Earlier this week, I came across a social media post from a leading player development institute discussing the problem and so-called possible solutions for a common hitting question: “Struggling to use your back leg in the swing?”

As we’ve highlighted several times at #BaseballActionID, what may look like a “lagging” or partially disengaged back leg actually comes down to the Motor Preferences—specifically, the location of the mobile point in the player’s spine. 

For players with a high mobile point, their swing relies more on hip-shoulder separation, which can keep the back foot more parallel through the swing. This gives the impression that the back side isn’t fully engaged—when, in fact, it’s simply a different movement pattern because of the high mobile point at play.

Here are some examples illustrating the influence of both high and low mobile points in a swing:

• Shohei Ohtani – High mobile point
• Fernando Tatis Jr. – High mobile point
• Corey Seager – Low mobile point

Understanding these distinctions helps us appreciate the unique ways different players generate power and control at the plate! ⚾