Has anyone been successful going back to steel shafts after tennis elbow symptoms subsided?

[rxk9fan]

I have been in Recoil/Steelfiber for the last 18 month due to severe tennis elbow. I would love to go back to steel due to price and availability on the used market but I am very worried about my elbows. They have felt pretty great for the last 4 months.

Have any of you been down this road and successfully made the return to steel pain free?

Thank you!

[Mike_C]

I tried. Developed tennis elbow really bad on my lead arm in 2017. Ended up going with Recoils later that year, but next spring, the elbow was feeling quite a bit better, almost "healed" I would say, and I wanted to try a new club head and ordered them with KBS Tour V. I knew after one round it was a mistake. Kept at it for about a month and went back to Recoils in different set, and things settled down. I also was doing a lot of rehab/PT on it, and this past winter think I over did it once and re injured it slightly . But now I'm back to where I was about 15 months ago, I played my last 2-3 rounds without my elbow brace and don't seem to be any worse, I hope I have turned the corner. I probably won't go back to steel in my irons. But I do think I will still wear my brace on the practice range, just not when I play.

 

I will note one exception though, I was playing graphite all the way down to my LW, but picked up a Glide 2.0 60 degree about a month ago, and went with the stock steel shaft, thought I would try it, if I noticed any issues I would reshaft it. So far no problems, but I almost never take a full swing with it, most are pitches inside of 50 yards....

[Aviador Naval]

I have gone back to steel without issue. My bout with elbow pain came from too many balls hit from mats and a relatively light shaft that was a bit on the stout side for me. I now rarely hit irons from mats and play shafts in the softer side of my range. Also, it seems a bit of weight helps dampen vibration. I’ll likely not play anything lighter than 115 grams again as long as I can swing them effectively.

 

I’ve kind of settled on PX LZ @ 5.5 and DG AMT Regular. I could easily handle 6.0 in LZ and Stiff in DG (have even played x100 soft-stepped without issue) but have grown to prefer the softer feel and have no loss of control.

[bluejeeprubi]

The only steel shaft that didn’t mess with it again was Nippon super peening

[RobotDoctor]

I insert a wooden dowel into my shafts and add about 8 inches of "caulk backing" packed into the shaft. This adds to vibration dampening. It seems to help a bit.

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/27185/inserting-wooden-dowels-in-iron-shafts/p1

[rxk9fan]

Interesting RobotDoctor!

[carrera]

I've hit steel shafts a few times over the last couple of years, but I've just decided that the benefits of graphite (Recoil 95 for me) are just worth it to me in terms of being able to hit a ton of practice balls without any pain in my elbow (I had a horrible case of TE years ago). Yes, it would be easier to 'ho around with different iron sets if I could play steel, but I can live with that limitation.

I understand that certain Modus models dampen vibration better than the average steel shaft, but they still aren't to the level of Recoil, SF or other graphite shafts.

[carrera]

PS, I have them in my wedges also. Sand shot practice can be tough on the elbow, so I like having graphite in my 58 degree.

[sdandrea]

I've gone back to steel about 5 times after turning 50 and keep expecting my tendinitis to stay away. I've been wrong every time, so I guess that makes me insane. I love the heft of steel-it helps keep me on plane, but I play 18 holes 3 to 5 times a week and my elbows are 67 years old, so they like graphite.

[dpb5031]

YES - Theraband Flexbar therapy and Meloxicam script. Used Recoil 110s for 2 seasons, been in Nippon Modus 105x for the past 2 with no issues.

 

BTW, a fitting recommended C-Tapers last year and although I hit them really straight, I was literally experiencing symptoms by the end of the range session. I'll stick w/ the Nippons TY

[rxk9fan]

I really appreciate the comments.

Theraband is on my to do list.

Enough of the members commenting have me convinced to stay with what is working. I have a job I love but make time to also play a couple of times a week and average between 3 and 4 hundred range balls a week. If I am in a funk I may hit 3 to 4 hundred per day several days in a row. I like beating balls about as much as playing !

