[elliskit]

Ellskit,

The nerves to your hand originate in the cervical vertebrae. Look at the new training and see if you are not putting a new stress on your neck and shoulders. One of the first things I learned from Yoda is that I held the club too tight but this caused problems in my elbow not my hand. I personally don't like the impact bag for most people because it is such and abrupt conclusion to a motion that should be full and free flowing. I usually have to work with people on their form, when they insist it helps their game,The sheer knowledge that you will 'hit' the bag can cause you to ceaze up in your shoulders and that is a reaction that difficult to overcome.

Make sure you didn't start reaching to create the "thump"and thereby straining your neck and shoulders. You may have to practice a few swings in front of a mirror or take a video of yourself to really break down your swing action and then work backwards to correct the dis-ease that has developed in your hand.

Let me know what you find. There are certainly exercises to correct the developing problem.

Vickie

I did some swings tonight watching my shadow and I do not see any bobbing or swaying (my head was stationary), nor do I see or feel any over extension, so I do not think it is referred pain. I noticed that I do not feel any pain in a full swing, only with less than a full swing. Also, I noticed that the pain is specifically related to my right pinky. When I do not wrap my pinky around the grip, I do not feel any pain. The pain is worse with the interlocking grip as opposed to overlapping. I have used an interlocking grip for about 10 years and have never experienced this pain before now?!?

If there are some exercises I could do that might help determine the nature and/or severity of the injury, I am willing to try them.

elliskit,
Another thought would be that you might have injured one of the small bones in the wrist (the carpal bones). The area you have described is where the hamate bone is located and I know some golfers who have injured this. This bone has a small hook on it. I wonder if you have tenderness in the area where you are feeling the pain while swinging the club???? If so, you may need an xray to see if you fractured the hook of the hamate. And I love Ben Doyle's video, but when I see him hit the tire I cringe!
My 2 cents---rest it for a week and if pain returns with taking even slow practice swings, I would head for your doctor and get evaluated for either a hand/wrist problem or pain referred from the neck (see Vickie's post). Good luck. Let us know how it turns out. Dr Dave

This does not sound good at all!!! I do have tenderness when I press on the back of my right hand between my ring and pinky bones near where they join the wrist. I feel it when I close my fist, but not if I do not apply pressure on my pinky.

I did not want to hear the fracture word. I would be very surprized if it is a fracture though. I have never fractured a bone in my body, through many forms of abuse I would consider much more severe than anything I could inflict using a golf club, although I have had severe sprains, pulled muscles and sore tendons. I am going to try resting it, but I am supposed to play in a company tournament on 8/20. I really do not want to miss that!!!

Thanks for the replies,
Kit