Why Does My Shoulder Hurt When I Hit High Backhands In Tennis?

Your shoulder may hurt when you hit high backhands in tennis because the arm is reaching up and across repeatedly, putting extra stress on the rotator cuff and shoulder muscles during contact.

You may notice the pain most when the ball jumps higher than expected and you have to reach up quickly to make contact. The shoulder can feel fine during lower shots, then suddenly grab or pinch during high backhands where the arm lifts higher and rotates across the body. Sometimes the pain fades once the rally slows down, then returns again on the next high shot.

You might also feel stiffness afterward when lifting your arm overhead, reaching into a cabinet, or serving later in the session. Repeated high backhands can leave the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles feeling tired and less responsive, especially when practice sessions are long or the shoulder never fully loosens up between matches.

The Shoulder Grabs Right As You Reach Up For The Ball

You may feel a sudden pinch or sharp soreness during the upward reach before contact.

High backhands force your shoulder into a position that can feel awkward and strained if the muscles around the joint are already tight or tired. You may notice the pain most on balls above shoulder height where the arm has to lift fast and stabilize at the same time.

The Shoulder Feels More Sore As The Session Goes On

You might notice the shoulder starts feeling weaker and tighter later in practice.

Early in the session the shoulder may only feel mildly stiff, but repeated backhands can gradually make the area feel heavy, restricted, or painful during follow-through. Once the shoulder muscles fatigue, even routine backhands can start feeling rough or unstable during contact.

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 shoulder only hurt on high backhands?

High backhands place the shoulder in a more elevated and stretched position, which can stress tired rotator cuff muscles more than lower shots.

Can high backhands irritate the rotator cuff?

Yes. Repeated reaching and rotation during high backhands can overload the rotator cuff, especially during long tennis sessions.

Why does my shoulder feel weak after tennis practice?

The shoulder muscles may become fatigued from repeated overhead movement, leaving the arm feeling heavy, sore, or unstable afterward.

Should I stop playing if my shoulder hurts during backhands?

If the pain keeps worsening, affects your swing, or lingers after activity, reducing activity and getting the shoulder evaluated is a good idea.

Why does the pain return even after warming up?

The shoulder may loosen temporarily once you get moving, but repeated high shots can continue stressing areas that are still recovering.