
- Take a lesson. Get in touch with a golfing coach who can help you optimize your swing technique to reduce the chances of future wrist injury.
- Make sure you have the right equipment. Clubs that are too short or too long can exacerbate the problem. ...
- Warm up. ...
- Get thicker grips. ...
- Replace grips often. ...
- Rest your wrist. Take one or two weeks off from golfing and see if your pain subsides.
- Use hot and cold compresses if there is swelling and inflammation. ...
- Purchase an over-the-counter wrist brace to wear during the day. ...
- Try over-the-counter pain relief.
How do I treat golf wrist pain?
Tendonitis can also occur in the front or back of the wrist from the repetitive motion of swinging a golf club. To help relieve golf wrist pain, you should immediately ice the area for 15 to 20 minutes and immobilize it with an bandage. It is also important to rest the wrist until the pain disappears.
Why does my wrist hurt when I play golf?
There are several reasons why golf wrist pain may occur: Overuse: Most golf-related injuries are a result of overuse, especially in recreational "weekend warrior" golfers who play a lot during the weekend and not much during the week. Also, those who are trying to improve often hit buckets of balls without stopping, leading to injury.
Is it safe to play golf with a broken wrist?
Zach (The DIY Golfer): Do not push it with these injuries. There are 8 small “carpal” bones in the wrist (hamate being one) that can fracture without the severe pain you would normally associate with a fractured bone.
Should you warm up your wrist before playing golf?
If you don’t do any warm ups before you play golf, you’re not only putting yourself at risk of injury, but you’re likely losing some distance in the first few holes of your round! Incorporating simple wrist warm ups will go a long way in preventing an injury.

How can I play golf with a sprained wrist?
Work on putting or pitching; avoid full swing during the healing phase of your injury. A combination of rest, ice, compression and elevation and maybe an anti-inflammatory medicine is usually enough to calm down most golf-related wrist pain. A splint can also let the wrist rest after an injury or aggravation of pain.
How do you swing a golf club without hurting your wrist?
Avoid flicking the wrists at ball impact. Avoid excessive wrist motion at take-away or transition. Normalize the swing arc: adopt a flat or more elliptical swing plane. This will allow the hands to be kept at or near shoulder height during transition and at the completion of follow-through.
How do you heal a sore wrist fast?
For a recent injury:Rest your wrist. Keep it elevated above the heart level.Apply an ice pack to the tender and swollen area. Wrap the ice in cloth. ... Take over-the-counter pain medicines, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. ... Ask your health care provider if it's OK to wear a splint for several days.
Can you wrap your wrist in golf?
Wrist splints that support but do not fully limit your motion can also help. The 3pp Wrist Wrap NP and the 3pp Wrist Pop Splint have adjustable compression to support your wrist and the non slip foam lining makes them comfortable to wear while playing golf.
Should you play golf with a sore wrist?
Most mild cases of wrist tendinitis will resolve from rest and thermotherapy. If you're experiencing golfers' wrist, try these steps to relieve your pain: Rest your wrist. Take one or two weeks off from golfing and see if your pain subsides.
Why does my wrist hurt when I swing a golf club?
Poor swing mechanics can also lead to pain on the outside of your left wrist when playing golf. The proper position for the left wrist during your swing is that it should be slightly bowed, and this position should be held through the striking of the ball. Failure to do so can place extra strain on the leading wrist.
How can I make my wrist stronger?
0:204:31Get Strong Wrists (NO PAIN!) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou need to be strengthening up the forearm muscles to stabilize the restraint. Let me explain. MoreMoreYou need to be strengthening up the forearm muscles to stabilize the restraint. Let me explain. More. For most of you involved in doing handstands. Doing push-ups things of that nature.
How do I know if my wrist pain is serious?
Not all wrist pain requires medical care. Minor sprains and strains usually respond to ice, rest and over-the-counter pain medications. But if pain and swelling last longer than a few days or become worse, see your doctor.
What is the home remedy for wrist pain?
The following home remedies can help relieve wrist pain:rest the affected hand and wrist for at least 2 weeks.use of anti-vibration products with vibrating tools.wear a wrist splint or brace to rest the median nerve.do gentle stretching exercises for the hands, fingers, and wrists.More items...•
Can I play golf with carpal tunnel?
Most people can return to activities like golf in four to six weeks. Success rates for carpal tunnel release are very high, and complications are rare. Learn more about hand procedures and treatments.
How do you tape your hands for golf?
0:000:39u4golf TA031 Golfers Tape - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe low-tack tape won't smear glue on your grip leaving your hands free for a perfect round. So forMoreThe low-tack tape won't smear glue on your grip leaving your hands free for a perfect round. So for prevention or cure grab your masters golf tape today and make your game.
How soon can I play golf after a broken wrist?
The wrist and arm should be functional for most activity by 8 to 10 weeks after surgery. After about 3 to 6 months, most patients can resume heavier wrist or arm activity and sports.
