Junior Golf Injuries: Common Causes and How to Prevent Them
Golf is a low-contact sport, but young bodies can still pick up niggles from repetitive swinging and growth. Here's what causes junior golf injuries and how to reduce the risk.
Golf has a well-earned reputation as a gentle, low-contact sport, and for most kids it is. But the repetitive nature of the golf swing, long hours on the course, and growing bodies mean junior golfers aren't completely immune to niggles and strains. Understanding the common causes helps parents put simple, sensible prevention habits in place without turning golf into a source of worry.
Common niggles in junior golfers
Most golf-related discomfort in kids falls into a few familiar categories: lower back tightness from repeated twisting, wrist or hand soreness from gripping and impact, and general fatigue from walking long distances in the sun. These are usually mild and settle with rest, but they're worth paying attention to rather than dismissing as "just part of golf."
Why young, growing bodies need extra care
Children's bones, joints and growth plates are still developing, and growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination, flexibility and swing mechanics. This is completely normal and not a cause for alarm, but it does mean junior golfers may be more sensitive to overuse than a fully grown adult swinging the same number of balls. Building in variety, rest days and other sports or activities alongside golf helps growing bodies cope with the demands of the swing.
Simple prevention habits
A few consistent habits go a long way. Encourage a gentle warm-up before every round or practice session rather than heading straight to full-power swings. Make sure clubs are properly sized for your child rather than cut-down adult clubs, as ill-fitting equipment can encourage awkward, strain-inducing technique. Qualified, junior-experienced coaching also matters here — a coach who understands age-appropriate technique can help your child build a swing that's efficient rather than one that relies on excessive strain through the back or wrists.
It's also worth building in regular breaks during long practice sessions, keeping an eye on how many balls your child is hitting in one sitting, and making sure they're drinking enough water, particularly on warm Australian days.
Listening to what your child tells you
Kids don't always volunteer that something hurts, especially if they're enjoying a round or don't want to stop. Get in the habit of asking simple, open questions after golf — "how did your back/wrists/hands feel today?" — so discomfort doesn't go unnoticed. Persistent pain, pain that changes how your child moves, or pain that doesn't ease with a few days of rest are all good reasons to check in with a GP or physiotherapist rather than waiting to see if it resolves on its own.
My child says their back hurts after golf — should I be worried?
Occasional mild tightness after a long round is common and usually settles with rest, gentle stretching and a day or two off. However, this site isn't written by medical professionals, so if the pain is persistent, sharp, affecting sleep, or comes back every time your child plays, it's best to book an appointment with a GP or physiotherapist. They can properly assess what's going on and recommend next steps — it's always better to get things checked early than to guess.