Battling Elbow Tendonitis, would a lighter shaft help?

[jbsg02]

I've been battling elbow issues for the last year and a half (I'm finally going to the doctor about it this week).  Was curious is a lighter shaft in my irons would help make it easier to swing and take some pressure off my elbow.  Thoughts?  Currently have x100's in my AP2s

[YMark]

There's a long thread on this forum about "Golfer's elbow" that is a good read. It is a long lasting hard to get rid of problem. I've had it for the last 12 months but it is way better than it used to be. I purchased a new set of irons with graphite shafts and they've helped a lot. I'm not sure if a lighter shaft would help. I also do stretches and use a Thera-Band Flex bar. Do you have the tendonitis on the inside (golfer's elbow) or outside (tennis elbow) of the elbow? Exercises are different for each. Good luck.

[Stuart_G]

It's hard to say whether lighter or even softer might help.  Too complicated to really predict.  But one thing experience of many has told us is that the best chance for help is to switch to graphite shafts.

[thesamwise]

I will echo what others said. I was playing Nippon Pro 950 GH, which are light and soft, but they still aggravated my tendinitis. Got recoils, and it's almost gone. It's crazy, but it works. Good luck.

Edited July 25, 2021 by thesamwise

[Tdsjfb]

The right rehab (stretching), all of which can be found on-line, coupled with icing and NSAIDs, will significantly mitigate the pain/limitations.

[jbsg02]

44 minutes ago, YMark said:

There's a long thread on this forum about "Golfer's elbow" that is a good read. It is a long lasting hard to get rid of problem. I've had it for the last 12 months but it is way better than it used to be. I purchased a new set of irons with graphite shafts and they've helped a lot. I'm not sure if a lighter shaft would help. I also do stretches and use a Thera-Band Flex bar. Do you have the tendonitis on the inside (golfer's elbow) or outside (tennis elbow) of the elbow? Exercises are different for each. Good luck.

 

Mine is on my left arm (I'm a right handed golfer) and I believe it's triceps tendonitis, my forearm doesn't have any issues.  I can't extend my left arm fully because of it.  Going to the doctor finally and hope to get a game plan in place to get better.

[jomatty]

Another vote for graphite.  Other things may help some but if you really want to see an improvement look at graphite shafts.  Nowadays you should be able to find something that is not much of a compromise and you may even like better than steel.  Mmt’s, recoils, and steelfibers are good places to start.

[AP1Fan]

I went from Steel XP95’s to graphite UST recoils and it has made a huge difference.

[woods991]

Same here had injections etc. worked but short term, switched to recoils and lighter shaft and bingo very little issues. 

[CDLgolf]

Yet another vote for graphite shafts. I used to use Ping steel shafts with the cushon inserts but still had elbow problems. Switched to graphite and the problem disapeared in a couple months. I've been using graphite for 3 years now with no wrist or elbow pain.

[spike]

After elbow surgery I went to steelfibres in my irons, feel of graphite, easier on the joints, performs just like steel shafts

[avguy]

I had two major bouts of the Golfer's Elbow in the lead left arm when I mostly played and ranged with steel shafted irons.

 

Once I got sets that are only graphite and similar wt - no more issues despite being old!

 

I work out with resistance training all the time, use a thera-band flexbar for forearms and wrists - but still got the pain from the range and playing.  

 

I think you can leave steel in your wedges if you  feel the accuracy could compromise in lighter shafts as you only hit maybe 5-6 full wedges ea. 18 and maybe keep it to less than 10 range balls ea. week off those.  I did.

[jeffrey r]

I have made a pretty interesting discovery, most unwelcome.  I had been playing Steelfiber i110 R flex for quite awhile, and aside from the performance which was great, it really kept any elbow pain or other pain/tendonitis at bay.  After a fitting, I recently ordered and received a set of Ping G425 irons with SF i110 S flex, and these give me more pain than I have virtually ever had even with steel shafts (the likes of KBS Tour 105 S, Modus Tour 105 S, etc.).  My forearms, elbows, wrists and shoulders are all screaming.  I suppose I attribute it to the stiffness of the i110 S flex, which while still playable and performing well, is quite stiff.  A couple of weeks in, and I simply won't be able to play this set.

 

Unfortunately, this will be another notch on the graphite learning curve, and jumping in weight, or flex, can make all the difference in the world.  SF i95 R, SF i110 R, Recoil 95 F3/F4, KK105 and others, all easier to play.  YMMV.

