Alright, guys, so I wanted to get better at diving in MLB The Show 23. I’m not the greatest at it, and honestly, I’ve seen some amazing catches online that I just had to try and replicate. So, here’s how my journey went, from total flailing mess to, well, slightly less of a flailing mess.
Getting Started: Figuring Out the Buttons (Duh!)
First things first, I needed to actually understand the controls. I mean, I thought I knew them, but clearly, I was missing something. I hopped into practice mode – just me, a batter, and an outfielder. I spent a good chunk of time just throwing the ball up and trying to dive.
The basic dive button, I found, is the right trigger (R2 on PlayStation, I think it’s RT on Xbox?). But just hitting that made my player do this awkward, slow-motion belly flop. Not exactly what I was going for. I also tested throw with R1, it can make a amazing catch sometimes!
The “Aha!” Moment: It’s All About Timing (and Angles!)
After a lot of trial and error (and I mean a lot), I realized it wasn’t just about pressing the button. It was about when I pressed it, and where my player was positioned.
Here’s what I figured out:
- Early is better than late. If you wait until the ball is practically in your glove, you’re gonna miss it. You gotta anticipate the ball’s trajectory.
- Run towards the ball, then dive. Don’t just stand there and expect to magically snag it. Get a running start!
- Use the left stick to steer. This was a game-changer. I could actually adjust my player’s position mid-dive to get a better angle on the ball.
Practice, Practice, Practice (and Some Frustration)
So, I spent hours just practicing. I’d go into games against the CPU, deliberately put myself in situations where I had to dive. I missed a lot. I mean, a LOT. I probably gave up a bunch of extra bases, and my teammates were probably cursing me out (if they were real, that is).
But slowly, I started to get the hang of it. I started making those spectacular catches, the kind that make you feel like a baseball god. It’s still not perfect, and I definitely whiff sometimes, but the improvement was huge.
My Final Tips for Diving Glory
Here’s my hard-earned wisdom, summarized:
- Practice mode is your friend. Seriously, spend time there.
- Don’t be afraid to mess up. You’re gonna look silly sometimes. It’s part of the process.
- Watch replays. If you make a great catch, watch it back and see exactly what you did right. If you miss, watch it back and see what you did wrong.
- Be patient. It takes time to get good at this. Don’t get discouraged!
- Try R1 and R2. Try different diving catches with R1 or R2.
Keep practicing and I think both of us can catch the ball perfectly!
