A right pain in the thumb

[billyg]

Thought I would throw this one out there and see if anyone had any ideas.

I get a pain in my left hand around the metacarple of the thumb on the left hand (just above the fleshy pad at the base of the thumb) after about 3 or 4 holes and end up whacking a couple of ibuprofen to keep it in check every round.

It's clearly something i'm doing wrong with the swing and ive narrowed it down to one of a number of factors:

1) Long thumb- maybe the left thumb down the shaft is too long and the angle created at the top of the swing with the full weight of the club moving against it is the cause?

2) Wrong thumb position- I place the left thumb to the right of the shaft but notice if I pinch it back to the left and use a fractionally stronger grip I don't get a problem. I'm loathed to strenghten my grip from anything more than neutral as the swing is going fine. Therefore could it be a slightly weak grip?

3) Over- rotation - In conjunction with the above factors (notably No.1) I wonder if over-rotation could be the cause. I occasionally catch the club head out of the corner of my left eye which ive been told is bad. Could this be it?

4) Possibly my left hand grip is not in the fingers enough as when I play a whippy sandwedge I play a lot more in the fingers to be able to cock the wrists early and don't get the problem at all. Should I play 'in the fingers' from the tee and fairway too?

any other ideas?

anyone else get this?

bill

 

[TonyN]

maybe just the weight of the club on your thumb is causing it, and as you play regualy it is turning into a R.S.I

I think pulling the thumb left into the middle of the shaft would probably help but as you said, it would strenghten your grip. You gotta ask your self. Can i bare the pain too keep the swing. Or should i change for the better in the long run.

Am sure HTL will tell you, Sport or physical activity should never hurt, and if it does, you should get it sorted.

I have a similar problem with my little finger on my left hand. At night and in the morning it goes kind of stiff and it feels like the muscles are twangging when i bend it. Hurts a little too but once it is loose it is ok.

It used to happen in my right hand when i played right hand at top. I think i may be gripping the club too tight!

 

[viscount17]

Since taking up golf I have an almost constant low-level ache in the left little finger (I'm right-handed) and stiffer joints in both. The ache can be more severe shortly after a round or practice session.
I have also developed ganglions on the knuckles of several fingers. These sometimes re-absorb but there is usually one on show.