Lead Hand Ring Finer Pain

[RB147]

I used to play a lot but have had to almost give up due to pain in my lead hand ring finger when I swing the club. The pain is at the very base of the finger on the palm side. This issue developed over 12 months ago. I’ve seen two specialists and hand x-ray, ultrasound and MRI, all show no issues. Has anybody else experienced anything similar? I really miss golf

 

[clubchamp98]

That sounds very strange given the tests you’ve had.

Do you wear a ring or not, could be the vibration of the shaft on the ring.
Have you tried playing without it.
Wild guess but possible.

Have you tried midsize / jumbo grips or even undersize.

I had a very similar thing where I was getting pain in the ring finger because of my job at the time.
Lots of hammering and banging.
Removed the ring pain gone
Missus wasn’t happy but I don’t wear it at all now.

 

[RB147]

That sounds very strange given the tests you’ve had.

Do you wear a ring or not, could be the vibration of the shaft on the ring.
Have you tried playing without it.
Wild guess but possible.

Have you tried midsize / jumbo grips or even undersize.

I had a very similar thing where I was getting pain in the ring finger because of my job at the time.
Lots of hammering and banging.
Removed the ring pain gone
Missus wasn’t happy but I don’t wear it at all now.

Thanks for the reply. No I don’t wear a ring. I agree it is very strange and seems to have defeated medical science. I’m absolutely gutted.

 

[cliveb]

When you say "lead hand", do you mean the right hand (if you're a right handed player)?

I have a similar thing. It started as obviously a case of trigger finger. I had a steroid injection in Jan 2023, which fixed things for a few months. Then the trigger finger returned and I had another steroid injection in Dec 2023. That didn't seem to help much. Since then it's changed. The finger no longer locks, because it's stiffened up enough that it's not possible to bend it enough. It tends to stiffen up overnight, then partially free up during the day, although it's never "normal". Luckily for me, it doesn't bother me when playing golf.

I sometimes wonder if it might be a result of years of golf using an interlock grip. I did briefly try using overlap and baseball grips, but they both just felt strange, and since I can still play, reverted to interlock.

EDIT: Just realised that the lead hand for a right handed player is the left hand, of course. My problem is the ring finger on the trail hand. Sorry - I shouldn't post late at night when I'm tired.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

When you say "lead hand", do you mean the right hand (if you're a right handed player)?

I have a similar thing. It started as obviously a case of trigger finger. I had a steroid injection in Jan 2023, which fixed things for a few months. Then the trigger finger returned and I had another steroid injection in Dec 2023. That didn't seem to help much. Since then it's changed. The finger no longer locks, because it's stiffened up enough that it's not possible to bend it enough. It tends to stiffen up overnight, then partially free up during the day, although it's never "normal". Luckily for me, it doesn't bother me when playing golf.

I sometimes wonder if it might be a result of years of golf using an interlock grip. I did briefly try using overlap and baseball grips, but they both just felt strange, and since I can still play, reverted to interlock.

EDIT: Just realised that the lead hand for a right handed player is the left hand, of course. My problem is the ring finger on the trail hand. Sorry - I shouldn't post late at night when I'm tired.

I have started getting trigger finger on my ring finger of my lead hand. Had it a few months now but fortunately aside from it being stiff and bending at times it isn't affecting my golf. https://www.physioinq.com.au/blog/golf-trigger-injury-put-a-stop-to-it

 

[RB147]

When you say "lead hand", do you mean the right hand (if you're a right handed player)?

I have a similar thing. It started as obviously a case of trigger finger. I had a steroid injection in Jan 2023, which fixed things for a few months. Then the trigger finger returned and I had another steroid injection in Dec 2023. That didn't seem to help much. Since then it's changed. The finger no longer locks, because it's stiffened up enough that it's not possible to bend it enough. It tends to stiffen up overnight, then partially free up during the day, although it's never "normal". Luckily for me, it doesn't bother me when playing golf.

