Golf-FAQ.com

why do my hands hurt when i play golf

by Brice Larson Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Generally, hand pain from golf grip and other golf injuries occur due to the following factors:

  • Overuse of the hand muscles
  • Inappropriate movement or poor technique
  • Inability to warm up
  • Improper physical condition

Hand Injuries
A bad grip often contributes to hand pain after golf. Gripping the club too tightly or in the wrong way can result in injury. One hand injury we see in golfers is a fracture of the hook of the hamate. The hook of the hamate is a bone in your wrist.

Full Answer

Why do my fingers hurt when I play golf?

As an end result, bone deformations and hand fractures will occur. Basically, the trigger finger is another hand pain from golf grip that golfers may experience. This is due to the repetitive gripping of the club that can cause tendon sheath inflammation. Having this, the fingers will remain in a bent position.

What happens to your hands when you play golf?

In case the golfer poorly hit the ball or strike the ground and the movement is combined with a high amount of pressure, this will result in sending pressure to the hands and fingers. As an end result, bone deformations and hand fractures will occur.

How to treat sore hands after golfing?

This is generally beneficial when the golfers feel some soreness not only in the hands but also in other areas of the body. Some medications such as the NSAIDs are helpful in ruling out the injuries. Ibuprofen and Naproxen are examples of Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that can generally reduce the pain.

Why does the top of my hand hurt when I grip?

If so, then it might be the Ulnar Nerve. If its the top of the hand and pain going into the wrist and into the forearms, it might be just weak wrist muscles. I never had this problem, but it sounds like muscle strain. So not sure if your grip is wrong, or you might have just hurt it and not given it enough rest before playing again.

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How do I stop my hands from hurting when golfing?

The most common wrist/hand complaint is due to tendonitis (tendon inflammation) of any of the tendons that cross the wrist. Treatment usually consists of rest, splinting, ice, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.

Why do my fingers hurt when I swing a golf club?

Golfers experience trigger finger injury commonly due to the repeated gripping and swinging of the club. This repetitive motion without the proper precautions and treatments can lead to chronic golf trigger finger. Golf requires a specific grip on the club and a repetitive swinging motion.

Is it normal for fingers to hurt after golf?

Trigger finger injury is one of the most common injuries that golf players experience. It's a condition caused when the flexor tendon sheath that the tendons in your fingers run through is inflamed. The inflammation inhibits smooth movements during finger extension.

How do you protect your hands in golf?

Golf gloves offer protection from the weather elements and keep your hands healthy. The golf glove prevents blisters on your hands from rubbing the club grip on the skin. Normally, if you are right-handed, you'll wear a glove on the left hand. But you can wear gloves on both hands for added protection.

Why do pro golfers tape their fingers?

Many golfers wear tape on their fingers to prevent or cover up hot spots, blisters, calluses, cuts, and other uncomfortable distractions. It's part of their prep, covering up the fingers that tend to get mangled during a round of golf or a long session at the range.

What is the proper golf grip?

5:379:50How to Properly Grip Your Golf Club | GOLFPASS | Golf Channel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe line there the lifeline. Of my right hand that is going to sit on top of the thumb of my leadMoreThe line there the lifeline. Of my right hand that is going to sit on top of the thumb of my lead hand. And there's another v there you can see it yes and that's also pointing to my trail shoulder.

Can golf cause arthritis in hands?

Yes, It's Possible! Arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints that can interfere with daily activities and make physical activity difficult. You may be tempted to give up physical activity altogether to avoid pain.

What kind of tape do golfers use on their fingers?

What is Mueller Grip Tape? Conforming elastic tape to help prevent finger blisters when gripping sports equipment, such as golf clubs, hockey and lacrosse sticks, cricket and baseball bats.

Do pro golfers get carpal tunnel?

Unfortunately, avid golfers experience a high incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, doubtlessly because they use their hands and wrists so intensely with every stroke of the club. Golf and Carpal Tunnel do not mix well.

