A lot of golfers put up with shoulder pain for far longer than they probably should.
Usually because it starts off manageable.
It might just feel a bit tight during your backswing, or slightly sore after a round. You stretch it a bit more, take a few days off, maybe book a massage, and for a while it seems to calm down.
Then a few weeks later it’s back again.
One of the most frustrating things about golf injuries is that they rarely arrive all at once. Most people notice small changes first. Your swing feels less fluid than it used to, you don’t rotate quite as comfortably through the ball, or your shoulder feels stiff on the first few holes until you loosen up a bit.
A lot of golfers assume that’s simply part of getting older or playing more regularly.
Sometimes it is just temporary irritation. But recurring shoulder pain is often a sign that something in the body is no longer moving or loading as well as it should.
The shoulder is often not the whole story
This is something we explain quite a lot at the clinic.
Golf places a surprising amount of demand on the body, particularly through the shoulders, upper back and hips. Although the shoulder is usually where people feel the pain, the actual cause is often a bit more complicated than that.
For example, if the upper back becomes stiff and loses rotation over time, the shoulder often ends up compensating during the swing. The same can happen when hip movement becomes limited. Your body still wants to create the same movement and generate the same power, so another area quietly takes on more work.
The body is incredibly good at adapting like this for a while.
The problem is that compensation eventually catches up with people, especially in sports like golf where the same movement is repeated over and over again.
That’s why many golfers find the pain settles when they rest, but returns as soon as they start playing regularly again.
Why stretching and rest only seem to help temporarily
Most active people are quite good at trying to manage these things themselves first.
Golfers will often try more stretching, a massage gun, or a couple of weeks or rest to see if it helps.
Sometimes those things genuinely do help, particularly if the issue is still quite mild.
But if the shoulder is repeatedly being overloaded because of the way the body is moving during the swing, the symptoms often keep returning once normal golf activity resumes.
This is usually the point where people start getting frustrated because they feel like they’re doing all the right things but not really getting anywhere long term. Stretches and warm-ups are hugely beneficial still, and you can find a good golf specific warm-up here, but if you find your pain is persistent, it probably means it’s something worth looking into, so you can hope to eradicate the pain for good and enjoy your hobby once more.
Some of the early signs golfers tend to ignore
A lot of golfers don’t seek support because the pain never feels “bad enough”.
Instead, they gradually start adapting around it without properly noticing.
That might mean:
- avoiding a full backswing
- feeling less confident hitting certain shots
- losing some distance
- feeling stiffer after playing
- needing much longer to warm up before a round
- noticing one shoulder feels tighter than the other
These smaller signs are often worth paying attention to because they usually appear long before someone reaches the point of significant pain.
There’s also a misconception that we have to be in a lot of pain before speaking with a physio, but we really believe it’s important for you to enjoy your hobbies to the full without these niggles. We don’t want you to wait until it’s agony. Speak to a physio sooner and enjoy your sport for longer. You don’t need a GP referral.
It’s not usually about telling golfers to stop playing
One of the biggest concerns golfers have before booking an assessment is that they’ll immediately be told to stop playing completely. In reality, most people simply want to understand what’s happening and whether they’re making things worse by continuing.
A good assessment should help identify:
- what may be irritating the shoulder
- whether the body is compensating elsewhere
- which movements are restricted
- what can help improve confidence and movement again
For many golfers, understanding the root cause properly is a huge relief in itself, especially after months of recurring flare ups that never seem to fully settle.
We don’t want to tell you to stop playing golf at all. Depending on the issues, we may ask you to take it easy temporarily, but this isn’t always the guidance. We treat everyone bespoke, and can tailor your plans to suit your lifestyle. We work with you as partners.
What we look at during an assessment at The Body Reset Clinic
At Body Reset Clinic, we don’t just focus on the painful area.
We also look at:
- upper back mobility
- shoulder strength and control
- hip movement
- posture and rotation
- movement patterns that may be contributing to overload
The aim is to understand how your body is moving as a whole, particularly in relation to the demands of golf.
We regularly support golfers in Hartley Wintney and surrounding areas who want to keep playing comfortably through the season, whether that’s managing long-standing stiffness, preparing for a golf trip, or trying to prevent recurring injuries becoming more limiting over time.
We’re also proud to work in partnership with Hartley Wintney Golf Club, where members receive 10% off treatments.
When it may be worth getting it checked
It may help to speak with a therapist if:
- shoulder pain keeps returning during or after golf
- your swing feels restricted
- rest only helps temporarily
- you’re changing the way you play because of discomfort
- stiffness or pain has been ongoing for several weeks
Your first appointment usually lasts around 45 or 60 minutes. We recommend the 60 minute initial assessment if you have a double injury or back and neck injuries. The 45 minute assessment is suitable for single injuries such as knee, elbow and shoulder pain.
During this time, your therapist will assess your movement, understand your symptoms, and talk through a personalised plan to support your recovery and help you continue doing the activities you enjoy.
If your symptoms are severe or sudden, please contact your GP or emergency services.
________________________
Frequently asked questions
Why does my shoulder hurt more after golf than during it?
That’s actually very common. During a round, the body is warm and adrenaline can mask irritation slightly. Many golfers notice the discomfort more later that day, the following morning, or after repeated rounds close together. It can sometimes be a sign that the shoulder is coping during the swing but becoming overloaded over time.
Why does my shoulder feel stiff at the top of my backswing?
This is often linked to reduced movement somewhere else in the body, particularly through the upper back or shoulders themselves. If rotation is restricted, the shoulder can end up working harder to reach certain positions in the swing, which may create stiffness or discomfort over time.
Can golf cause rotator cuff problems?
Golf can place repeated load through the rotator cuff, especially if the shoulder is compensating for reduced movement elsewhere. That does not always mean there is significant damage, but irritation around the rotator cuff is quite common in golfers, particularly during busy playing periods or after increasing practice.
Why does the pain keep coming back after resting it?
Rest often helps settle irritation temporarily, but it does not always address why the shoulder became overloaded in the first place. If the same movement patterns and compensations are still there when you return to golf, the discomfort can gradually return again.
Should I stop playing golf completely if my shoulder hurts?
Not necessarily. A lot of golfers are still able to continue playing in some capacity while working on the underlying issue. It depends on the severity of the symptoms and how much the pain is affecting movement, strength and confidence during your swing.
How do I know if it’s worth getting checked?
It’s usually worth looking into if the pain keeps returning, your swing feels different, or you’re starting to change the way you play because of discomfort. Many golfers wait until things become quite limiting, but smaller recurring niggles are often easier to address earlier on.
Can physio actually help golf shoulder pain?
Physiotherapy can help identify what may be contributing to the strain on the shoulder, whether that’s stiffness, reduced strength, movement patterns or compensation elsewhere in the body. For many golfers, understanding the cause properly is the first step towards feeling more confident during the swing again.