Shoulder Pain and Golf
Also known as: shoulder pain from golf, golf shoulder pain, can golf hurt my shoulder, shoulder hurts after golf, sore shoulder golf swing, lead shoulder pain golf, rotator cuff golf
Yes, golf can hurt your shoulder, mostly through overuse or by forcing a turn the body can't make easily. Common contributing factors are lots of balls without rest, a poor warm-up, a very long backswing and stiffness in the upper back. Stop if it hurts, and see a qualified medical professional for pain that lasts.
The golf swing asks the shoulders to rotate a long way at speed. When the upper back, hips or trunk are stiff, the shoulder may try to make up the difference. That can add strain, especially with a long, arms-only backswing.
How much you hit matters too. A big jump in practice, such as several large buckets after a winter off, can overload tissues. Hitting off hard mats or into the ground repeatedly also adds jolts.
Safe steps include a proper warm-up, building practice gradually and resting between sessions. Mobility work for the upper back and strength work for the shoulder blades may help. A coach can shorten an overlong swing. But pain, weakness, clicking or loss of motion should be checked by a doctor or physiotherapist.
Tips by skill level
Warm up with gentle arm circles and turns before you hit. Start with short swings.
If shoulder pain shows up with one club or drill, note it. Share that with a coach and a medical professional.
Example
After a winter off, a golfer hits three buckets in one day and his lead shoulder aches. He rests, sees a physiotherapist and builds his practice back up slowly.
Why it matters
Knowing what loads the shoulder helps you practice and play without pain. It also tells you when to get help.
Common mistakes
- Playing through sharp or lasting pain
- Jumping straight into heavy practice after a break
- Forcing a longer backswing than your body allows
Frequently asked questions
Why does my shoulder hurt after golf?
Often it is overuse, a missing warm-up or a swing that forces too much shoulder movement. Lasting pain should be checked by a doctor or physiotherapist.
Should I keep playing golf with shoulder pain?
Stop if it hurts. See a qualified medical professional before returning, especially if the pain is sharp or lasting.
Related terms
- Golf Fitness ExercisesA simple golf fitness plan covers four things: mobility, stability, strength and rotational power. Mobility comes mostly from the hips and upper back, and stability from the core and glutes. Two or three short sessions a week can make the swing easier on your body. Start light, build gradually and stop if anything hurts.
- Hip and Thoracic Mobility for GolfGolf needs your hips to rotate and your upper back, the thoracic spine, to turn and extend. When either is stiff, the lower back often makes up the difference. Simple drills such as 90/90 hip switches, open-book rotations and half-kneeling hip flexor stretches help many golfers turn more freely.
- Pre-Round WarmupA pre-round warmup prepares the body and calibrates feel, building from mobility to full swings, chipping, and putting. It is not for swing changes.
- OverswingOverswinging means the backswing goes too far, usually past parallel, with the body losing its structure to get there. Signs include the lead arm folding, the grip loosening and the trail elbow flying. Stopping the backswing when the shoulders finish turning usually fixes it.
- Lower Back Pain and GolfThe lower back is one of the most common places golfers report pain. Common contributing factors include a swing with extreme side bend or over-rotation, stiff hips or upper back, weak trunk endurance and heavy practice without rest. Stop if it hurts, and see a qualified medical professional for pain that persists.
Related guides & benchmarks
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