Buying Guide: How to choose the best elbow sleeves & braces for golf? List 2024

Golf does not stand out as a sport with a high risk of injury. However, there are certain conditions that have been linked to the practice of this discipline, with the elbow being one of the most vulnerable areas in golfers.

Fortunately, today we will show you the best sports compression elbow sleeves for golfers and how to choose the right one for you. These elbow braces can be used as a method of prevention or treatment for the most common golfing elbow injuries. Here we go!

What are the most common golfing elbow injuries?

The most common elbow injuries in golf are mainly caused by overuse. These include tendonitis at the elbow, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and, less frequently, medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow). In this discipline, certain wrist and forearm movements are performed that can accumulate too much tension on certain tendons of the arm, causing injuries.

The most common elbow injuries in golf are:

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

This isa tendinopathy that occurs on the outside of the elbow over the tendons of the extensor muscles located in the forearm. It occurs specifically at the insertion of these tendons in the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. It manifests mainly as pain in the lateral part of the elbow that may radiate down the forearm, and weakness in the grip.

This condition is caused by overuse, i.e. due to repetitive contraction of the extensor muscles. In golf this condition arises in the player's forward elbow, the left in the case of a right-handed golfer. The lowering of the swing is the main associated mechanism of injury, due to the strain on the extensor tendons originating in the forward elbow.

Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)

This isa tendinopathy of tendons located in the inner elbow area. It specifically affects the tendons of the flexor-pronator muscle group that insert into the medial epicondyle of the humerus. In addition, it is characterised by pain in the inner elbow area that usually radiates down the forearm to the wrist. It can cause stiffness, weakness in the hand and wrist, as well as numbness or tingling in the fingers (especially the ring and little fingers).

It is known as an overuse injury caused by repetitive and forced movements involving wrist flexion and pronation of the forearm. In golf, this tendinitis is usually associated with excessive or incorrect swinging, which occurs on the elbow of the golfer's trailing or dominant arm.

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What type of sports elbow braces are the best for golfers' injuries?

The information contained in this point is very important and will help you to choose the right garment according to the type of ailment you suffer from. For the execution of the list, a rigorous study on sports elbow braces for all racket sports was carried out, starting from the most common injuries and taking into consideration the experience of many users regarding certain products and their effectiveness in treating the aforementioned traumatisms.

Here are the best elbow braces for tennis injuries:

Sports compression elbow brace

This is a compression elbow brace that combines anti-slip silicone inside to prevent slippage of the device, absorbent fabric to eliminate excess moisture and adjustable two-way Velcro straps for a precise fit in any direction. Once in use, you will notice the instant compression effect relaxing muscles and relieving pain. It is comfortable, lightweight, compact and can be worn under a uniform without being noticed, used as a protective measure for muscles, ligaments, as part of medical treatment.

Straps for epicondylitis

Its base material is neoprene in combination with breathable fabric, it maintains the necessary temperature and compression to accelerate the healing process and sends excess moisture to the outside, thus avoiding any sweating and irrational, will help keep the skin fresh and free of fungus regardless of the intensity of the activity. Its design exerts pressure on the affected part, thus reducing tension and pain in the tendon, you can wear it without inconvenience throughout the day just place it 2 centimetres from the elbow and from the first moment you will notice the changes.

What characteristics should you take into account before choosing the best sports elbow brace for golf?

There are several golf elbow supports on the market for you to choose from. To acquire the right model for you you should consider certain factors or characteristics such as function, materials, design, among others.

Below, we will talk about each of these factors so that you can make an excellent purchase:

According to their function

Elbow sleeves for golfers can be differentiated according to the functions for which they have been designed. Therefore, it is important that you choose the right model according to your particular condition, otherwise, they could be more harmful than beneficial.

• We have the preventive or protective elbow supports, used before the occurrence of an injury or after recovery.
• There are also recovery elbow braces designed to help in the treatment of a condition such as lateral or medial epicondylitis, for example.

Material of manufacture

The material of manufacture should correspond to the function of the elbow brace itself, and the quality of the product will depend to a large extent on it. In general, materials that are breathable, elastic, washable, durable and do not damage or irritate the skin are recommended. Neoprene, nylon, spandex and silicone are some of the most commonly used materials for golf elbow braces.

Type of support

The type of support also plays an important role in choosing the best sports elbow guard for golf. Nowadays elbow braces usually have a Velcro fastening system. This fastening system is the most recommended because it can be adjusted to your elbow in a simple and customised way, also guaranteeing great grip and stability in the joint.

Size

It is important that you choose a golf elbow brace in the right size for you. This way it will fit you perfectly and prevent it from moving or being ineffective. You can find out your size by using a tape measure around your arm below the elbow. Of course, this will depend on whether the model is long or short. On the other hand, it should be noted that there are universal size elbow braces, which can be adjusted to different dimensions by means of straps or tapes.

Design

The design of the elbow sleeves should be adapted to the specific function(s) for which the product has been developed. The material of manufacture, dimensions, colour and other features should be in accordance with the purpose for which you need the elbow brace. In addition, the product could also serve the function of identifying you on the golf course. In this case, you may have to personalise it without compromising its integrity.

Price

The price may vary depending on the model and brand. Although you can buy cheap golf elbow braces, our advice is to look for a value for money model that meets the required standards. If you buy an elbow guard that is too cheap, it is likely to lack the quality you need.

Do compression elbow braces for golfers really work?

In general, compression therapy is widely used and recommended to treat and prevent injuries. Compression elbow braces for golfers, therefore, are useful and can help you recover from or prevent a golf joint condition.

On the one hand, they help relieve pain from injuries such as medial and lateral epicondylitis. They also prevent damage to the skin and avoid hyperextension of the muscles and tendons of the joint. In addition, they keep the tissues at an ideal temperature.

On the other hand, the pressure they exert promotes local circulation and oxygenation, as well as the drainage of waste substances. This helps to increase performance during sporting activity and promotes tissue recovery after exertion or injury.