Alright, so I’ve been putting some hours into Madden 24 lately, same as every year, you know how it goes. One thing I really wanted to nail down this time around was the hurdle. You see guys pulling it off online, looks smooth, sometimes gets you that extra yardage or even breaks a tackle for a touchdown. Figured I’d document how I went about practicing it.
First things first, I just kinda started mashing buttons when I saw a defender coming low. Yeah, didn’t work out too well. Mostly ended up just running straight into the guy or doing some awkward stumble that got me tackled instantly. Lost the ball a couple times too, which always feels bad. Needed a more structured approach.
Finding the Actual Button
Okay, step one was figuring out the actual control. I hopped into the skills trainer for a bit, thinking it might be in there. Found some stuff on jukes and spins, but the hurdle specific mechanic… took a little messing around in practice mode. Finally figured it out – it’s the Y button if you’re on Xbox, or the Triangle button on PlayStation. Simple enough, right? Knowing the button is one thing, using it effectively is another story.
Hitting the Practice Field
So, I went straight into Practice Mode. Picked my favorite team, set up an offense vs defense drill, usually just a basic run play. My goal was simple: run towards a defender and try to time the hurdle. I spent a good chunk of time just doing this. Run, see the defender approach, hit Y/Triangle.
My initial attempts in practice weren’t much better than my button mashing phase, even knowing the right button. I was either hitting it way too early, doing this little hop way before the defender got there, or hitting it too late as I was already getting wrapped up. It was clear timing was everything.
Getting the Timing Down
This was the core of the practice. I focused on watching the defender’s movement. What I found works best for me is hitting the hurdle button just as the defender commits to a lower tackle attempt or when I’m about one body length away. It’s a split-second thing. You press it too soon, you jump short. Too late, and you’re on the ground.
I practiced this repeatedly. Run at the safety, watch for the dip, press Y/Triangle. Run at the corner, watch for the lunge, press Y/Triangle. Over and over. It started to click. You get a feel for the distance and the defender’s animation.
Understanding When (and When Not) to Hurdle
Through trial and error (lots of error), I also learned that hurdling isn’t a silver bullet. It’s situational.
- Good time: When a defender is clearly diving low for your legs. This is prime hurdle territory.
- Bad time: When a big linebacker is standing tall, ready to deliver a hit stick. Hurdling then usually means getting absolutely rocked mid-air.
- Bad time: When you’re in a crowd. You might hurdle one guy just to land on another.
So, part of the practice became recognizing the tackle attempt. Is he going low? Maybe hurdle. Is he squaring up high? Better try a juke, stiff arm, or just brace for impact. Player skill matters too; guys with better agility and juke moves seem to pull off hurdles more effectively and land cleaner.
Bringing it into Games
After feeling comfortable in practice, I started consciously trying it in actual games (mostly offline franchise first, less pressure). It was rewarding when it worked! Successfully hurdling a defender near the sideline to pick up a first down, or leaping over a diving tackle at the goal line… it felt good. It definitely doesn’t work every time, sometimes the defender adjusts, sometimes my timing is off, sometimes the player rating just isn’t high enough for a clean animation. But it’s now a tool I feel I have in my toolbox, rather than just something I see happen randomly.
So that’s pretty much my journey with learning the hurdle in Madden 24. It was about finding the button, practicing the timing relentlessly, and understanding the right situations to even attempt it. If you’re looking to add it to your game, just put in a little time in practice mode. You’ll get it.
