Patient guide

Getting back to golf after joint replacement

Golf is a gentle, low-to-moderate sport — and for most golfers, a hip or knee replacement means getting back on the course with less pain and better movement. This guide walks you through what to expect and how to return safely.

Golfer at the top of the backswing on a fairway

The good news

Golfers routinely return to the game, usually playing more comfortably than before. Reassuringly, within about a year most players see no meaningful drop in their handicap — your game need not suffer, and many only wish they had done it sooner.

Hip or knee — a small difference

The golf swing sends a twisting load through the hip and knee. In a right-handed golfer, the left (“lead”) side takes the most rotation through impact, and the right (“trail”) side loads during the backswing. Whether your hip or knee was replaced, most golfers return successfully — your surgeon will tailor the advice to your joint and surgery.

When can you play again?

Return is gradual, and your surgeon sets your personal timeline. A common pattern is:

First weeks: focus on walking and recovery exercises; putting and gentle chipping often come first.
Around six weeks: many regular golfers begin swinging irons again.
Following weeks to months: a gradual build-up to the full swing and driver, and to walking a full round.

Everyone heals at their own pace, and a knee may follow a slightly different schedule from a hip. Let comfort and your surgeon guide you — not the calendar.

Ease back in

Start at the driving range before playing a full round.
Begin with shorter, easier clubs and half swings, then build up.
Use a golf cart early on, and warm up and stretch gently before you play.
Grow gradually: range → a few holes → nine → eighteen.

Protecting your new joint

A smoother, slightly shorter swing is easier on the joint than forcing a big turn — especially early on.
Comfortable, stable shoes give good footing without over-twisting the joint.
Teeing the ball up and lighter, graphite-shafted clubs can reduce strain as you rebuild.

Distance and handicap

Your new joint is built to last and is not the thing holding your game back. Within about a year most players' handicap is unchanged, and driving distance tends to return as strength and confidence rebuild.

Helpful equipment and adaptations

A golf cart, especially in the first months back.
Spikeless or soft-spike shoes for stable footing.
If needed, adaptive tees, grips and clubs make the game accessible at any level.

Give yourself the best chance

Staying active and keeping a healthy weight — before and after surgery — help you return more easily and play better. Strengthening your legs and core pays off, and your rehabilitation exercises are the single most reliable way back to the game.

When to ease off

If you develop new pain, swelling or a feeling of instability, ease off and contact your care team before continuing. Progress is rarely a straight line — there is no prize for rushing.

Your timeline is personal. Whether it was your hip or knee, the type of surgery, and how your recovery goes all shape when you get back on the course — we will plan it together.

This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your treating clinician and care team.

Based on: Spencer-Gardner LS, Ankomah FB, Pelkowski JN, Ledford CK. Golf After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Getting Back Into the Swing. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2025;33:753–760.