Posted by: Jimmy () on Wed Nov 21 07:59:39 2007

Mike,

The downfall to "leaning back" is that the bat position in relation to the body is improved by the movement of the body in space and not by the movement of the bat in space. This means the bat is actually not moving through space with the same velocity as if the body were stationary. Bat-speed is slowed down.

Leaning back is not a desired reaction by hitters. MLB hitters do not lean back on purpose, it is an adjustment made on the fly as they battle to get the barrel to the ball.

Ideally the torso should be vertical.