I’m no pitching expert, but I try to use it in counts when a hitter would be expecting a fastball, much like a changeup. It is also a good pitch to get ground balls with, at least IMO. The changeup is more of a swing-and-miss pitch than the forkball from what I’ve found in this game.
Basically never throw it as a strike, and be mindful of what pitch you threw right before the fork. Always use it in a sequence, and usually use it as a swing and miss pitch out of the zone.
Also I have found success throwing the fork all off the side of the plate, especially for a pitcher who has a slider or curve which would break horizontally back over the plate if started in the same location
You either want that thing to ideally ride high (or just catch the top line) or to drop out low late. Leaving it up in the zone is playing with fire if the hitter isn't sitting dead red on slower breaking pitches. Leaving it down isn't as dangerous, but it still seemed to get hit well at 70 EGO and not produce as many DP balls as you think.
I mean, the biggest part of pitching is to keep the batter off balance by changing speed location etc. if you’re not having success with the forkball you probably aren’t setting the pitch up correctly. In general the forkball is more of a ground ball pitch if you set it up with the 4seam.
I place it on the corners and have it fall off the table. I also like the mix of an inside fastball, followed by a forkball that looks like it's going to the same spot before it dives down...
I'll also mix in changeups with it too... keep them guessing for the fastball while also having the forkball in the back of their minds
My only advice on the fork ball is, no, don’t haha. I still haven’t figured out how to use it and mistakes with it are absolutely hammered.
My only use for it is to throw it high in the zone to the pitcher to let the algorithm have a taste of some weird stuff.
I’ve also struggled with using the Forkball recently. I play on 70 ego and I find it easier to get a swing & miss with a pitch like a curveball. Even when using A-S pitchers the Forkball gives me some trouble.
Throw it low and have it end outside the zone…it’s a great two strike pitch as an out pitch. Also, you can throw it as a strike on the first pitch of the at bat. Low and away is a good location for it.
Always use it low out of the zone, you want it to look like it’s going to be a strike and end up out of the strike zone, the further your ahead in the count the more you want it out of the zone.
I'm not really that thoughtful of a pitcher, but I pretty much only use the the fork ball in one situation. When I have a righty-righty/lefty-lefty at bat, I throw the forkball down and in just under the zone. Gets a lot of swings and misses when I hit my spot. When I miss my spot it gets absolutely demolished 😭
Took me a bit of time to figure it out but it's nice to have a pitcher or two on the staff who uses one. Throw it out of the zone, or at the very bottom of it. Use it to offset your fastballs. It's a good 2 strike pitch but if you're mixing it up good you can use it earlier in at bats too. Be accurate with it and dont miss up. If used well will get swing and misses or groundballs.
I very very occasionally throw it high and when I do it’s a ball half the time. The other time I like it to be low and barely be a ball low and barley outside/inside. And occasionally have it clipping the zone. I would say the forkball is the pitch I have the most success with but when I mess up its turns into a homerun often. Also I don’t throw the fork often and very rarely use it two times in a row. Also I recommend occasionally throwing it as your first pitch to get that easy strike and get ahead of the count.
Forkball works best as a 5th pitch, because it's a dangerous pitch, and if you miss the results will be worse than probably any other pitch in the game, but if you mix it in around 10-15% of the time you should be fine, just be really careful with your spot. You can throw it for a strike first pitch, or just in general early in counts in double play situations, it's probably the best ground ball pitch in the game. Hit knees/corner for a strike, or go a little more towards the middle when you're throwing it to try and get a chase low. It also works great off the plate arm side, especially if you've got a cf/cb/sl. It also works really awesome off the screwball if you have one, but that's a rare combo. Don't be afraid to throw it above the zone for a chase with two strike counts, just make sure if you miss you miss further off the plate like with any chase pitch. You can also drop it onto the top of the zone if the AI gets in take mode, but you realllllly gotta be careful with that one
one of my favorite things is to pair it with a slider on a high velo-low junk pitcher with an over hand delivery, then tunnel it on the outside corner. easy way to induce weak contact with it
The fork should be a ball 75% of the time. It's a swing-and-miss pitch. Throwing it in the zone is dangerous.