How Do Wrist Injuries Happen in Golf?
Younger golfers tend to have acute or sudden injuries where they tear, sprain, or strain things. These injuries happen most often when hitting a fa...
What Types of Wrist Injuries Occur in Golfers?
By far, the most common wrist injury is tendonitis.There are two main groups of tendons in your wrist. One group on the back side of the wrist exte...
How Do You Know When The Problem Is Bad Enough to See A Doctor?
Golfers are notorious for “playing through” pain and tolerating a lot of misery to stay out on the course.If your pain is lasting longer than one o...
What’S The Best Way to Treat My Wrist Pain?
The first treatment for golfer’s wrist pain is the one you don’t want to hear – take a break from playing!Don’t panic – you don’t have to stop comp...
Some Preventive Measures You Can Take to Avoid Wrist Injury When You’Re Playing
1. slow down your back swing 2. keep your wrists and hands parallel 3. switch from steel shaft to graphite shaft 4. use larger grips 5. strengthen...
How to Help Your Doctor Figure Out Your Wrist Pain
Contrary to popular belief, we’re not all-seeing, all powerful beings! Here are some ways you can be prepared if you have to see a wrist specialist...
Resources For Learning More About Golf Injury and Prevention
Bionic golf gloves – the longest lasting, best fitting gloves out there – I recommend them to golfers in my office.What is your core? Why is it imp...
How to treat wrist pain from golf?
What’s the best way to treat my wrist pain? The first treatment for golfer’s wrist pain is the one you don’t want to hear – take a break from playing! Don’t panic – you don’t have to stop completely in most cases – just tone down your intensity or frequency of playing and practicing for two weeks.
How long does wrist pain last?
Golfers are notorious for “playing through” pain and tolerating a lot of misery to stay out on the course. If your pain is lasting longer than one or two weeks, find a wrist specialist who can diagnose the problem accurately and help you find a solution. It’s not worth causing more damage or taking more risk.
What is a wrist splint?
A splint can also let the wrist rest after an injury or aggravation of pain. If your pain flares up when you return to play, find a hand and wrist specialist as soon as possible. Wrist specialists are usually orthopedic surgeons who work on hands, wrists, and elbows.
What are the risks of wrist injury?
Here are some things that put you at increased risk for a wrist injury: 1 poor physical conditioning 2 overuse (playing or practicing too much) 3 no warm-up 4 poor swing mechanics or technique
Where does TFCC pain go?
Pain from a TFCC tear or sprain is only on the pinky side of the wrist and forearm and can shoot into the pinky side of the hand or up along the forearm towards the elbow.
What side of the wrist is the tendons?
There are two main groups of tendons in your wrist. One group on the back side of the wrist extends or straightens the wrist and fingers. The other set, on the palm side, flexes (or bends) the wrist and fingers. Injury and pain on the back side (extensor side) are more common.
Can a broken wrist cause bruising?
Sometimes telling the difference between a broken wrist and a sprained wrist can be difficult. Fractures cause a lot of swelling, bruising, and limited motion in the fingers, and happen after a duffed shot or single, sudden, painful event on the course. Sprains happen in a similar way, but don’t usually cause severe symptoms.
What is the most common wrist injury in golfers?
By far the most common wrist injury in all golfers is tendonitis. Tendons run through tight sheaths and can get trapped and irritated with repetitive strain over time. There are two main groups of tendons in your wrist: one at the rear, which straightens the wrist and fingers, and the other at the front, which flexes them.
Why do golfers have lead wrists?
It tends to result from overuse, owing to excessive practice or play, but can also be caused by sudden trauma, or poor mechanics that place the wrists at risk. One in every four professional golfers (both male and female) has reported incidence of lead wrist injury and, statistically, it is even more common within the women’s game. ...
What is the condition of the wrist that causes tenderness?
Extensor carpi ulnaris tendini tis is characterised by tenderness at the back of the wrist on its outer side. Symptoms are exacerbated by forced ulnar deviation and flexion of the wrist. Golfers with a tendency to ‘casting’ are at risk of developing this inflammation.
What happens if you hit your wrist fat?
Most amateurs don't have the strength to lead the club into impact with a flat lead wrist and, if they happen to hit it fat, that will likely result in a sudden further flattening of the wrist angle, thus stressing the extensor tendons on the top of the wrist and causing tendinitis.
Why is the wrist position important?
The wrist position at impact is crucial in generating the right clubface angles for maximising distance. If the lead wrist is weak (or technique is poor) it will tend to be overpowered by the trail hand and collapse or break down through impact, which leaks both distance and accuracy.
How to prevent wrist tearing?
Doing strengthening and stretching hand and wrist exercises on a regular basis will help to prevent it. The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a ligamentous structure on the ulnar side (outside) of the wrist, important to wrist stability, which is prone to tearing owing to the degree of wrist movement that occurs in golf. ...
