Does golf hurt your knees?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 07, 2026
While the knees are built to withstand all kinds of stresses, one wrong move can cause serious damage. Knee injuries aren't common in golf, but they do occur, and engaging in the sport may aggravate existing knee problems.
Is golf hard on your knees?
Second to the lower back, the knee is the most commonly injured joint in golf. This is because the golf swing places a tremendous amount of torque on the structure of the knee. Studies show that it would actually be less stressful to jog the eighteen holes of golf than play them!
What helps knee pain from golf?
What should I do if I have knee pain from golfing? Well, like any injury, rest and ice are helpful. For problems like tendonitis, or acute injuries like a sprained ligament or torn meniscus, physiotherapy is also a helpful way to reduce pain and improve function.
Is golf good for arthritic knees?
If golf is one of your favorite activities, you don't necessarily have to give it up. In fact, light physical activity like golf can actually help improve joint motion and coordination. You may have to make some modifications to your equipment and technique, but you can still play golf with arthritis.
Does golf make knee arthritis worse?
It may seem intuitive that golfers with knee osteoarthritis should stay off their feet and ride in a golf cart. But new research has found, for the first time, that walking the course provides significantly higher health benefits and is not associated with increased pain, cartilage breakdown or inflammation.
33 related questions foundIs golf good for arthritis?
Golf is an ideal activity for increasing strength, balance, coordination and improving range of motion, making your time on the course an important part of effectively treating your arthritis. While playing golf may benefit your health, it likely doesn't alleviate your discomfort.
Are larger golf grips better for arthritis?
Oversize golf grips reduce pain and are recommended for players who have arthritis or experience hand strain because the bigger the grip, the less pressure your hands need to apply.
Can you play golf with a knee replacement?
“We usually advise patients to wait three to nine months before returning to golf,” says McLeod Orthopedic Specialist Dr. Thomas DiStefano. “To ensure a successful return, continue exercises your surgeon or physical therapist recommends until you're ready to tee it up.”
Does golf cause hip arthritis?
Hip pain from golf can result from swinging the golf club over and over, which puts pressure on the hip joint and surrounding muscles. Pain can be also exacerbated if the swing is not executed correctly or smoothly.
Can I play golf with degenerative disc disease?
Golfers with disc conditions and/or difficulty sitting for extended periods or bending: Avoid prolonged sitting or bending. Consider resuming golf by swinging the longer irons and woods with 50% effort. Slowly work toward using the shorter clubs, chipping and putting.
What injuries can you get from golf?
8 of the Most Common Golf Injuries
- Golf Back Injuries or Pain. ...
- Rotator Cuff Injury. ...
- Golfer's Elbow. ...
- Golf Wrist Injury Like Tendonitis. ...
- Knee Pain or Injury. ...
- Foot and Ankle Injuries. ...
- Golf Hip Injury. ...
- Sunburn.
Can you tear your ACL playing golf?
It's exceedingly rare for anyone to tear an ACL playing golf, and in fact Woods says he did it while running. Not only are ACL tears rare in golfers, but for a typical golfer, the injury won't keep you from playing.
What is golfer's knee?
Over the course of walking 18 holes, or up and down hills and through sand traps, this foot and knee position can lead to a significant amount of knee pain. The knee is not designed well for the rotation and side-to-side movement required by the golf swing.
Can golf cause IT band syndrome?
Repetitively posting and rotating on the lead hip during the golf swing can lead to over stretching of the ITB. Chronic over stretching and friction against the lateral condyle of the femur can cause inflammation of the tendon and pain also known as iliotibial band syndrome.
Can golf cause groin pain?
If you have pain in your groin after golfing, it may be due to decreased hip motion, which causes stress on the muscles surrounding your hip. Try adjusting your feet in your golf stance to relieve the discomfort.
How do I stop my hips from hurting when golfing?
Eliminating hip pain
By maintaining proper posture as you swing such as keeping a straight back, balance distributes on both legs equally and shoulders wide apart will not only reduce the amount of strain but also improve your playing results. Stretching the hip muscles before your came can prevent injuries.
Can golf cause a torn meniscus?
Because of the significant amount of turning and pivoting with golf, the meniscus is under a lot of stress. Golfing can cause meniscus tears, but they are not the most common golfing injury. Meniscus tears might also hurt more in golfers because of the constant twisting motion.
Can I play golf with a torn meniscus?
There are many websites that will offer various guidelines to playing golf with a meniscus tear. These will include recommendations for warm ups, stretching, yoga, playing the short game and avoiding long drives as the force and twist required my tear the meniscus again or aggravate the condition.
How do you prevent knee injuries in golf?
Preventing Knee Pain in Golfers
- Warm up your joints prior to hitting the golf course.
- Stay hydrated during the game.
- Practice good body mechanics while bending, squatting, and swinging.
What is a weak right hand golf grip?
A weak grip means the 'V' shapes are pointed to the left of your head. This type of grip would promote a less closed club face through impact as well as a more out-to-in swing. A weaker grip can help players who struggle with hooked shots by promoting a club face that closes less rapidly through impact.
How can I play golf with arthritis?
Build up the grip size on your clubs with athletic tape or a custom grip to help you hold them easier and to reduce stress and pain on your finger joints. If you have arthritis in your hands, try wearing wrist braces and gloves on both hands to stabilize your joints.
What is an oversize golf grip?
Oversize (or "Jumbo") Golf Grips promotes lighter grip pressure and can help relieve hand and wrist strain from overgripping. Lighter grip pressure increases control and swing consistency for target-focused accuracy.
Are bigger golf grips better?
Because the grip is larger, the golfer will get a better feel for the club by using a larger grip. According to GolfGripGuide.com, larger grips will also better absorb the shock of impact or a mis-hit, which means less stress for golfers with weak hands or grips.
Should I get bigger golf grips?
If you tend to slice the ball a lot, and you're running out of options—a smaller grip might help you. And if you naturally tend to swing too much with the hands and fingers causing you to hook, a thicker grip can help mitigate your handsy action through impact. Both instances are not paramount for everyone, though.
Why does my hand hurt after golf?
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.