Tennis elbow sounds like the sort of thing that should happen on a court, possibly while wearing a sweatband and muttering about your backhand.
But despite the name, tennis elbow is not exclusive to tennis players. Golfers can get it too. In fact, anyone who repeatedly grips, swings, twists, lifts or uses their forearm muscles can develop it. That includes golfers, gardeners, tradies, painters, keyboard warriors and anyone who has ever attempted to carry all the groceries inside in one trip. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, usually causes pain around the outside of the elbow where the forearm tendons attach, and the pain can sometimes travel into the forearm or wrist.
So yes, golfers can get tennis elbow. They can also get golfer’s elbow, which is similar but not quite the same. Handy, isn’t it? Golf gives you a sport, a social life, a reason to buy new shoes, and multiple elbow conditions with confusing names.
Tennis elbow versus golfer’s elbow
The main difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow is where the pain shows up.
Tennis elbow usually affects the outside of the elbow. It is commonly linked to repetitive strain through the forearm muscles and tendons, especially movements involving gripping or wrist extension. Golfer’s elbow, on the other hand, tends to cause pain on the inside of the elbow and is often associated with repetitive gripping, wrist flexion and the forces involved in a golf swing.
Of course, bodies do not always read the textbook. Some golfers may feel pain in different places, and elbow pain can have several causes. If pain is persistent, sharp, worsening, or affecting your ability to play, it is best to check in with a qualified health professional rather than relying on a blog post and optimism.
Why golf can stir up elbow pain
Golf may look smooth and graceful when the pros do it, but the body knows the truth. A golf swing asks a lot from your hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, back and hips. Add in repeated practice swings, gripping the club, hitting from firm turf, carrying or pushing equipment, and the occasional “enthusiastic” shot out of the rough, and your elbows may start wondering what they did to deserve this.
Tennis elbow in golfers can be linked to repetitive load through the tendons on the outside of the elbow. This may happen gradually over time, especially if you are playing more often, changing your technique, using equipment that does not suit you, or returning to golf after a break. Tennis elbow symptoms can be aggravated by activities involving gripping, lifting or twisting movements.
In other words, the elbow does not care whether you are holding a tennis racquet, a golf club, a paintbrush or a stubborn jar of pickles. Repetition is repetition
Common signs to watch for
Golfers dealing with tennis elbow may notice:
- Pain or tenderness on the outside of the elbow
- Discomfort that worsens when gripping the club
- Pain when lifting, twisting or carrying objects
- Forearm tightness or weakness
- A drop in grip strength
- An elbow that starts complaining before the back nine
Symptoms often build gradually. You may first notice a niggle after a round, then discomfort during play, then the deeply unfair moment when lifting your coffee cup feels more dramatic than your tee shot.
What can help?
The first step is not to panic. Tennis elbow is common, and many cases improve with sensible management. That usually means reducing or modifying the activity that is irritating the tendon, giving the area time to settle, and seeking advice if symptoms continue. Rest, pain relief and physiotherapy are commonly recommended treatment options, depending on the severity and cause.
For golfers, prevention and management may include:
- Checking your grip pressure. If you are holding the club like it owes you money, ease up.
- Warming up before you play, including wrists, forearms, shoulders and back.
- Building strength gradually, rather than suddenly doubling your weekly rounds.
- Having your swing assessed by a golf professional if pain keeps appearing.
- Using properly fitted clubs.
- Taking breaks from repetitive practice if your elbow starts to object.
- Getting professional advice before pushing through ongoing pain.
A physiotherapist or sports medicine professional can help identify whether the issue is actually tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, another tendon problem, nerve irritation, joint pain or something else entirely. Elbows may be small, but they can be surprisingly mysterious.
Don’t forget the rest of the round
When golfers think about strain, they often focus on the swing. But the physical load of golf is not just about hitting the ball. It is also the walking, lifting, bending, pushing, pulling and hauling gear from the car to the course and around 18 holes.
That may not sound like a big deal until you remember that your golf bag is basically a mobile hardware store with snacks. Add hills, wet grass, a long walk between holes and a few extra layers in cooler weather, and your body is doing plenty before you even address the ball.
Reducing unnecessary strain can make a real difference, particularly for golfers who want to keep playing regularly, comfortably and confidently.
Make golf easier on your body with Parmaker
This is where a Parmaker golf buggy can help.
Parmaker’s motorised golf buggies are designed to make getting around the course easier, helping golfers conserve energy and reduce the physical load of carrying or pushing heavy gear. Their motorised three and four-wheel golf buggies can be transported in a car boot or with Parmaker’s car carrier, making them practical from home to course and back again.
A buggy will not fix tennis elbow, and it is not a replacement for good medical advice. But it can help make the overall experience of golf easier on your body. Less hauling. Less strain. More energy for the parts of the game you actually enjoy, like sinking a putt, finding the fairway, or explaining that your ball only went into the trees because of the wind.
Golf should be something you look forward to, not something your elbows dread.
Ready to make every round easier on your body? Explore the Parmaker range.
Click here to read more about how to prevent golfer’s elbow from derailing your game.
