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As I have grown up around golf there has always been a discussion about if golf is a “real sport” and if it is not a “real sport” then of course there is little to no chance you can get injured. After all it’s just swings, putts, walking, and maybe riding in a golf cart, you would have to be pretty unathletic or unlucky to get injured, but as I’ve seen, and as research shows, that’s just not the case.
Although golf may be considered a low impact sport or activity, the repetitive and forceful nature of the golf swing places various parts of the body under stress in order to achieve the precision and control the game demands (Andrews & Johnson, 2013; (McHardy & Pollard, 2005). Understanding these common injuries and taking preventative action are key to the longevity of your game.
Common Injuries
- Shoulder: When it comes to shoulder injuries, the rotator cuff and labrum are the most vulnerable for common injury, which usually happens in the back swing where the tendons are being stretched and then forcefully released down and towards the ball (Sparks, 2016; Robinson et al., 2023). To attempt to aid this injury apply a topical pain relief like Biofreeze to the painful area and, to prevent, make swing mechanical changes to make sure your body is turning as one or shorten your backswing.
- Golfer’s Elbow: One of the most common injuries golfers experience is golfer’s elbow, otherwise known as tennis elbow. This occurs when tendons on the outside of the elbow are overused and overloaded to the point where they begin to tear away from the bone. Recommended preventative action is to strengthen forearms with tools like FlexBar – with twisting or bending exercises – or even simply squeezing a tennis ball (Golf Injury Prevention - OrthoInfo - AAOS, 2024; Mayo Clinic, 2022).
- Wrist: Most wrist injuries occur on the lead arm of the swing, which for right-handed golfers is the left, and for left-handed golfers the right. The extender and fluxion tendons and muscles take on the impact of powering the club through the swing which can cause tendonitis. Proactive action to avoid this is to strengthen your forearms with FlexBar for grip strength or even change your grip by hinging your wrist behind your hand and slightly away from your target. (McHardy & Pollard, 2005).
- Lower Back: The lower back is subject to rotational stress from the swing which puts a lot of pressure on the spine and muscles around it;, poor flexibility and muscle strength are also contributing factors to this injury. Preventative strategies are to strengthen both back and core muscles as well as a consistent stretching routine (Golf Injury Prevention - OrthoInfo - AAOS, 2024), which could be aided by doing exercises like lateral pull downs and rows with THERABAND resistance bands or back extensions and core crunches with SPINEFITTER.
- Knee and Hip: The hips and knees play an underrated but crucial part in the absorbance of shock and torque with every swing. This can lead to things like medial meniscus, labral tears, and tendonitis (Busch & Barragree, 2025). To prevent these, you can slow the pace of your swing or stance, such as flaring feet when setting up, to make the rotation easier on both hip and knee.
Conclusion
It’s easy to underestimate the physical demands on the body when playing golf. As a golfer myself, I have seen many of my friends, teammates, and professionals fall victim to shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, hip, and knee injuries. Just like any other sport, strength training, flexibility, and proper mechanics in golf are vital, not only for professionals but for recreational golfers aiming to continue playing the game they love pain free. Although there are instances where injuries aren’t necessarily preventable it’s important for golfers of every level to understand how and why these injuries happen, as well as steps they can take to protect their bodies.
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References
- Andrews, Dr. J., & Johnson, H. (2013, August 21). 5 Common Golf Injuries and How to Avoid Them. The Loop; Golf Digest. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/fitness-avoid-injuries
- Golf Injury Prevention - OrthoInfo - AAOS. (2024, May). Www.orthoinfo.org; OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/staying-healthy/golf-injury-prevention/
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, September 28). Golfer’s elbow - symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/golfers-elbow/symptoms-causes/syc-20372868
- McHardy, A. J., & Pollard, H. P. (2005). Golf and Upper Limb Injuries: a summary and review of the literature. Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 13(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1340-13-7
- Robinson et al., P. (2023). Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal - Golf Injuries. Aspetar.com; Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal. https://journal.aspetar.com/en/archive/volume-12-targeted-topic-sports-medicine-in-golf/golf-injuries?
- Sparks, D. (2016, June 30). Golfers: Tee Up Some Common Sense - Mayo Clinic News Network. Mayo Clinic News Network. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/golfers-tee-up-some-common-sense/
