Wide-angle X-ray methods have been used to compare the structures of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with syndiotactic diad (S-diad) contents in the range 51-63%. The fiber diagram of a PVA with 51.2% S-diad content (essentially atactic) is indexed by a monoclinic unit cell with dimensions a = 7.82 +/- 0.03 Angstrom, b = 2.53 +/- 0.01 Angstrom (chain axis), c = 5.52 +/-0.01 Angstrom, and beta = 91.5 +/- 0.2 degrees. These dimensions are very similar to those proposed by Bunn (Nature 1948, 161, 929) and Sakurada (Bull. Inst. Chant. Res., Kyoto Univ. 1950, 23, 78). As the S-diad content is increased, the crystallites become larger and less distorted and there is lateral contraction of the crystal structure, suggesting that the chains can pack more efficiently. For a syndiotacticity-rich PVA with a S-diad content of 63.1%, the unit cell dimensions are as follows: a = 7.63 +/- 0.02 Angstrom, b = 2.54 +/- 0.01 Angstrom, c = 5.41 +/- 0.01 Angstrom, and beta = 91.2 +/- 0.1 degrees. The latter structure has a theoretical density of 1.40 g/mL, which is similar to 5% higher than the value of 1.34 g/mL predicted for the atactic polymer. The efficiency of chain packing in the two unit cells has been compared by molecular dynamics modeling of arrays of chain segments of different random sequences, with 50% and 65% S-diad contents. For both structures, the results favor hydrogen bonding similar to that proposed by Bunn rather than that due to Sakurada. NVT calculations show that the larger unit cell is favored for the atactic polymer, while the smaller unit cell is favored for the 65% syndiotactic polymer. A NPT assembly for the atactic model starting in the contracted unit cell expanded and equilibrated close to the observed, lower density structure. Likewise, a starting model for the 65% syndiotactic polymer packed with the dimensions for the atactic polymer was found to adjust to the observed contracted structure. The changes are to be understood in terms of the balance between hydrogen bonds (electrostatic) and van der Waals forces, which vary depending on the tacticity.