Thanks guys!

[i*windows]

yes tried KBS tour 90, one range session in the cold and one round in the cold, next morning by elbows hurt like hell. Replaced them with AXE shafts and am very happy

[UKGolfer86]

I had golfers elbow, which affects the medial epicondyle tendon, rather than the lateral tendon affected by tennis elbow. It was horrible, would need painkillers to get through a rtound and would wake up with trigger finger for a couple of days after playing of going to the range. I did a tonne of rehab work with therabands and the flexbars to get it back to a point that felt good, having taken 5 months off over winter. I considered changing shaft, but had only had my new pings for half a season, fitted with KBS Tour Stiff 114g and had been playing far better, so chose to stick with them, whilst stepping up my rehab work into full forearm strengthening using free weights as well as continuing with the therabands/bars.

 

I dont know about others, but I think the key is to continue working on your strengthening even after the symptoms and pain has subsided. If you just stop doing the rehab work, once the pain is gone, it will almost certainly return if nothing else changes (ie, keeping steel shafts). Ive had no pain for a year now whilst still playing my KBS tours.

[avguy]

I had severe golfer's elbow over 7-8 seasons ago in lead arm requiring Physical Therapy and 3 mos or more off playing. Theraband use at home since helped, but I added in Recoils as just part of a rotation of my usual 2-3 sets of irons, trying to take those in graphite always to the range.

 

But now, I am **without graphite **despite having 4 sets of steel shafted irons. Another big help for me was a complete swing change. Back at that critical mark above, I went from a short, compact backswing mode to the current long and free flowing version. I believe my limited compact swing combined with a weaker grip was creating a fulcrum point in that elbow at the stop mark top of my backswing.

 

In my current wider backswing, It feel less binded up, less tension in that lead arm as I have incorporated more lower body movement and less arms-driven motions. I currently play two different wts. of Nippon Modus3 in 125R/105s and some KBS CTL 110S and Rifle PX 5.0F. No elbow (golf or tennis variety) for at least 3-4 seasons - that one was very minor.

[Golfjack]

Theraband, and most important swing changes. Once you change you swing, you should be able to switch back. Don't do it with your old swing that's causing you pain.

[rxk9fan]

> @UKGolfer86 said:

> I had golfers elbow, which affects the medial epicondyle tendon, rather than the lateral tendon affected by tennis elbow. It was horrible, would need painkillers to get through a rtound and would wake up with trigger finger for a couple of days after playing of going to the range. I did a tonne of rehab work with therabands and the flexbars to get it back to a point that felt good, having taken 5 months off over winter. I considered changing shaft, but had only had my new pings for half a season, fitted with KBS Tour Stiff 114g and had been playing far better, so chose to stick with them, whilst stepping up my rehab work into full forearm strengthening using free weights as well as continuing with the therabands/bars.

>

> I dont know about others, but I think the key is to continue working on your strengthening even after the symptoms and pain has subsided. If you just stop doing the rehab work, once the pain is gone, it will almost certainly return if nothing else changes (ie, keeping steel shafts). Ive had no pain for a year now whilst still playing my KBS tours.

 

Great post and makes a ton of sense!

Thank you!!

[bdcava]

I switched to Pings with Cushin inserts when my TE was bad. I now have no real pain unless I press my elbow bone with my finger. I’d like to get new irons but wonder if the pain might return without some sort of vibration dampening.

[kmc]

No

[oz dee cee]

I never stopped using steel. I just limit mats and hard surface practice. I’m all good one year down the track from tennis elbow. Might be the worst injury I’ve had, in terms of how long it took to get over and how debilitating it is.

 

It’s doable but you can’t rush it.

