A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool movable through segments of an excavation cycle, a motor configured to swing the work tool during the excavation cycle, at least one accumulator configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the motor and to discharge fluid to the motor during the excavation cycle, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input regarding a current excavation cycle of the work tool, and make a determination based on the input that the current excavation cycle is associated with one of a set of known modes of operation. The controller may be further configured to cause the at least one accumulator to receive fluid and discharge fluid during different segments of the excavation cycle based on the determination.