Did weight loss change your golf swing?

The title says it all. If you lost weight -- something significant 20+ lbs, has your swing changed -- or did you have to adjust your swing because your body is now shaped differently?

For me, no, not mechanically. I lost 39 lbs. in 2009-2010 with P90X and calorie counting over a period of about 9 months. When I finally got around to playing golf again, my swing was the same ol' horrendous POS it was when I was heavier. That said, I had a major increase in balance, stamina, and overall confidence about my appearance. Not only that, but I was getting less nicks and pains after rounds and was more fresh the next morning.

My swing itself didn't start to improve until I began to implement the proper technique. Still, despite this, the last thing I want to do right now is go back to my old body There certainly was an adjustment period for me when I returned to the game after the long layoff, but it didn't take too long to get used to the body differences.

I encourage all seasonal golfers to take advantage of the endless winters we have to deal with by getting in the gym and kitchen and making the effort to improve their bodies. It's a good way to pass the time while waiting for spring to arrive.

I have gone through a major weight change in the last 8 weeks. I've lost between 32-35 pounds. I was about 215 and now I'm sitting at 185 give or take a few pounds. I've put on a good amount of muscle in the process as well. My swing is SO JACKED UP. I couldn't hit a iron shot if my life was on the line. The only improvement i see is in the Driver and Putting (lack of gut). Iron play has been really bad. Not saying I'm the greatest iron player but it was my strong suit.

My swing didnt change after losing a lot of weight ~360-~240; I still shoot about 104, and my body shape is not different, just smaller.  Eventhough im still not a good golfer, being more fit has certainly helped other aspects of the game.  I can now walk the course and not be a hot sweaty out of breath mess.   I have the stamina to finish the round and have more confidence on the course.

I'm pretty sure it was during the tourament this week that they were discussing a pro that had lost a good amount of weight and that it had cost him a loss of distance.  They said the golfer decided to put the weight back on to gain his distance back.   I can't remember who they were talking about, but thought it was weird that losing fat would cause him to lose enough distance that he'd opt to gain it back.

I lost 25 lbs in about 2 months, but didn't really see anything change except for flexibility.  I was 230, now 205.  Still working on losing weight for now.  My ball striking hasn't improved at all.

OT, like your avatar btw, I miss those RPI Big Red Freakouts

I've lost about 60 pounds over the last year. My ball striking has greatly improved. My chest is not in the way as much anymore. I need to work on my side abs more though.

Weight loss normally increases your endurance - you're less likely to be breathless after you climb a hill to the green and won't be shaking when you putt out.

Weight loss with conditioning likely will improve...

• your posture due to strengthening of the core muscles. This increases the consistency of your swing.
• your leg strength, increasing the power of your swing.

All this said, here's a story from my caddie days in the late 1960s. For three years running, the ladies' club champion was a woman who was five to seven months pregnant. Pregnancy supposedly enabled an optimum arm position during the swing or something like that. (Three different women won championship during the stretch)

I went from 240 to 200... my swing changed. Now I fight the shanks... ever few balls it shoots straight off the hosel. From what I can see... I'm coming through much quicker and the club isnt closing. I've adjusted to a more relaxed transition and it seems to help... it looks like I have lost about a half a club distance though.

I lost about 15 lbs and 15 yards on the driver.  I didn't have much fat to lose in the first place, so half of the weight loss was probably fat, and the other half was probably muscle.  All my other clubs however remained the same distance.

I lost a lot of weight pretty fast a few years ago -- 60 pounds.

I found more strength and flexibility, and less belly. The FEELINGS of positions in my swing changed a lot. I needed to learn new feelings. I gained distance and maintained endurance better so I finished rounds better. I slowly put a lot of the weight back on. Because it was slow, the feelings did not change much. Endurance slipped. Belly is in the way. I've worked at getting to about 25 over my good weight of a few years ago and hope to be down there by next Spring.

The pro who put the weight back on to correct "his game" was Petterson.

On January 3rd 2012 i weighed 237 pounds (im 5'9)  so i changed my diet and started working out 3-4 times a week, on June 1st i weighed in at 189 pounds, and my golf swing has tremendously improved.  My flexibility is by far better, and my swing speed increased alot from lifting (i feel like my legs add alot of power to my swing).  I still want to lose another 20 pounds and be lean but strong for a desirable golfer body.

Currently I'm 6'0" 205lb and I can easily loose 20lb and be happy.  I just started the Complete Nutrition Charger Pack and I'm starting P90X back up in just a few hours (day 1). I have hopes of firming up my measurable stats I've listed below.  Really I could care less what the scales show (weight), and if I loose a few inches and firm up the way I hope too, if the scales still show 205lb I will be more than happy.  I too had some concern about changing my body and the impact on my swing.  I've been working hard dialing in my swing all year and I'm really happy with it right now.  That said I have a mindset that as long as I continue to work more on my game while working on my body issues, I believe I will be fine.  IMO unless you're loosing major weight 40+ lb's or unless you loose that weight in a crazy amount of time, like from illness, lap bands, or extreme dieting, then your body will react in a more reasonable manor.  I due expect the increased strength and flexibility to have more effect then the BMI change.  However all that said I did choose to wait until my men's league finished before I would commit to working on my body/fitness.  That might sound funny to some but i won the A flight in my league and I put that goal above body changes.

Age 33 years 9 months

Height 6'0"

205lb

38 3/4" waist

25 1/4" thigh

43" chest

BMI ?