Hitting is RNG
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I really don't think it is random.
Hard to comprehend at times? Yes.
Inconsistent? Probably
Might it be bugged? Yes.Unless I am wrong there is a lot more computations going on when the ball hits the bat than many of us imagine. The hitting relies on Batter Attributes, pitcher attributes, pitch type, swing timing, PCI placement, swing type, etc.
But don't believe that there is some baked in RNG roll happening to determine if it is a hit or not.
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Thinking outside the box: Why does my pitching input not matter at all in this discussion? I am pretty good on this and sometimes, my opponents hit the ball pretty good. It just does not make sense (like these posts) … I think, this video game resembles the sport in a good way … is it perfect? No, but it is not RNG … and no, I do not work for SDS
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First, let’s clear up some misnomers:
• RNG = The dice roll that happens in every simulation sports game. Even if you and your opponent both make “perfect” swings, hidden probability tables determine if it’s a hit or an out.
• DDA/DDS = A separate mechanic that adjusts difficulty mid-game or between games to keep outcomes closer. This can mean making the winning player’s outcomes slightly worse or giving the losing player small boosts.
• You can have RNG without DDA, but if DDA exists, it uses RNG as its lever.⸻
Why things can feel “over the top” sometimes:
• Baseball is already a high-variance sport — in real life, the best hitters fail 70%+ of the time.
• This natural variance means SDS wouldn’t need huge boosts or nerfs to create the feeling of momentum swings — small changes can flip games.
• Online lag and PCI/timing interpretation can compound this, making any DDA effect (real or perceived) feel more extreme.⸻
The combo effect:
RNG absolutely exists — SDS has said so repeatedly. If DDA also exists (and I believe it does — EA has confirmed using it in their sports games, and it’s not inherently bad), then some players can get caught in both:
• You’re a good player with consistent inputs…
• You hit a bad RNG streak (lineouts, perfect swings that die at the wall)…
• And, if DDA is active, you might also be on the “handicap” side due to a win streak or skill gap vs. opponent.When RNG variance and DDA bias stack, it can feel like you’ve been nerfed — even if your skill hasn’t changed.
⸻
If SDS uses DDA, it could be for:
• Player retention — Keep weaker players from rage-quitting forever.
• Matchmaking stability — Avoid constant mercy-rule blowouts that thin the online pool.
• Long-term engagement — Close games are more memorable and keep people coming back.⸻
My view:
DDA isn’t necessarily bad if it’s subtle and still lets the better player win. I think SDS uses it, but doesn’t always rein it in, especially during extended bad RNG streaks. That’s where frustration builds.There’s not enough hard evidence to prove or disprove either side completely, so while people may disagree on whether DDA exists online, no one should deny that players sometimes have valid reasons to feel frustrated
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Interesting... this is the first I'm hearing of this...
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RNG is a necessary evil in sports games. It's how well the tune it. A great example is how we had way too many wild pitches in vs CPU modes. Wild pitches happen in baseball and RNG determines how often in a video game. This was tuned poorly for a while.
That said online play is more about connection IMO. Patience and pitch location take a back seat to PCI placement and timing. I get it that's it's frustrating when we hit a lot of Good/Good outs and your opponent hits a ball just late off his shoe string for 457 foot bomb but that pendulum swings both ways. It's luck in a far from perfect game but the player with better connection will win 8 out of 10 times.
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@Ledfoot_19_PSN I think you have it backwards. A lot of us running high fiber speeds experience some of the most lag. Geographical location matters a ton
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@RAisEdByGoAt_XBL said in Hitting is RNG:
@Ledfoot_19_PSN I think you have it backwards. A lot of us running high fiber speeds experience some of the most lag. Geographical location matters a ton
Definitely. Good point.
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@Dolenz_PSN said in Hitting is RNG:
I really don't think it is random.
Hard to comprehend at times? Yes.
Inconsistent? Probably
Might it be bugged? Yes.Unless I am wrong there is a lot more computations going on when the ball hits the bat than many of us imagine. The hitting relies on Batter Attributes, pitcher attributes, pitch type, swing timing, PCI placement, swing type, etc.
But don't believe that there is some baked in RNG roll happening to determine if it is a hit or not.
While your statement and breaking down are fairly well thought out and great arguments. There is actually an RNG roll element in the game. That's why you can literally go into BP and use the same hitter and have just fastballs down the middle and each swing (even perfect everytime) has a different result. Same as pitching take a 98 control pitcher and throw perfect pitches. Sometimes it's a called dot on the corner, next pitch exact same location called a ball. Happens all the time and people just say it's baseball ball, unfortunately this is a video and they try to throw random factors in to change the RNG roll. It really has nothing to do with anything but random number generation. Bronze fielder makes a spot on dive to stop a 112 mph grounder and then a diamond fielder stands there and looks like he's never played before. Again because of RNG roll for reaction and animation.
However the argument that skill has no factor is also completely ludicrous. That's why you see the top 1% be able to play like they do because thier skill allows them to be that much better then the 99%. Also why 9 out of 10 times if you match a player who only plays on all-star against a strictly HoF player they usually win. Because of the skill gap. But you still have to random fluke 74 mph hits where according to SDS aren't suppose to happen that much happen all the time.
