Many people think that pain in your wrist after a round of golf is a problem just experienced by amateur players. But wrist pain and wrist injuries are as common for professionals on the PGA Tour as they are for amateur players.
PGA Tour and Wrist Injury
PGA Tour pro Arron Oberholser had to withdraw from the BMW Championship in 2007 after he fractured the hamate bone in his left hand while hitting a ball out of the rough. In 2009, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia had to quit swinging a club for several weeks after he sprained his wrist while playing the Dubai World Championship. In 2009, Trevor Immelman withdrew from the PGA Championship, the third straight major he missed because of a wrist injury. In March 2011 Chris DiMarco withdrew from the Honda Classic, citing a wrist injury.
Wrist Injury and Playing Golf
The pain associated with wrist injuries can make playing golf impossible. Typically you can't even pick up the club when you have severe wrist pain. If you can force yourself to swing the club, your body will still be so nervous about hitting the ground too hard that you can't make a free and confident swing. You'll cringe or flinch to protect your wrist, resulting in weak shots, high scores and possibly increasing the damage to your wrist.
Common Golf Wrist Injuries
There are two basic wrist injuries from playing golf: tendinitis or joint injury. Tendinitis results from repetitive micro-trauma caused by bad swing mechanics placing stress on the tendons or from not playing enough. Joint Injury is caused from overswinging or from hitting something hard like the ground, a rock or a root with too much force, which transfers to your wrist, causing a ligament to tear or overstretch.
What to Do
If you feel wrist pain during a round, never try to "play through" the pain. You must rest the wrist and apply ice to the area. An anti-inflammatory is a good source of immediate relief, but if the pain persists, seek the help of a physical therapist. It is highly recommended that you find a PT with knowledge of the golf swing such as one certified as a Titleist Performance Institute medical professional.
