Why Does My Elbow Hurt During Overhead Shots In Pickleball?

A sharp or aching pain in your elbow when you reach overhead for a smash or serve in pickleball usually shows up as repeated swinging starts to overload the forearm tendons and elbow joint.

You may notice the pain most clearly when you bring your arm up and snap into an overhead shot, especially during faster rallies where you’re repeating the same motion. The elbow can feel like it grabs or tightens right at the moment of impact or just before contact.

This often builds up after multiple games or long sessions where your arm never really gets a chance to settle. The forearm muscles and tendons that control grip and swing speed start to fatigue, and the elbow begins to feel more sensitive every time you reach overhead again.

The Pain Shows Up Right As You Reach For The Overhead Swing

A sharp pull or sudden ache hits when you lift your arm and load into the overhead motion.

You may feel fine during ground strokes, but the moment you go overhead for a smash or serve, the elbow tightens or stings. This usually happens because the forearm tendons are taking on more force than they can comfortably handle in that fast upward snap.

It Gets Worse As Your Arm Tires From Repeated Smashes And Serves

The elbow starts feeling more sensitive the longer you play.

After back-to-back rallies, you might notice the pain becomes easier to trigger, even with lighter overhead shots. Fatigue in the forearm makes the elbow joint work harder to stabilize each swing, which keeps the irritation going.

Managing Tissue Stress, Circulation, and Recovery

Pain that keeps returning during movement, after activity, or once the body cools down often means the injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, or nearby connective tissues are still recovering from repeated strain. When an area stays tight, restricted, or painful with normal movement, the tissues may not be moving or recovering as smoothly as they should.

Repeated stress can also leave circulation slower around the injured area, making it harder for oxygen, nutrients, and excess tissue fluids to move normally through the tissues. Over time, this can leave the area feeling stiff, weak, tight, or easier to aggravate during repeated movement and activity.

Topical Recovery Support

For acute injuries with pain, swelling and inflammation, some people apply Acute Sinew Liniment to help relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, and increase blood flow to injured tissues to support faster recovery and a quicker return to activity. Some also use it alongside Sinew Herbal Ice to help speed up the recovery process and restore normal circulation and range of motion.

For ongoing pain, stiffness, or slow-healing areas after swelling and inflammation have subsided, some people apply Chronic Sinew Liniment to help relieve pain, stimulate circulation, and support recovery in overstretched tendons and ligaments. Some also pair it with Sinew Injury Poultice to further stimulate circulation and support deeper tissue recovery in areas with persistent pain and stiffness.

To warm up muscles, reduce tightness, and improve flexibility before or after activity, some people apply Sinew Sports Massage Oil to help increase circulation, prepare muscles for movement, relieve tightness, and support flexibility after activity.

Safety Notes

This article provides general educational information about the topic described above.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my elbow hurt only during overhead pickleball shots?

This usually happens when overhead swings place sudden load on already-fatigued forearm tendons, making the elbow react only during explosive movements like smashes or serves.

Why does the pain get worse the longer I play?

As you repeat overhead shots, the forearm muscles fatigue and stop supporting the elbow as well, so each swing adds more strain and increases irritation.

Is this pain coming from my elbow or forearm?

Most of the time it starts in the forearm tendons that attach near the elbow, but you feel it at the elbow joint during overhead motion and impact.

Why does it hurt more during smashes than ground shots?

Smashes and serves create faster, more forceful overhead loading, which puts much more stress on the elbow compared to controlled ground strokes.

Should I stop playing if I feel this pain?

If the pain keeps building during play, reducing overhead intensity or taking breaks can help prevent it from becoming more irritated over time.