Why do you need to strengthen your grip a fraction?
Actually strengthening the grip a fraction helps to create the very slight ‘neutral’ cup in the wrist (as is created by the act of forming a fist) that you want for power and control at impact. A typical way higher handicap players try to hit a ball harder is to snap their wrists at the bottom of their swing.
What percentage of golfers have wrist injuries?
Wrist injuries account for at least 10% of golf related injuries, with other leading injuries being back, knee, and elbow injuries. Let’s take a look at what causes wrist injuries when playing golf, how to prevent them, and what to do when you’re dealing with one.
How to prevent wrist injury?
Here are a few more quick tips I recommend to help you prevent a wrist injury: If coming back from an off season, naturally progress the amount of golf you play, rather than hitting too many golf balls too quickly. Use a strong grip when gripping the golf club, reducing the risk of having a bowed top wrist at impact.
How many carpal bones are there in the wrist?
There are 8 small “carpal” bones in the wrist (hamate being one) that can fracture without the severe pain you would normally associate with a fractured bone. Specifically, the “scaphoid” bone is the most common carpal bone to become fractured, and without an x-ray, you may never know that it is fractured.
Why is it important to incorporate golf workouts into your routine?
I’m a huge advocate for incorporating golf workouts into your routine, because additional strength and flexibility can directly improve your performance on the course. When it comes to preventing a wrist injury, you’ll want to focus on increasing your forearm and wrist strength.
What is the swelling of the wrist?
Tendonitis is the swelling of tissue that connects the bone and muscle in the wrist; tendonitis is the direct result of repetitive stress on your tendons, which makes sense in relation to playing golf.
What to do if carpal bone doesn't heal?
If the injury doesn’t heal within a few days, you should see a doctor to determine the precise cause. As mentioned previously, the carpal bones in the wrist are small and injuries to them are difficult to self-diagnose. I hope this guide helps you out, and as always, thanks for reading!
What happens if you don't do a warm up before golf?
If you don’t do any warm ups before you play golf, you’re not only putting yourself at risk of injury , but you’re likely losing some distance in the first few holes of your round! Incorporating simple wrist warm ups will go a long way in preventing an injury.
What to do if you have a golf wrist injury?
During an exam, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your wrist. They may order a test such as an X-ray, ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to help diagnose the problem. If your golf wrist injury is the result of tendinitis, for example, your doctor may suggest rest and physical therapy.
How to treat wrist pain?
When to See An Orthopedic Surgeon. When wrist pain first appears, the first step is to rest and apply ice if swelling has occurred. A compression wrap or wrist brace may also be helpful to alleviate discomfort. If your symptoms continue for more than a week or the pain gets worse, contact your orthopedic surgeon.
What to do if you break your wrist?
Surgery, such as wrist arthroscopy, may be an option if other methods don’t help. This involves repairing the tissue inside or around your wrist using a tiny camera and surgical tools. For a broken bone, a cast/brace may be needed to allow the injury to heal, and physical therapy may be needed eventually.
What to do if you are playing a non competitive round?
If you are playing a non-competitive round, consider taking a drop, or if you are playing a competitive round, consider taking an unplayable penalty. Poor swing technique: Many Injuries occur because of poor technique such as gripping the club too tightly. Check in with a reputable golf instructor to help build proper technique! ...
Can you hit off a mat with an iron?
This is especially true with irons as they are meant to be hit with a descending blow past the impact of the ball. When hitting off mats, be careful not to hit too many iron shots (especially short irons). Hybrids, fairway woods, and long irons tend to be hit with more of a sweeping arc and are somewhat safer to hit off mats.
Can hitting off mats cause injury?
Hitting Surface: Hitting off mats can produce a larger shock force on the body with each swing compared to natural grass.
What is the thumb in golf?
The thumb is remarkable, and we ask much of it. Gripping a golf club throughout the swing means positioning the thumb at multiple points in space , and that demands great flexibility. This flexibility is provided by two hinge joints and the very agile basilar joint — where the thumb plugs into your wrist — plus great strength and stability.
What joint should a thumb splint be used for?
Any splint used should include the thumb to help support the basilar joint. Doctor Visit: A diagnosis will likely entail the doctor loading the thumb’s basilar joint and briefly “grinding” it — you may feel the discomfort and mechanical symptoms that accompany joint irregularity.
Why does my thumb feel weakened?
Your hand may feel weakened as discomfort can lead to protecting the thumb from tasks (e.g., opening jar s) in which grip power is necessary and potentially painful. Self-Care: There is a wide range of nonsurgical managements—ice, heat, splints and judicious use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatories.
Can golfers get arthritis?
This balancing act can create a problem that manifests as friction at the basilar joint—aka arthritis. Almost all golfers will eventually get a little degenerative “wear and tear” arthritis at the thumb joint.
