Okay, let’s talk about getting those fumbles in Madden 24. Took me a bit of trial and error, but I think I’ve got a decent handle on it now, at least what works for me.
Getting Started: Just Hitting Wasn’t Enough
So, first off, I just tried laying the wood, you know? Big tackles. Just running guys over. Sometimes, yeah, the ball popped out, especially if the carrier was tired or it was a weaker player. But honestly, it wasn’t consistent. Felt more like luck than skill most times. I wanted something more reliable to swing games.
Experimenting with the Hit Stick
Then I really started focusing on using the Hit Stick. That’s flicking the right stick when you’re closing in for the tackle. Took some practice to get the timing right. Flick it too early, you whiff. Too late, and it’s just a normal tackle, or worse, you get run over.
What I found worked best:
- Aiming for a good angle on the ball carrier, not straight head-on always, sometimes slightly from the side.
- Timing the flick right as you’re about to make contact. You kinda get a feel for it.
- Using players with high ‘Hit Power’. Seems obvious, but man, it makes a difference. Those guys just seem to jar the ball loose way more often when you land a solid Hit Stick tackle. Check your player ratings!
Trying Out the Strip Ball Mechanic
Around the same time, I started messing with the strip ball button. On Xbox, it’s RB, and on PlayStation, it’s R1. Now, this one’s tricky.
Here’s the deal with stripping:
- It’s risky. If you mistime it or the ball carrier is strong, you’ll probably just whiff completely or get a broken tackle shoved in your face. Sometimes you even get flagged for a facemask if you’re unlucky.
- Positioning is key. I found it works best when you’re alongside or slightly behind the runner. Trying to strip from head-on rarely worked for me.
- It’s not for every tackle. I don’t try stripping on every single play. Usually, I try it when I have another defender nearby who can clean up if I fail, or if I have a really good angle from the side/behind.
- Players with the ‘Strip Specialist’ ability are gold for this. They just seem much better at poking the ball out without getting penalized or missing the tackle altogether.
Putting It All Together
So, my current approach is kinda a mix. If I’ve got a clear shot and a heavy hitter, I’m definitely lining up for that Hit Stick tackle. I feel the ‘thump’ and hope the ball pops loose. It feels good when it works.
If the situation’s a bit more crowded, or I’m coming in from the side while another teammate is engaging the blocker or the runner, that’s when I might go for the strip (RB/R1). It feels like a higher risk, higher reward thing. Sometimes I’ll even try a Hit Stick, and if the runner stumbles but doesn’t go down, and I’m still tangled up, I might quickly tap the strip button just in case.
Honestly, forcing fumbles consistently isn’t easy. It takes practice with the timing for both the Hit Stick and the strip. You also gotta pay attention to who your defenders are – use those hard hitters and strip specialists! But focusing on those mechanics, angles, and timing definitely increased how often I was causing turnovers. It wasn’t overnight, just kept trying it in games, seeing what worked, what didn’t, and eventually, it started clicking more often. Good luck trying it out!