I sometimes wonder if it might be a result of years of golf using an interlock grip. I did briefly try using overlap and baseball grips, but they both just felt strange, and since I can still play, reverted to interlock.

EDIT: Just realised that the lead hand for a right handed player is the left hand, of course. My problem is the ring finger on the trail hand. Sorry - I shouldn't post late at night when I'm tired.

I’m a right-handed golfer, my lead hand is my left. I have full movement of my hand and fingers with no stiffness or pain until I play golf. I have a very standard interlocking grip. I’ve tried baseball grip but that didn’t help. I’ve tried wearing a brace on the finger which helped a bit but is impossible to play decent golf with that. After I’ve finished playing a few holes, if I press on the tip of my ring finger or apply sideways pressure it is very painful. The pain is down the whole finger but focused at the very base on the palm side. The pain clears up after a few days but as soon as I try and play golf it’s back again. I’ve tried no golf for two periods of eight weeks (cancelled competitions and holidays etc) but as soon as I start golf again the pain is back. I had a steroid injection and the pain went away almost completely and a could play as normal but that only lasted eight weeks and I was back to square one.

 

[timd77]

I had something similar a few years ago, turned out to be gout (or similar, I can’t remember exactly), tablets got rid of it after a while. In the meantime I found that the 10 finger/baseball grip reduced the pain.

 

[clubchamp98]

I’m a right-handed golfer, my lead hand is my left. I have full movement of my hand and fingers with no stiffness or pain until I play golf. I have a very standard interlocking grip. I’ve tried baseball grip but that didn’t help. I’ve tried wearing a brace on the finger which helped a bit but is impossible to play decent golf with that. After I’ve finished playing a few holes, if I press on the tip of my ring finger or apply sideways pressure it is very painful. The pain is down the whole finger but focused at the very base on the palm side. The pain clears up after a few days but as soon as I try and play golf it’s back again. I’ve tried no golf for two periods of eight weeks (cancelled competitions and holidays etc) but as soon as I start golf again the pain is back. I had a steroid injection and the pain went away almost completely and a could play as normal but that only lasted eight weeks and I was back to square one.

Check out the Bionic golf gloves I wear one now they do help.

 

[Orikoru]

Have you had a pro look at your grip just in case you're doing anything funky that could add pressure to it?

 

[jim8flog]

When you say "lead hand", do you mean the right hand (if you're a right handed player)?

It is funny how we all see it differently, as a right hander I see my left hand the lead as the lead hand.

I remember in my early years Gary Player saying when you reach the top of the back swing think of pulling down on the club with you left hand, left provides the power right controls direction.

 

[Orikoru]

It is funny how we all see it differently, as a right hander I see my left hand the lead as the lead hand.

I remember in my early years Gary Player saying when you reach the top of the back swing think of pulling down on the club with you left hand, left provides the power right controls direction.

Clive edited his post to say he got it wrong.

 

[RB147]

I had something similar a few years ago, turned out to be gout (or similar, I can’t remember exactly), tablets got rid of it after a while. In the meantime I found that the 10 finger/baseball grip reduced the pain.

Thanks but I don’t think it is gout as I only get the pain when I play golf. Was that the same for you?

 

[timd77]

Thanks but I don’t think it is gout as I only get the pain when I play golf. Was that the same for you?

Pretty much yeh, it was a while ago now but I remember first noticing it when I was playing golf and it got worse and worse. It probably isn’t but thought I’d mention it in case the symptoms match and another avenue to look down.

 

[clubchamp98]

Thanks but I don’t think it is gout as I only get the pain when I play golf. Was that the same for you?

Whatever it is it sounds like it’s brought on by the stress of your grip or the vibration of the shaft.

Shafts that dampen the vibration are avaliable!

Can’t really think of a way forward maybe a phisio would class it as a repetitive strain injury.

 

[bobmac]

How tightly do you hold the club?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

How tightly do you hold the club?

I hold my driver and irons at 5-6 out of 10 but wedges are around 2

 

[bobmac]

I hold my driver and irons at 5-6 out of 10 but wedges are around 2

I was actually asking the OP