Can playing softball mess up my golf swing?

Question

I have been playing pretty good golf lately and a friend asked me to join his softball team because it's coed and they need a couple more girls. I said yes but someone told me it would mess up my golf swing. Is this true? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I have not found that it messes with my golf swing-i play softball twice a week.  I feel that it helps me with the hip rotation a little more, and when i get out to the practice tee, i worry less about that and more about my hands.

Answer 2

yes it can and will. The fundamentals are different.

Answer 3

It can have an impact but if you are just recreational golfer i would not worry about it. Just continue having fun playing the game. If you play in tournaments i would stop playing softball a few weeks in advance so you can keep your rhythm and feel of you golf swing. You use many of the same muscles in both swings but they are used slightly different.

Answer 4

I always had trouble with weight shift.  In golf, you want your wieght ahead of your swing (so to speak) ending up with you weight on your leading (left) foot.

Just the opposite for a baseball/softball swing.  I'd pop up a lot and have no power hitting a softball, but plenty of juice when I play golf.  Maybe it's just me.

Answer 5

it really depends on your age and how much muscle memory you have built on your golf swing.  If your golf swing isn't extremely strong a softball swing can definately get in the way and bad habits can form.

Answer 6

I think it depends on the person, myself, I always had a problem. Especially if played in the same day! Now a buddy of mine, didn't seem to effect him at all.

Answer 7

I play golf, and major softball, it took me a while to make the adjustment to hitting the softball, but now it is just muscle memory. Every city we hit I play golf on Thursday, take batting practice Friday (100-200 swings), and I am good for the weekend!!!!

Answer 8

I would say don't listen to anyone, until you try it for yourself. Only you can anwer that question after you have played both for a while. Some people have a hard time chewing gum and walking at the same time, but most of us can manage.

Answer 9

The golf swing is totally different to a softball swing, so no it shouldnt mess it up

Answer 10

swinging a baseball bat can ruin your swing and vice versa

Answer 11

If I was preparing for an upcoming tournament I would always stop playing softball.    It has always affected my swing.  I seemed to miss my shots right when I played alot of softball.  My index is a 8.3 currently.  

Some of my friends never had an issue playing both.  So I guess the best way for you to find out is give both a shot and make a decision.

Good luck.

Answer 12

It affects some people I suppose.  I believe it can be beneficial to some and detrimental to others.  It depends on how serious you are about the two sports.  Since I'm a guy, when I play co-ed softball, I have to hit the opposite hand anyway.  When I play men's league, I just continue hitting left handed.  I'm naturally right handed.  You could try hitting opposite hand to not have that issue.  That's what I do.

Answer 13

If you play softball you probably will tend to slice a lil bit more than usual since the follow through swinging a bat is so much different than swinging a club...........just make sure u show up early before your round and hit a bucket that way you can get your swing back into its groove and make any minor adjustments you need to make before that day.