I've been working on my golf swing a lot recently. I'm trying to get into a groove with it so that I can depend on a smooth and accurate swing every single time. To that end I've been swinging at the range, at home and at the office up to about 200 times a day. Yeah, it's a lot. And I'd say I've been doing this for about two weeks straight.
So... I've been having some muscle and joint pain, and my hands are gaining some callouses. But it's the muscle and joint pain that worry me.
Here is what I am doing to try and solve this. First, I've taken a day off. That's helped. Second, I'm slowing down my swing a lot. Which is upping the accuracy and also lowering the punishment level. I'm also swinging less because I'm thinking about each more and trying to analyse each on to see what's up. Third, I'm much more accurate now than I was in the beginning, so I'm hitting the mat a lot less. Which is causing less of a jarring at impact. I'm also using a heating pad, which is helping.
So the question is, what else should I do? Should I ice before I heat? Should I get a brace for my wrists? Will the pain go away as I get better at this? Anyway, thoughts, idea, whatever, requested. I've never been much of an athlete, so understanding the basics would be cool.
Posted by jherr at October 17, 2005 10:11 AMjust curious but what day did you take off?
You could just be getting old. You would not believe the interesting noises my knees make after tennis.
I usually ice sore muscles. This helps keep the swelling down and produces a speedier recovery for me. (Usually my right forarm.)
Posted by: bsaz at October 17, 2005 11:59 AMI took Sunday off, mostly. I think I only did about thirty strokes or so.
I think I'm going to go with the ice thing. See how that turns out. I'm definitely getting old.
Posted by: jherr at October 17, 2005 02:31 PMwhere exactly is the pain? If it's in your wrists or hands, then you're probably gripping the club too tight and you need to loosen up a little.
if it's in the back, you're not using your hips in the rotation of the swing.
knees? Don't know about that one. But I think ice is the best thing for swelling...well, that, a couple of advil and a strong drink!:)
good luck!
Posted by: eigga49 at October 18, 2005 06:06 AMAt this point it's in my right shoulder, my left fore-arm, and my left knee. Though the knee pain is pretty minor. Actually, it's all fairly minor at this point.
Yesterday it was in my left hand fingers and wrist. Which, I think you are right, is from gripping the club too tightly.
A guy I work with has a ten handicap and has been playing since college pretty regularly. I asked him if he suffers from any pain after he golfs and he said no. So that makes me think that part of this is just breaking out of a sedentary life-style and using muscles that I haven't used in years, and thus having some related issues.
Posted by: jherr at October 18, 2005 08:40 AMthat would likely be a good start. You're stretching before you start swinging, right? I seem to recall you saying that you were. A little weight lifting if it's convenient for you might also help...keep those same said muscles warm and building them through two different methods is always a good thing.
You're a righty, right? Interesting that it's your left side that seems to be bothering you--I would think it would be more the right since that's the side that would be doing a good part of the work in terms of the extension and rotation.
Getting old sucks!:) Keep it up though--sounds like you are enjoying yourself.
Posted by: eigga49 at October 19, 2005 07:40 AMI think it's because I over-emphasize my left arm in the backswing because I concentrate on keeping it locked up.
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