Lifetime Golfer

Hole 11: New hips and knees

Golf after a hip replacement: when you can play and how to ease back in

What the research says about returning to golf after a hip replacement, a typical timeline, and the swing and setup changes that make the first rounds easier.

Published

A smiling golfer in his 60s standing on a sunny green with a club in hand and a golf cart behind him

If you’re facing a hip replacement or just had one, the most common question is simple: will I play golf again? For most golfers the answer is yes. Many end up playing more often and with less pain than they did before surgery.

The short version

Most golfers get back to the course after a hip replacement, usually within 3 to 6 months. Chipping and putting come first, full swings come later, and your surgeon and physical therapist set the pace. Plenty of golfers say their game got better once the pain was gone.

Check with your surgeon

Every surgery and recovery is different. The timelines below are averages from studies and hospital guidance, not a plan for you. Get clearance from your surgeon before you swing a club, and follow any movement limits they give you.

What the research says

There’s more data on this than you might expect, and most of it is good news.

  • Most golfers return. A review that pooled earlier studies found about 90% of golfers got back to golf after a hip replacement, the highest return rate of any joint. The average time back was about 4.4 months.
  • Many play more, not less. In a survey of 1,097 golfers with a new hip (average age 69), 94% said they were playing the same amount of golf or more after surgery. Only about 2% couldn’t play.
  • Some get better. A French study of 599 regular golfers found that two years after surgery their handicaps had improved by almost 2 strokes on average, and hip pain while playing dropped from 6.8 to 2.5 on a 10-point scale. 88% said their drives went as far or farther than before.

That last point makes sense. Arthritis in the hip steals rotation, and rotation is what powers the swing. A new joint often gives some of that turn back.

A typical timeline

Hospitals and surgeons give slightly different numbers, so treat these as rough ranges.

Milestone Typical timing
Putting and short chips Around 4 to 6 weeks
Short irons at the range Around 6 to 8 weeks
Full swings, including driver Around 2 to 3 months
A full 18 holes Around 3 to 6 months

In the large survey above, about 1 in 4 golfers were hitting irons by six weeks and 71% were back by three months. The French study found it took about 4.7 months on average to get back to a full 18 holes. One surgical group tells patients to putt and chip at about 4 weeks and play rounds between 8 and 12 weeks, while some physical therapists suggest 3 to 9 months. Your surgeon’s advice wins.

How to ease back in

Physical therapists at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York suggest a gradual build-up rather than jumping straight to a full round.

  1. Start on the putting green. Putting and short chips put very little rotation on the hip.
  2. Go to the range with a plan. Start with wedges and short irons at an easy pace. Count your swings and the clubs you hit, and only add more when the last session didn’t leave you sore.
  3. Add longer clubs last. Fairway woods and the driver ask the most of your hips, so save them until short irons feel easy.
  4. Ride before you walk. Use a cart for your first rounds. HSS suggests building up to about 10,000 steps over 4 to 5 hours, about the length of a round, before you walk 18.
  5. Warm up every time. Gentle hip and core mobility plus a few practice swings matter more now than they used to.
  6. Ice and rest after. Some soreness is normal early on. Back off if it lingers into the next day.

Swing and setup changes that help

You don’t need a new swing, but a few small changes can take strain off the new joint while it gets stronger. Run these by your physical therapist first, especially if your surgeon gave you movement precautions.

  • Turn your toes out a little. Flaring both feet about 20 to 30 degrees gives your hips more room to rotate without forcing it.
  • Let your lead heel come up on the backswing. It makes a full turn easier without twisting hard against a planted foot.
  • Make a three-quarter swing. A shorter backswing is easier on the hips and usually more accurate. You’ll give up very little distance.
  • Finish tall and balanced. Don’t hold a big twisted finish. Let your trail foot come up and turn your body toward the target.
  • Avoid tough lies at first. Steep slopes, deep bunkers and wet ground ask more of your balance. Take relief or skip the shot early in your comeback.

Gear that makes it easier

A few inexpensive items can save a lot of bending and strain:

  • A cart or a push cart instead of carrying your bag
  • A ball pickup suction cup on the end of your putter grip
  • A tee tool so you can tee up without bending all the way down
  • A lighter bag with only the clubs you actually use

Questions to ask your surgeon

  • Did I have any movement precautions, and how long do they last?
  • When can I putt, chip, hit full shots and play a full round?
  • Is there anything in the golf swing I should avoid for now?
  • Should I ride or walk for my first rounds?

The bottom line

A hip replacement is rarely the end of your golf. The research shows most golfers come back, many play more than before, and some end up with lower handicaps. Be patient for the first few months, build up slowly, and let your surgeon and physical therapist set the pace.

Sources