Pinky Hurts After Golf? (Yes Its Normal)

Ever finished a round of golf with your pinky feeling like it’s been through the wringer?

You are not alone! This is pretty normal for anyone switching to the interlock grip.

There are a couple of reasons why this might be happening, and it usually boils down to how you’re holding the club.

In this post, I’ll go over the reasons why your pinky hurts after golf, what you can do to stop it from happening again, and how to relieve the pain.

Why Your Pinky Hurts After Golf

There are 3 reasons why your pinky is sore after golf:

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Interlocking Grip Putting Pressure On The Pinky Joint

This is the most common cause, especially if you’re new to using an interlock grip.

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The interlock grip is popular among golfers because it’s really secure. In this grip, the pinky finger on your trailing hand locks with the index finger on your lead hand.

Now this can help with control, but it also puts a lot of pressure on the pinky joint – especially when the club strikes the ball.

If your hands aren’t used to this or if your grip is too tight, it will hurt.

Over time, this repeated strain can make your pinky sore after every round.

Gripping The Club Too Tightly

Another big reason for pinky pain is gripping the club way too tight.  

When you squeeze the club really hard, it puts a lot of stress on the tiny muscles and tendons in your fingers.  This stress can make those finger parts get inflamed and irritated.  

Worst case – it can even lead to something called “trigger finger,” where your pinky gets stuck bent and you can barely straighten it out.

That’s why holding the club with a relaxed, lighter grip is super important.

Previous Injuries Or Conditions Like Arthritis

For some golfers, the pinky pain can be caused by old injuries or problems they already have in their hands and fingers.  

If you ever broke or sprained your pinky, that joint might be more sensitive to the twisting and hitting motion of a golf swing.  The injured joint can get inflamed and sore more easily.

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Also, if you have arthritis, especially in your finger joints that can be a cause too.

All the bending and force goes through those arthritic joints during the swing.  The constant repetitive motion makes the arthritis flare up and hurt more.

Also Read: Golf stiff fingers in morning

How To Stop This Happening

I only know 2 ways to stop your pinky hurting after golf:

Change Grip Technique

If that pinky is really bugging you, your best option is to change your grip technique.

That interlock grip can put a lot of pressure right on that joint.

So you could try switching to an overlap grip or even that baseball-style grip where all your fingers go on top, rather than interlocking with them.

It might feel a little weird at first, but it could take that strain off your pinky.

Also Read: Do You Tip A Golf Instructor? 

Change Grip Size

Another thing to think about is the size of those grips you’re using.

If you’ve got bigger hands, those standard grips might be gripping the club too tightly without even realizing it, and squishing your pinky in there.

So it might be worth getting your grip size checked at a pro shop.

Try some midsize or large grips and see if that gives your fingers a little more room.

Or you could just wrap some extra grip tape around the handle to make it a bit fatter. That extra space might be all your pinky needs.

How To Relieve Sore Pinky Finger From Golf

If it hurts a lot, take a break from golfing and avoid anything that aggravates the pain.

Keep applying ice packs to the sore pinky for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day. But do wrap the ice pack in a towel to avoid direct skin contact.

Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can also help reduce inflammation and pain.

You could even buddy tape it or use one of those little splints to keep it from bending too much when you do play.

Also Read: Why Do I Hit Blades Better Than Cavity Backs?

But if it’s getting really bad, don’t be a hero – go see a doctor and get it checked out.

Some Of My Best Tips For Pinky Problems

Here are a few more pieces of advice that have helped me and some buddies:

  1. Play around with exactly where you position that pinky finger relative to the others. You might find a sweet spot that takes pressure off.
  2. There are some grip trainer doodads out there that can help you get the hang of holding the club without strangling it.
  3. Do some hand and finger exercises to strengthen everything up. The stronger those muscles are, the less likely you’ll irritate that pinky.
  4. Stay hydrated and make sure to warm up properly before hitting balls. Tight, dehydrated hands are just asking for trouble.

The main thing is, don’t just grin and bear it if that pinky is really bothering you. Tinker around until you find a grip or technique that works.

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