Does wearing a golf glove help?

Improve your grip The main advantage of using a golf glove is improved grip, especially for drives and long-iron shots. Bare hands can become slippery, especially on warmer days, allowing the club to turn or move in a player's grip during their swing.

Do all pro golfers wear gloves?

No. There are some pro players — Hall of Famer Fred Couples, for example — who do not wear a glove. They are rare, however, and teaching pros will always recommend the use of a glove.

What's the benefit of wearing a golf glove?

The key reason for wearing a golf glove is grip. A golf glove is tackier than human skin, especially in hotter weather, and will help prevent twisting of the club in the golfer's hand. Players who use a looser grip benefit from using a glove because it creates more friction and gripping power with the club.

What are the injuries in golf?

Golf Injuries to the Hand, Wrist or Elbow. Hand, wrist and elbow injuries are common for golfers of all skill levels. The golf swing is a complex, coordinated series of motions. Golf injuries can result from poor technique or overuse. They can also result from a single direct blow, like hitting a tree root. The following are a few ways that could ...

What are the types of injuries that can occur in golf?

Types of Golf Injuries. Golf injuries can include tendonitis, sprains or fractures (broken bones). These injuries may arise by the repeated stress of practicing the golf swing. Gripping activities like hammering or heavy lifting can also cause these injuries. Some specific golf injuries may include: Sprained Wrist.

How to treat tendonitis in golfer's elbow?

Initial treatment for tendonitis consists of rest, ice, stretching, splinting and anti-inflammatory medications. For tennis elbow , try to lift objects palm up. For golfer’s elbow, try to lift objects with the palm down.

What causes tendonitis in the elbow?

The inner aspect of the elbow where medial epicondylitis, one of the common golf injuries, causes painful tendonitis. Hook of the hamate as it grips a golf club. The hook part of the bone can break, causing a hamate bone fractures, one of the common golf injuries.

Where does tendonitis occur in the hand?

In the wrist, tendonitis often occurs in the leading hand (left hand for a right handed player). In the elbow, this can sometimes be referred to as medial epicondylitis or “golfer’s elbow.”. Pain is often on the inner, or medial, part of the elbow. This is where the muscles that bend the wrist and fingers attach (Figure 1).

What causes a blood clot in the palm of the hand?

The ulnar artery is one of the main arteries to the hand. This occurs where repeated blows weaken the vessel wall. It then causes it to increase in size, and sometimes a blood clot forms. There is often pain in the palm, and sometimes disrupted blood flow going to the fingertips.

How to fix golfer's elbow?

For golfer’s elbow, try to lift objects with the palm down. Tendonitis can be improved by certain exercises. These exercises stretch and strengthen muscles and tendons. These can be recommended by a hand therapist. Changing grips on the golf club may also help.

What causes a golfer's hand to break?

The most common hand break in golf occurs when a ball is struck fat, meaning the player hits the ground behind the ball, jarring the shaft. When the club is held too high on the shaft, so that none of the shaft extends out of the top of the hands, the top of the shaft drives into the hand and may break it. Such an injury often requires surgery ...

Why are tendons more common than breaks?

Tendon injuries are more common than breaks, and while they can result from a traumatic incident, they more commonly occur because of the cumulative strain of repeated swings. Injuries to tendons are less likely to require medical attention such as surgery, and often are treated with simple measures.

Can golf gloves cause hand injuries?

By Robert Preston. Improper grips, swings or not using a golf glove can cause hand injuries. While injury risks in golf are low, the sport is not without its potential pitfalls. A common area for a golfer to feel pain after a round of golf is in his hands, which can come under strain when a golfer misplays a ball.

Why do my fingers hurt after playing golf?

If your pain is isolated primarily in the base of certain fingers after golf, you may be suffering from isolated flexor tendonitis. Your flexor tendons are those that connect the muscles in your forearms to your fingers, and the constant flexing and squeezing of the fingers in sports like golf and tennis can result in flexor tendonitis .

