballs, sliders. It was rough at first. My timing was off, the trace accuracy was terrible. Ball was going everywhere but the catcher’s mitt. Felt like learning to write all over again.
Here’s the thing though: I stuck with it. Spent a good few hours just practicing. Different pitchers, different pitches. Slowly, very slowly, it started to click. You get a feel for the rhythm of each pitch type. The fastball ‘L’ shape, the curveball loop, the slider slide. It became muscle memory.
What Worked for Me
After really grinding it out, Pinpoint started to feel amazing. Why? Control. Simple as that.
When you nail the timing and the trace? That ball goes exactly where you aim it. Dotting corners, burying breaking balls in the dirt… it felt powerful. Mistakes were clearly my mistakes – bad trace, bad timing. Not some random outcome from a meter or a pulse.
Pure Analog was my close second. It still offers good control and feels intuitive. If Pinpoint feels like too much work, Analog is a really solid choice, way better than Meter or Pulse in my opinion.
My Final Takeaway
So, for me? After trying them all? Pinpoint Pitching ended up being the best. It took the most practice, no doubt about it. But the level of control you get is just unmatched. It makes pitching way more engaging and rewarding when you execute perfectly.
If you got the patience to learn it, I’d say give Pinpoint a serious try. If not, Pure Analog is a great fallback that still gives you a good sense of control. Just gotta find what feels right for you and put in some practice time.