[animalgolfs]

2 shafts come to mind that ease joint pain- 1st and foremost are Recoil- nothing comes close IMO on dampening

 

Then Modus 120 with prosoft inserts......don't know why but these are very easy on the joints as well

 

Edit: older Tour AD 105/115 and NV MLTi were pretty good as well -AD were better though

Edited July 26, 2021 by animalgolfs

[liveagua]

On 7/25/2021 at 11:27 AM, jbsg02 said:

I've been battling elbow issues for the last year and a half (I'm finally going to the doctor about it this week).  Was curious is a lighter shaft in my irons would help make it easier to swing and take some pressure off my elbow.  Thoughts?  Currently have x100's in my AP2s

A graphite shaft will help more. 

[Sparty4202]

On 7/25/2021 at 12:27 PM, jbsg02 said:

I've been battling elbow issues for the last year and a half (I'm finally going to the doctor about it this week).  Was curious is a lighter shaft in my irons would help make it easier to swing and take some pressure off my elbow.  Thoughts?  Currently have x100's in my AP2s

Before you go down the path of graphite shafts try the Sensicores in your shafts. You can get them at Billy Bob’s golf…I’ve used them in the past and it real helps. I like them better than the Pro soft inserts.

[phizzy30]

Graphite shafts.  I have had extensive wrist and hand injuries with elbow pain in the past.  I made the switch to graphite at the suggestion of a teaching pro.  Life saver.  There is less harshness and vibration especially off toe and thin mishits.  Avoiding hitting of mats is also a good idea. 

[Feelingofgreatness]

Another vote for graphite. 

I had it bad, switched to graphite and it's pretty much gone. 

Steel is the devil, you couldn't pay me enough to go back. 

[Oldboy]

I'd avoid the NSAIDs.  consider graphite shafts.  and truly only rest for an extended period of time, ie no golf no hitting balls nothing .. will help with the discomfort really going away..  i'd say 6-8 weeks minimum.  stretching and strengthening might help but it won't be significant on their own.

[NorCal678]

Specific stretching and exercises is the way to go. 

 

I have elbow pain  and a partial tear in my shoulder(was drunk on 18 and tried to rip it out of knee high grass 4 years ago, lol).   When i am good about working out, and doing nightly stretching it goes away.  

 

I wore one of those tennis elbow bands for about a year.  They help with pain and soreness, but its not a solution.  Plus it feels weird to swing with it.    

 

I know this is a climbing website, but these work amazing (especially the one you lay on your arm, pain goes away).  https://gripped.com/indoor-climbing/stretches-to-avoid-elbow-pain-from-climbing/

 

Nothing will make it go away for good, unless you put in the work on the regular.   

[Seamus_McDuff]

Second the Theraband Flexbar recommendation. Get the green one. 

[ChipNRun]

Proper rehab + graphite shafts.

 

You don't mention your age, but past 50 lots of people start having elbow and wrist issues. One partial solution after recovery is to hit some of your practice shots with limited-range soft golfballs. Much less shock, even with graphite shafts. Plus, it may help your overall tempo ... smooth it out.

 

Note: Us linksters have trouble with Golfer's Elbow and Tennis Elbow. Both are different types of tendon strains, and have somewhat different remedies.

Edited July 27, 2021 by ChipNRun
Clarify Golfer v. Tennis elbow

[RobS14526]

In addition to what others have posted, going to a larger and softer grip helped me quite a bit when I was going through some elbow and wrist issues.

[shaolingolfer]

Left elbow and finger issue here, graphite shaft really help and also try to avoid those hard artificial turf at driving range.

[minhjn]

I started getting a case of golf elbow this summer after going up in flex.  Starting doing the stretches and whatnot, but the thing that has helped the most was those seemingly silly tennis elbow braces that you can buy at the sporting goods store.  It actually worked for me quite well, which was pretty surprising.  I just made sure the cushioned side was on the inside part of my elbow.

[mogc60]

Graphite…I too was an x100/6.5 project x guy forever. I made the switch to catalyst 100 graphite and my golf game didn’t suffer at all and my elbow/wrist/finger suffering is almost non existent after playing. I’ll never go back to steel. Wish I would have switched 10 years ago. My 9 year old is becoming a pretty good player and I’m honestly going to push him to never go to steel shafts. I’d love to save him the pain later. 

Edited July 27, 2021 by mogc60

[Tax77]

I got my elbow tendonitis from using midsize grips for a season, switched back to standard and it went away.

 

Maybe experiment with grips as well.

Edited July 27, 2021 by Tax77