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@SavageSteve74_PSN said in Hitting is RNG:
EA has confirmed using it in their sports games, and it’s not inherently bad), then some players can get caught in both:
And then immediately walked it back and tried to hide it because it began functioning in a far worse, much different manner
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See the majority of my losses this year come from players ranked well below me. And as the season has gone on or maybe more people have left the show the results are worse. The servers are worse. My goods only come into play 1 out of every 3-4 hits. To me personally it’s all getting worse quickly. The dynamic difficulty adjustments or RNG are increasing and probably do so as the season goes on to keep players engaged. But once again for me personally this is so prevalent it baffles my mind that we don’t see it discussed more often. I do see streamers who deal with it often this year. Sometimes they are good enough to overcome it or sometimes you find them shattering their controller at the end of their stream
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I've definetly squared some balls up that die and get the perfect perfect lineups to the corner infielders.
Today I hit a perfect perfect with Witt off kluber to the track (about 90 some power)
Definetly stuff like that but I may be in the minority that I think ranked has played better this year than any year. Pitch speeds are very consistent for me. Usually the only lag for me ends up being on the bases trying to steal.
I wonder how many just aren't using max hitters at shield woods max elevation field and they expect everything to leave. I know a ton of these creators primarily played at shield woods last year.
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So does this stuff not happen wayyyy more than not with you guys. The game has become unplayable. I can’t express enough that for me personally this game is becoming excrutiatinf to put a ball into play. I invite everyone to go to their post game results after a game and look at how many of your goods that looked perfect on PCI meter after hit did not in fact get into play. The number for me has been staggering. It’s unplayable. I even have opponents just accepting my friendly or vice versa because the game just isn’t enjoyable at that point through 9 innings when [censored] is happening almost every at bat. Is it servers? What is it ?
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@RAisEdByGoAt_XBL servers for sure. And they nerfed pitching and DEFENSE hard core this year. This is definitely the year of pitching dominance. Everyone i play online seems to be an elite pitcher. Everything is a dot or on the edge. Very rare to get a ball you can actually square up. I think that also has alot to do with it. Throw in the rng and constantly being unrewarded for good timing and pci swings and there ya go.
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@SavageSteve74_PSN said in Hitting is RNG:
... no one should deny that players sometimes have valid reasons to feel frustrated
Your post was well thought out and well explained. Personally (for what that matters), I agree with most of it.
But neither should anyone deny that some people are morons, and their frustration stems more from that and their lack of comprehension than from "valid reasons."
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When will people realize that just because a ball is perfectly hit, doesn't mean it will be a hit.
It could be perfectly hit to a fielder that perfectly fielded/caught it.
Bottom line. Get rid of the Pitch feedback and you won't have to worry about it.
Or better yet, don't read to much into the feedback. A lot of other factors are involved outside of what can be entered into coding.
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@SavageSteve74_PSN said in Hitting is RNG:
First, let’s clear up some misnomers:
• RNG = The dice roll that happens in every simulation sports game. Even if you and your opponent both make “perfect” swings, hidden probability tables determine if it’s a hit or an out.
• DDA/DDS = A separate mechanic that adjusts difficulty mid-game or between games to keep outcomes closer. This can mean making the winning player’s outcomes slightly worse or giving the losing player small boosts.
• You can have RNG without DDA, but if DDA exists, it uses RNG as its lever.⸻
Why things can feel “over the top” sometimes:
• Baseball is already a high-variance sport — in real life, the best hitters fail 70%+ of the time.
• This natural variance means SDS wouldn’t need huge boosts or nerfs to create the feeling of momentum swings — small changes can flip games.
• Online lag and PCI/timing interpretation can compound this, making any DDA effect (real or perceived) feel more extreme.⸻
The combo effect:
RNG absolutely exists — SDS has said so repeatedly. If DDA also exists (and I believe it does — EA has confirmed using it in their sports games, and it’s not inherently bad), then some players can get caught in both:
• You’re a good player with consistent inputs…
• You hit a bad RNG streak (lineouts, perfect swings that die at the wall)…
• And, if DDA is active, you might also be on the “handicap” side due to a win streak or skill gap vs. opponent.When RNG variance and DDA bias stack, it can feel like you’ve been nerfed — even if your skill hasn’t changed.
⸻
If SDS uses DDA, it could be for:
• Player retention — Keep weaker players from rage-quitting forever.
• Matchmaking stability — Avoid constant mercy-rule blowouts that thin the online pool.
• Long-term engagement — Close games are more memorable and keep people coming back.⸻
My view:
DDA isn’t necessarily bad if it’s subtle and still lets the better player win. I think SDS uses it, but doesn’t always rein it in, especially during extended bad RNG streaks. That’s where frustration builds.There’s not enough hard evidence to prove or disprove either side completely, so while people may disagree on whether DDA exists online, no one should deny that players sometimes have valid reasons to feel frustrated
One of the most probative posts I have read here. Very well done!