How to tell if your finger is hurting from golf?

If you start to notice pain in your fingers from golf, talk with your local golf pro about your grip and swing. You may be gripping the club too tightly or in a manner that is putting too much pressure on one finger. A pro might have some easy changes you can make. Also, if you consistently have a sore finger or soreness in any body part from golf, tell your doctor and be ready to provide details about the condition. Be able to explain the nature of the pain as sharp, throbbing, dull, tingly and so on. And think about when it started, how long it lasts, what helps relieve it and how much it hurts on a scale of 1 to 10.

What is the cause of flexor tendonitis?

Your flexor tendons are those that connect the muscles in your forearms to your fingers, and the constant flexing and squeezing of the fingers in sports like golf and tennis can result in flexor tendonitis. Part of the tendon can become inflamed and swollen and a nodule develops around the base of the affected fingers.

What to do if you have a sore finger from golf?

Also, if you consistently have a sore finger or soreness in any body part from golf, tell your doctor and be ready to provide details about the condition. Be able to explain the nature of the pain as sharp, throbbing, dull, tingly and so on.

What is the pain in the middle of my finger after golf?

If your pain is isolated primarily in the base of certain fingers after golf, you may be suffering from isolated flexor tendonitis.

What is the condition that attacks golfers?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition and can strike people in their 30s and 40s. It also often appears in the hands, so the tight grip on a club for a round of golf can leave rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in real pain 1. Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that attacked superstar golfer Phil Mickelson in 2010.

What to do if your finger hurts from golf?

If you start to notice pain in your fingers from golf, talk with your local golf pro about your grip and swing. Also, if you consistently have a sore finger or soreness in any body part from golf, tell your doctor and be ready to provide details about the condition.

Why does my hand hurt after playing golf?

Hand Injuries. A bad grip often contributes to hand pain after golf. Gripping the club too tightly or in the wrong way can result in injury. One hand injury we see in golfers is a fracture of the hook of the hamate. The hook of the hamate is a bone in your wrist. It can be broken when your club strikes the gound hard.

Why does my wrist hurt after golfing?

If you’ve been noticing a gradual increase in wrist pain after golfing, it may be tendinitis. Wrist tendinitis comes with overuse or poor form. Stress from swinging the club causes tiny tears in your wrist tendons. Those tendons get inflamed and cause pain.

What happens if you have sharp pain in your elbow?

If you feel very sharp pain in your elbow after making contact, you see a doctor. At the very least you may have strained a ligament. At worse, you’ve torn it. Torn elbow ligaments are the most common golf injury that we treat with surgery.

What are the most common wrist injuries?

Wrist Injuries. Sprained wrists are one of the most common golf-related wrist injuries that we see. Sprains often happen when golfers strike a root or rock during their swing. Poor mechanics can also lead to sprains, since hitting a fat shot puts so much strain on your wrists.

How to get your arms to be stronger while golfing?

Since golfing puts so much strain on your arms, being in shape matters. If you’re going to be golfing often, stretching and strength training for your arms are a good idea.

What is it called when your shoulder is pinched?

Poor mechanics can result in a condition called “shoulder impingement. ”. This happens when your tendons are being pinched between the bones in your shoulder. Impingement leads to tendinitis, which can lead to a tear. And then you’re looking at surgery.

What is golfer elbow?

That’s right – we’re talking about Golfer’s Elbow. Golfers Elbow is a condition that comes from the strain of repetitive motion. You may have Golfer’s Elbow if you have forearm and elbow pain after golfing.

dkmago

I had pain when I first started playing. I switched to graphite shaft clubs and it went away. I do believe it was due to poor contact and could probably start using steel shafts now that I'm a bit better at contacting the ball properly.

joe b

Let me help....Hold the club lighter within your hands. You may have read about Sam Snead's comparison of grip pressure as holding a baby bird in your hands, measure of pressure.

painter33

You used the term "firm", which is not the same as "tight", and tight is how most amateurs grip the club. Looking at one's glove for wear can indicate re-gripping and an overly tight grip. Tight grips also restrict the release that in turn results in disappointing contact.

