I Have Golfer’s Elbow and My Elbow Hurts After Hitting Balls at the Driving Range

Your elbow hurts after hitting balls at the driving range because repeated gripping and swinging can keep the tendons on the inside of your elbow under strain.

If your elbow feels fine when you arrive at the driving range but starts hurting after hitting a number of balls, the repeated swings may be what brings the pain out. You may notice an aching or sharp sensation on the inside of your elbow, particularly after gripping the club over and over.

The driving range can make this especially noticeable because you may hit dozens of balls without much break between swings. Your elbow may handle the first several shots reasonably well, then become increasingly sore as you continue, leaving you aware of the pain when you put the club down.

Your Elbow Starts Hurting After Repeated Swings

The inside of your elbow may become sore after you've hit ball after ball.

You may start with little or no pain and then notice an ache, pulling sensation, or sharper pain as the number of swings adds up. Repeatedly gripping the club gives your sore elbow very little time to rest between shots.

Your Elbow Still Hurts After You Leave The Range

The soreness may stick around after practice even though you are no longer swinging.

You might notice the elbow hurting when you carry something, grip an object, or simply move your arm later in the day. If the pain has been returning after range sessions, continuing to hit through it can keep the same area stressed before it has had enough time to recover.

Why Your Elbow Keeps Hurting After Golf Practice

Your elbow has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your elbow feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Elbow Feel Better

Your elbow starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my elbow hurt after hitting balls at the driving range?

Repeated gripping and swinging can keep stressing the tendons affected by golfer’s elbow, causing your elbow to become more painful as practice continues.

Why does my elbow feel fine at first but hurt after hitting golf balls?

Your elbow may tolerate the first few swings but become sore as repeated gripping and swinging add more stress to the already painful area.

Can hitting golf balls make golfer’s elbow worse?

Continuing to hit through elbow pain can keep stressing the affected area and make recovery more difficult.

Why does my elbow still hurt after I leave the driving range?

Your elbow may remain sore after practice because the repeated swings have continued stressing an area that was already painful.

Should I keep hitting balls if my golfer’s elbow hurts?

If hitting balls makes your elbow pain worse, reducing or stopping the activity gives the area a better opportunity to recover. Persistent or worsening pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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