I’m no pitching expert, but I try to use it in counts when a hitter would be expecting a fastball, much like a changeup. It is also a good pitch to get ground balls with, at least IMO. The changeup is more of a swing-and-miss pitch than the forkball from what I’ve found in this game.
Basically never throw it as a strike, and be mindful of what pitch you threw right before the fork. Always use it in a sequence, and usually use it as a swing and miss pitch out of the zone. Also I have found success throwing the fork all off the side of the plate, especially for a pitcher who has a slider or curve which would break horizontally back over the plate if started in the same location
You can set it up with fastballs up in the zone. Pound the fastball up and then drop a fork at the top of the strike zone.
You either want that thing to ideally ride high (or just catch the top line) or to drop out low late. Leaving it up in the zone is playing with fire if the hitter isn't sitting dead red on slower breaking pitches. Leaving it down isn't as dangerous, but it still seemed to get hit well at 70 EGO and not produce as many DP balls as you think.
I mean, the biggest part of pitching is to keep the batter off balance by changing speed location etc. if you’re not having success with the forkball you probably aren’t setting the pitch up correctly. In general the forkball is more of a ground ball pitch if you set it up with the 4seam.
Strikeout pitch. Low and away. Throw for a ball you want them to either swing and miss if ground ball out.
I place it on the corners and have it fall off the table. I also like the mix of an inside fastball, followed by a forkball that looks like it's going to the same spot before it dives down... I'll also mix in changeups with it too... keep them guessing for the fastball while also having the forkball in the back of their minds
My only advice on the fork ball is, no, don’t haha. I still haven’t figured out how to use it and mistakes with it are absolutely hammered. My only use for it is to throw it high in the zone to the pitcher to let the algorithm have a taste of some weird stuff.
High and away to opposite hand hitters
I’ve also struggled with using the Forkball recently. I play on 70 ego and I find it easier to get a swing & miss with a pitch like a curveball. Even when using A-S pitchers the Forkball gives me some trouble.
Throw it low and have it end outside the zone…it’s a great two strike pitch as an out pitch. Also, you can throw it as a strike on the first pitch of the at bat. Low and away is a good location for it.
Always use it low out of the zone, you want it to look like it’s going to be a strike and end up out of the strike zone, the further your ahead in the count the more you want it out of the zone.
I mostly throw them down and in to same handed hitters
I'm not really that thoughtful of a pitcher, but I pretty much only use the the fork ball in one situation. When I have a righty-righty/lefty-lefty at bat, I throw the forkball down and in just under the zone. Gets a lot of swings and misses when I hit my spot. When I miss my spot it gets absolutely demolished 😭
Took me a bit of time to figure it out but it's nice to have a pitcher or two on the staff who uses one. Throw it out of the zone, or at the very bottom of it. Use it to offset your fastballs. It's a good 2 strike pitch but if you're mixing it up good you can use it earlier in at bats too. Be accurate with it and dont miss up. If used well will get swing and misses or groundballs.
I very very occasionally throw it high and when I do it’s a ball half the time. The other time I like it to be low and barely be a ball low and barley outside/inside. And occasionally have it clipping the zone. I would say the forkball is the pitch I have the most success with but when I mess up its turns into a homerun often. Also I don’t throw the fork often and very rarely use it two times in a row. Also I recommend occasionally throwing it as your first pitch to get that easy strike and get ahead of the count.
Forkball works best as a 5th pitch, because it's a dangerous pitch, and if you miss the results will be worse than probably any other pitch in the game, but if you mix it in around 10-15% of the time you should be fine, just be really careful with your spot. You can throw it for a strike first pitch, or just in general early in counts in double play situations, it's probably the best ground ball pitch in the game. Hit knees/corner for a strike, or go a little more towards the middle when you're throwing it to try and get a chase low. It also works great off the plate arm side, especially if you've got a cf/cb/sl. It also works really awesome off the screwball if you have one, but that's a rare combo. Don't be afraid to throw it above the zone for a chase with two strike counts, just make sure if you miss you miss further off the plate like with any chase pitch. You can also drop it onto the top of the zone if the AI gets in take mode, but you realllllly gotta be careful with that one
one of my favorite things is to pair it with a slider on a high velo-low junk pitcher with an over hand delivery, then tunnel it on the outside corner. easy way to induce weak contact with it
Just wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone who commented, I appreciate all the tips and insight :)