When diagnosed last fall, I was coming off my second summer of trying to learn the ridiculously difficult game of golf. My beloved husband loves it and I always promised someday I would learn to play. Well, that day arrived, and just in time for me to have the added complication of RA.
We are going on a golf vacation soon (with a group of friends, all experienced golfers) and BH and I hit balls yesterday, for the first time since October. Well, I am even worse than before, even taking into account the time span since last I played. It can mostly be traced to my wrists and their weakness. It's REAL hard to control the club when your wrists are flopping all over the place, believe me.
So in addition to whining about my bad luck (what a fiasco it's going to be playing on expensive courses with all these good golfers!) I wonder, are there any RA golfers out there who can tell me a magic way to strengthen my wrists? Golfers believe in magic, you know. They also believe in high-priced equipment, but that's a subject for a different discussion board. I know that people have to give up all sorts of physical activities that they enjoy, but I still want to try and play golf. My main pain areas are hands, wrists and right shoulder. I would appreciate any insights from others who love the game.I don't play golf, but I have enjoyed driving the golf carts in the past!! hehe
I would suggest picking yourself up some wrist braces. I'm not sure how well they'll work when it comes to holding the club though. You might have to adjust your swing.
eta: Make sure you get the longer wrist braces that come up to about the middle of your arm if you do. The smaller ones look "cuter" but they don't seem to provide as much support.
CO_Mel2009-02-07 08:18:48Hi, another golfer here. Unfortunately I had to put my golf clubs away for about 5 years.
I couldn't golf when I was at my worst, nor did I want to. I was on all types of drugs, Pred. 45 mg. daily and wasn't in the mood to play. After 5 years I finally achieved clinical remission and can now golf up to 11 holes and my goal is to be golfing 18 holes by April 1st.
My wrists and fingers are affected but it was my back and legs that kept my swing and posture from working together. Your body automatically compensates for any pain. If your wrists hurt then your body is automatically going to stiffen them or adjust to make them feel better and your grip will be wrong. That's what happened with my back. I tried to keep my head down and my knees in position but due to back and knee pain my body would automatically straighten itself and I'd lift my head and raise up before my swing was complete. It threw my whole game off and there wasn't anything I could do to compensate for it, so I had to stop golfing.
There are wrist exercises you can do to strenghten your muscles. My suggestion is to take lessons with the idea that you need help in the areas where you're weak. In other words start all over again. I took a series of lessons before I got back on the golf course, centered on my body's weak areas. There may be another stance, or way of holding the club and swinging that will make up for your lack of strength. The extra lessons helped a great deal. I'm with you about spending the money golfing and not being able to complete the game and/or not playing well because you hurt. I just played in my first tournament in over 7 years and I didn't finish in the top of the pack but I didn't finish in the bottom either.
Just have fun. Lindy
Played golf in the distant past!!! Nice to be on the green course. GOod luck.I golf, except for the past few years. I never could grip the clubs right according to Hubbie #1, which is why he is #1.
I developed by own grip, my own style, my own golf game, which is true for every golfer including Tiger Woods. So, stop listening to everybody who doesn't have RA on how you are "suppose" to do it.
My tips? I was told as a woman if I could learn to drive a good 125 yards or more straight ahead I could make the green and get to par golf occasionally, which did happen before I really got into RA. Work on your short game (putts, chips, etc.) Don't try for huge long man-drives with curves around hazards and all that, impossible for us. Just learn to hit it straight ahead and if you do that, you make it to the hole.
The other advice I was given was on how to read for a putt. Look at the angle of the green once you are there for the putt. Imagine a sheet of water, and observe which way it would flow (downwards) because of the angle. That way you can see between your ball and the hole which way the green is angled and you can then try for a straight putt, or putt it to curve in from the right or left, depending on how you envision the water sheeting across the green and its direction.
Hope this helps! Plus I wear a glove on both hands for better grip strength.
Shoot your age! LOL Cathy
justsaynoemore2009-02-07 12:13:22I have to go with CO_Mel on this one... golf is better for watching than playing! I live on a golf course and folks are actually out playing today. A big snowstorm is supposed to be rolling in, but it's beautiful for the moment.
Bluehour, I hope your vacay is fun, no matter how the golfing goes for you.
ColoMo-
Playing golf in the snow is for the hardy!!!
Jan,
We spend more time on the course when it snows... I drag my 3-yr old around in the sled or we chase the geese that didn't have the good sense to head south!
Mo
Mo-
That would be a great place to sled!!!! Good idea.
Blue, I don't golf and I know this is off the subject, but I just had to say thanks soooo very much on your suggestion and details on the breathing exercises for sleep. It really seems to help loads!
I use to do this self-hypnosis thing in my past life college days (back in olden times... when I walked 10 miles to school in the snow) to help me study, focus and retain. Your exercises reminded me of that... a useful tool for the RA arsenal!!!
Waddie
I love to play miniature golf with my son. We have been lots of times. I have a hard enough time playing that game and never tried regular golf. Putt Putt 4 Us. Though I too would enjoy driving the golf cart around. LOLFirst thing I did was regrip my driver with a shock-absorbing grip designed for arthritic hands. It helped some. I'd recommend it. I also had to get used to taking a cart since I love to walk. I was afraid I wouldn't play again, but I'm happy to say that 2 1/2 years after dx, I can play most rounds without my hands or wrists bothering me. And now I only rarely ride the cart. Ah, drugs! And, of course, as a golfer it's always nice to have another excuse for a horrendeous shot, as in "Oh, that would have been much better if it wasn't for my RA."
Joie, I too have shock absorbing grips but I forgot about them. That's important. Like you I cart it sometimes and walk sometimes, depends on which course I'm playing. Not all courses are created equal in length or in hills! You use that excuse to? That's my number one excuse. Lindy
Thanks LinB and Joy and everyone with suggestions. At least now that I know my wrists are the problem, I can work on ways to get around it. Maybe an ace bandage would give me a little support. I too loved to walk and hope I can get back to it next summer. In the meantime I won't try to kill it like the men do (they swing so hard they almost screw themselves into the ground, trying to hit it the longest), but will concentrate on my form. Yes, if I could only hit it straight, I would be happy. Unfortunately with this wrist it goes right every freaking time. I will get my mind right too about enjoying myself even though I am not scoring my age. Twice my age is usually about right (sadly I am 52).
Waddie, I am so pleased that I was able to remind you about calming breathing techniques. Hope you're sleeping better.
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