Author: Bobby Prengle, PT, DPT, CSCS, TPI Certified
Do you have a crick in your neck? Can’t check your blindspot while driving to the course? Feel like your backswing is shorter than you want because of a tight neck?
We see these issues all the time at Par4Success, and while so many people struggle with these problems, it is sad to see that these nagging pains are all too often easily fixed with the right movements.
Even more frequently, golfers come to us after months of diligent stretching, ice, heat, and physical therapy—and their neck pain keeps getting worse despite their best efforts.
If this sounds like what you’re going through, don’t worry! It’s not your fault. There’s a lot of misinformation about golf performance and pain management, and that’s where we come in.
95% of our clients are golfers just like you, struggling with pain, loss of distance, or both. We’ve worked with thousands of golfers of all ages to help them hit the ball further while getting out of pain safely and efficiently.
Here are some of the main reasons we see neck pain from golf linger, and a few suggestions to get started on the road to recovery. A quick note: these suggestions are not a substitute for a hands-on evaluation by a licensed physical therapist! If you don’t feel relief in about 10 days, schedule an in-person consultation with us in Raleigh, NC, to address the root cause.
Common Reasons Neck Pain from Golf Doesn’t Go Away
1. Only Treating Symptoms, Not the Cause
Many golfers rely on ice, heat, Advil, soft tissue massage, or dry needling to manage pain. These methods are great for temporary relief—but they are almost always just “band-aid” solutions.
If you focus only on the neck itself, you might be missing the larger causes of your pain. Neck pain from golf can often be triggered by restrictions elsewhere in your body—like the shoulders or thoracic spine.
2. Not Working on the Shoulders
Golf uses your entire body, not just your arms and neck. Our research with over 1,200 golfers has shown that lack of shoulder rotation is a major contributor to neck pain from golf.
If you haven’t taken our Home Assessment yet, now is a great time. Many golfers pass the neck portion of the assessment but struggle with the shoulder portion, which can reveal hidden movement limitations that affect their swing and cause persistent neck pain.For personalized guidance, consider golf personal training or booking a strategy session with our team.
3. Lacking Rotation in the Upper Back (Thoracic Spine)
The area between your shoulder blades, known as the thoracic spine, plays a huge role in neck mobility and golf performance. Sitting long hours at a computer, watching TV, or driving can stiffen this area.
When your upper back is tight, your neck “borrows” movement to compensate—like a bank charging interest on borrowed money—resulting in neck pain from golf.
The good news? There are simple, targeted exercises that improve thoracic spine mobility, relieve neck pain, and enhance your swing. The video below walks you through a few easy drills you can start doing right away to reduce neck pain and move better during your swing.
4. Your Golf Fitness Routine May Be Contributing
Sometimes, general stretching or workouts aren’t enough—or can even exacerbate neck pain. If your goal is to truly get golf fit, you need a golf-specific program that focuses on:
- Rotation over general flexibility
- Mobility over brute strength
- Movement patterns that protect the neck and shoulders
At Par4Success, our team ensures your training translates to better performance on the course while reducing neck pain from golf. We combine strength, mobility, and swing-specific assessments to make your workouts effective.
Take Action to Beat Neck Pain from Golf
If you’re tired of living with nagging neck pain, it’s time to address the root causes—not just the symptoms.
- Start with our Home Assessment to see where your body needs improvement
- Work with us via golf personal training or book a consultation
- Explore mobility drills and expert tips on our YouTube channel
With the right guidance and movements, neck pain from golf doesn’t have to linger. You can swing farther, play better, and finally move pain-free on the course.
