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Wondering how to hit stick in Madden 24? Then you have come to the right place. The wait to get stuck into the latest EA Sports American football offering is finally over, as the full release of Madden 24 has now arrived.
As the saying goes, offense wins games, but defense wins championships. With that in mind, if you are going to be successful in the newly-released Madden 24 title, then you’re going to want to make sure that you scrub up on your defense.
The biggest risk-to-reward play when on defense in Madden is to unleash the hit stick. Do it correctly, and you can cause a fumble or at least make a highlight-reel tackle. Use it improperly, though, and you can be on the opponent’s highlight reel and grant them a lot of extra yards. Here’s how and when to use it most importantly.
How to hit stick properly in Madden 24
There are two ways to hit stick in Madden 24, they are as follows:
- High Hit Stick: Flick your right analog stick up when in range of the ball carrier.
- Low Hit Stick (Cut Stick): Flick your right analog stick down when in range of the ball carrier.
The hit stick is a defensive play in which the defensive player will attempt to hit the ball carrier with full force in an attempt to force a fumble. They do this by lowering their shoulder and laying out the defender. It is the epitome of a high-risk, high-reward play. If it fails, you’re on a lowlight. If it succeeds, it’s an instant highlight and maybe more.
It’s good to know player ratings before trying this play. If the opposing ball carrier has good break tackle ratings or good ball carrying ratings, a fumble isn’t likely and it may not be worth the risk. Naturally, the strength and tackling overalls of your defender matter as well.
The timing of this play is vital, too. If you do this at the wrong time, you can essentially hand the other team a first down or more. When you’re in one-on-one defensive situations, it is not advised to try a hit stick. If you miss, there’s nothing but green grass in front of the opposing player. This is one of the worst possible times to do this, especially if the nearest defender is not in sight.
In Madden NFL, it’s better to use a hit stick when the tackler is not alone. That way, if you miss, there’s not much risk because the defensive AI can tackle them if you fail to do so. The bone crushing hitstick can be brought out with confidence that even a failure will not give a huge gain to the offensive player.
This scenario gives you the best chance of recovering any potential fumble, too. It can also be useful in short-yardage situations, as you have a better chance to drop the running back where they are or backwards, keeping them from falling forward past a first down marker. This can completely stunt the momentum of your opponent and is an integral part of defending well.
It’s also not advised to do this near the sideline. For starters, there’s usually far fewer defenders over there. The defensive backs who are are not known for being strong tacklers. Plus, if all goes right and the opponent’s ball carrier hit stick fumbles, it’s very likely it goes out of bounds and is not a turnover. Try a conservative tackle (B button/Square button) or wrap tackle in this situation, as the hit stick returns are middling. Nevertheless, it can still be tried as it’s not a guaranteed out of bounds situation.
Our Tips
You can control the defensive AI’s willingness to try a hit stick by changing the level of frequency to aggressive in coaching adjustments. Be aware that this can lead to bigger plays by the offense at the cost of a potentially devastating tackle.
This method is the same for all game modes. Whether you’re in franchise mode or on Ultimate Team, you can hit stick the same way. It’s true for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. That’s all for Madden 24’s hit stick, but be sure to check out the new Most Feared set, the best running backs in the game, and whether or not you can request a trade.
Madden 24 Hit Stick FAQs
Can any player hit stick in Madden 24?
Yes, every single player is capable of doing a hit stick with varying success.
When can I hit stick in Madden 24?
You can hit stick at any time in Madden 24, but it’s best to do it at the exact right time.