[jsn]

Therabar is legit for tennis elbow. I'd stick with the red one. The harder ones never helped me. Also be sure to limit other activities that aggravate it - using your phone constantly, typing, etc. Wear the tennis elbow brace if you're at a desk job all day until you feel better.

Start back up slowly, I had a tendency to go pound a couple buckets off a mat the second I felt any better. Right back to square one within a week. It takes a LONG time to fully heal.

Mats are an absolute killer if you come in steep. If you can't hit off grass consider bringing your own strip of fiberbuilt or another easier on the joints style mat.

[lenman73]

Six years ago I had tennis elbow so bad in both elbows I had to go to physical therapy. Once done with that, I wore the tendonitis bands on both arms for the next 2 seasons. I still play steel shafts and haven't suffered another episode. Knock on wood.

[KMeloney]

Not I. When getting new irons, I went ahead and put SFs in my P790s since I knew they "worked" in my AP2s. And like someone else said, I've got them right through my 58° as well.

 

Whereas it'd be nice to have the freedom to play any shaft out there, it's just not worth the pain and aggravation again.

[fkim011]

When you have tennis elbow, you got to rest and let the inflammation go down. I just got over my tennis elbow which lasted 5 months of me being completely away from golf. Now it is completely gone.

[gators78]

Put this in another golfers elbow thread, I recommend checking on a launch monitor to see what your angles look like and if a swing change is necessary, because depending on the angles no amount of rest, bands, or exercises will fix a major swing fault. I had a lesson from a pro with a Trackman, and without me saying anything, he asked if I have elbow pain. He's like we'll you're slamming a metal rod 9* into the ground at almost 95mph, it's actually impressive it's not worse. It took a little while for the swing change, but fixing the angle of attack saved my elbows, I don't have an issue any more.

[Atrayn]

Reshafted my Cobra Amp Forged irons with FUJIKURA PRO 95 S 95G shafts.

NEVER Changing shafts again....these are MONEY!

 

[Hawkeye77]

My tennis elbow isn't healed by any means, but never going back to steel from my iron graphite shafts (still have steel in my 50, 54, 58 degree wedges, haven't made that transition yet).

[RainShadow]

I had golfer's elbow and switched to Recoil95 and then Steel fiber 110 cw for about 3 years total.

Last year I went to Nippon Modus 105 Stiff ( great, no pain) and a short stint with PX LZ 5.5 ( made my elbow and wrist hurt after 2 range sessions)

I'll stick with the Modus 105 unless the pain returns.

 

[RainShadow]

> @gators78 said:

> Put this in another golfers elbow thread, I recommend checking on a launch monitor to see what your angles look like and if a swing change is necessary, because depending on the angles no amount of rest, bands, or exercises will fix a major swing fault. I had a lesson from a pro with a Trackman, and without me saying anything, he asked if I have elbow pain. He's like we'll you're slamming a metal rod 9* into the ground at almost 95mph, it's actually impressive it's not worse. It took a little while for the swing change, but fixing the angle of attack saved my elbows, I don't have an issue any more.

Great advice here. I had a swing flaw where I was constantly saving my impact with my hands ( open club face). Now that I've fixed that, I can feel a difference.

 

[cxx]

> @dpb5031 said:

> YES - Theraband Flexbar therapy and Meloxicam script. Used Recoil 110s for 2 seasons, been in Nippon Modus 105x for the past 2 with no issues.

>

> BTW, a fitting recommended C-Tapers last year and although I hit them really straight, I was literally experiencing symptoms by the end of the range session. I'll stick w/ the Nippons TY

 

I had switched to c-taper lites until the tennis elbow started. I liked the shafts but they transmitted a little too much feel. I think the step-less design had something to do with it. Managed to get rid of the tennis elbow. It's surprising how much time it takes to do those exercises. I went back to the stepped shafts I was using before with no problems.

 

 

[Neurotica]

Tried to go back and was a mistake I’ll never play without graphite in all my clubs (other than putter). Recoils or steelfibers are both fine shafts.