Why does my right hand hurt after playing golf?

If you find that your ring finger on your right hand hurts after playing a round or two of golf, you are not alone. This is a common issue. One of the reasons it is an issue is the fact that many amateur golfers sit on a computer all day typing. This alone will put stress on their fingers without have the vibrations of hitting a golf ball add on ...

Why does my golf ball feel like it's a clank?

Instead of it feeling pure it feels more like a clank. If you tend to hit a lot of weak shots to the right or thin shots , you are not hitting the ball correctly. The most common issue is the amateur golfer raises up on their downswing.

Can you find your swing if you hit the golf ball improperly?

Almost everyone that plays golf at the amateur level is doing something wrong in their swing. That is why we have days we simply cannot “find our swing”.

What happens when you swing your hand?

The forces applied to the hands throughout the swing can cause soft-tissue inflammation or sprains, nerve damage, or fractures to the eight tiny carpal bones of the joint. The most easily injured is the hamate bone on the pinky side of your glove hand at the wrist.

How many diameters are golf grips?

GET FITTED. ▶ Grips come in four diameters, according to Golf Pride, and you can use tape to vary the thickness even more. Unfortunately, most average golfers don't realize this and simply use the grips that came on the clubs. If your grip is too small, the tendency is to hold it in the palms ( see No. 2) and/or too tightly.

Do golfers have hand injuries?

Considering the punishment your wrists endure because of golf—helping you swing the club through thick grass, plugged bunker lies and two-hour grind sessions on the range—it's amazing more golfers don't suffer hand injuries. "Actually, they do," says Dave Phillips, golf-and-fitness expert at the Titleist Performance Institute. "They're fairly common, and you typically don't come back quickly from one."

How to avoid injury in golf?

HOW TO AVOID INJURY: Players who don't turn well in the backswing tend to pin the left arm across the chest ( above, 1). Turning the upper body can be physically challenging for some golfers; others find it just plain scary, because they feel as if they won't get back to hit the ball.

What happens when you lock your knee in golf?

Many golfers square the left foot and lock the knee in an internally rotated position (right, 1), which leads to an increased shearing force on the knee joint. The typical injury is to the medial meniscus and can lead to degeneration of the articular cartilage and arthritis. — Andrews.

What happens when you swing a golf shot?

WHAT HAPPENS: A strained lower back is the most common golf injury, and the one most likely to shorten a career. The modern power swing is all about the rotation of the pelvis through the shot. The torque this creates between the pelvis and the lumbar spine pulls the ligaments, tendons and muscles in that area. Also, the shearing effect can wear away the discs between the vertebrae in the lumbar spine, leading to disc disease; that's the real career-ender. — Andrews

What is a labral tear in golf?

But labral tears (torn cartilage) are becoming common and often can be traced to the backswing. When golfers keep the left arm tight to the chest as they swing back, they can tear the labrum that stabilizes the shoulder joint. This is called a posterior labral tear, and the golfer feels pain in the back of the shoulder. — Andrews

What is it called when you have tennis elbow?

It's called lateral epicondylitis , or tennis elbow. Golfer's elbow affects the inside of the trail arm and is caused by the repeated straining and rotation of that arm through impact, but it's less common. — Andrews. HOW TO AVOID INJURY: Many golfers confuse keeping the left arm straight with locking it (below, 1).

Can you play golf without a lower back injury?

The problem is, many golfers can't do that without a lower-back injury. Instead, try to turn everything in unison; the hips and shoulders should rotate back together and through together (2). You might sacrifice some power, but you'll save your back and stay in the game. — Johnson.

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.

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.

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.

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