Why Does My Elbow Hurt During My Backswing After A Few Holes?

Your elbow may start hurting during your backswing after a few holes because repeated swings gradually tighten and overload the tendons around the elbow, making rotation and grip feel more painful as the round goes on.

You may first notice a mild ache in the elbow that only shows up on longer swings, then realize the backswing starts feeling tight, restricted, or sharp after a few holes. Sometimes the elbow feels fine walking between shots, but the moment you take the club back, the pain suddenly returns. The area can feel especially irritated if you have been gripping the club tightly or hitting a lot of shots from rough ground or hard turf.

This type of pain is commonly tied to repeated strain building up over the course of the round rather than one single swing. The tendons around the inner or outer elbow can gradually tighten as the arm absorbs repeated force from swinging, gripping, and contact with the ground. Once the area starts getting irritated, the elbow may feel less fluid during rotation and more sensitive during every backswing afterward.

The Elbow Starts Tightening As The Round Goes On

You may feel the backswing become more uncomfortable with each hole.

The elbow often feels looser early in the round, then gradually stiffens as repeated swings pile up. You might notice the first few swings feel normal, but later the elbow starts pulling or aching the moment the club moves backward. Fatigue in the forearm muscles can leave the tendons handling more stress than they comfortably can.

Gripping The Club Repeatedly Can Irritate The Tendons

The elbow may start hurting more when you grip tightly during the swing.

Repeated gripping keeps the forearm muscles working almost constantly during a round. If the grip pressure stays high for multiple holes, the tendons near the elbow can become sore and less flexible, especially during rotation in the backswing. You may also notice lingering soreness when picking up your bag, shaking hands, or twisting a doorknob afterward.

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 only start hurting after a few holes?

The tendons around the elbow may gradually tighten and fatigue during repeated swings, making the backswing more painful as the round continues.

Can gripping the club too hard cause elbow pain?

Yes. Constant tight gripping can overload the forearm muscles and irritate the tendons attached near the elbow.

Why does the backswing hurt more than the downswing?

The backswing places the elbow under rotation and tension while the forearm muscles stay engaged to control the club.

Is this golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow?

It can be either depending on where the pain is located. Inner elbow pain is more commonly linked to golfer’s elbow, while outer elbow pain is more common with tennis elbow.

Should I stop golfing if my elbow keeps hurting?

If the pain keeps returning or starts affecting normal grip strength and movement, reducing activity and getting the elbow evaluated is a good idea.