Let’s face it, blisters are the worst.
They’re painful, seem to take forever to heal, and most importantly, get in the way of how well you hit the golf ball. In a sport that is already hard enough, we don’t need anything else making it even more challenging to get the golf ball in the hole.
So what’s the solution so you can get back to golf?
In this post, we’ll review more about a golf blister than you probably thought possible. We’ll cover why you get blisters, how to prevent them from happening, and how to treat them effectively. This way you can get back to the sport you love and not let it ruin your game.
Keep reading to solve this golf problem once and for all.
How to Prevent Golf Blisters
If you’re like most golfers, you probably think… are blisters normal in golf?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. They are quite common among golfers in both your hands and feet. They’re even more normal when you’re making a big grip change or just getting immersed into the game. This often leads to excess practice and not using the right prevention methods that I’ll outline below.
What Causes Blisters
So what causes them in the first place?
Bad form? Old grips? Too low of socks?
Actually, it might not be any of those things. According to Healthline,
“A blister, which is also called a vesicle by medical professionals, is a raised portion of skin that is filled with fluid. You’re probably familiar with blisters if you’ve ever worn ill-fitting shoes for too long. This common cause of blistering produces vesicles when friction between your skin and the shoe results in layers of skin separating and filling with fluid.”
If you love to get out and hit the golf ball regularly, you know there are a variety of reasons golfers get them. From my experience, blisters in golf from:
- Improper grip.
- Incorrect hand grip pressure.
- Tight shoes that don’t fit properly.
- Skipping protection on your glove hand.
- Hit more balls on the range than you should (talking to you range rats out there)
The good news is that they’re more annoying and painful than a long-term health condition. Unlike a back issue, this isn’t one that you should worry about too much.
Now that you know more about blisters in golf, let’s talk about some prevention strategies. While it’s impossible to say you will never get them again, these tips and tricks should help you a ton.
Luckily, there are a ton of ways to prevent them at the golf course and heal them faster than normal.
Adjust Your Grip
The first thing you should look for preventing blisters is how you grip the golf club. How you grip the club plays a huge role in how the grip wears on your hands and can ultimately develop blisters.
First, make sure the grip is in your fingers, not your palm.
This is a great way to avoid them and also ensure that your grip is as fundamental as possible too. This is one of the most common traits among successful golfers of all levels!
A big part of your grip is based on your glove hand. If you’re right-handed, then your left hand is the one with the glove. Your other hand won’t have a glove (unless you’re playing in rain or extra muggy conditions) and sometimes more likely to develop blisters.
Like your other hand, you want to make sure that the golf club is in your fingers, not your palm.Sometimes you might have to change your grip slightly (or substantially) to prevent blisters.
For example, if you play an interlock grip, you might need to try out an overlap grip instead. But remember, making a big change like going to an overlap grip will require you to hit a lot of golf balls to feel comfortable. Which could lead to blisters as well so make sure to monitor if your hands are feeling uncomfortable from hitting too many balls.
Check Your Grip Pressure
After adjusting your grip, the second thing you should do is evaluate your grip pressure. This is one of the most important parts of a good golf swing and also plays a massive role in developing blisters.
With pressure, you want to remember a few basic rules.
- If you’re right handed, your left hand is the dominant hand and should have the most pressure on the grip. Right handed grip pressure isn’t as much as the left hand as it rests more on top of the other hand.
- Too much grip pressure creates tension in your swing, specifically in your forearms. This can lead to issues in your backswing and tempo so don’t give it a death grip. For most shots, you want a 6 out of 10 in terms of pressure. If you’re hitting out of thick rough and don’t want the face to rotate through impact, grip it firmer (about 9 out of 10).
- Too little pressure also plays a factor as the face could rotate and you might let go of the club too.
Use a Golf Glove
One of the easiest ways to prevent blisters on your fingers or hands is by wearing a golf glove. If you constantly grip the club without one, you’re bascially asking the Golf Gods for a blister.
Remember, one of the most common cause of them is friction. To avoid extra friction, start carrying gloves in your bag asap.
But make sure that it fits properly!
If it’s too tight, it will feel uncomfortable and increase moisture. And if it’s too loose, you will get friction and could lead to a blister too. If you have issues with finger length, don’t forget to use a cadet size which is made for people who want shorter finger length.
Also, don’t forget to rotate your golf gloves regularly. If you’re someone who plays and practices a lot, it’s vital that you use a variety of gloves. This allows your hands to breath more and ensure that you don’t have to use a worn down, old sweaty glove that could lead to a blister.
Keep plenty of extras in your bag in case you get a blister mid round too.
Apply Golf Tape to Your Hand or Index Finger
The index finger is a common place for golfers to get blisters.
To avoid this inconvenience, use golf tape on your index finger or ring finger. A lot of professional golfers wrap one or several fingers to avoid this happening during a full week of competitive play or long practice sessions.
If you want an upgrade from normal golf tape, you might want to try out eucalyptus infused golf grip tape. Not only does this protect your hands while you’re golfing, but heals your blisters as well.
This type of golf tape is sweat proof and much more stretchy than normal tape too. Plus, the eucalyptus that is infused in the tape keeps your hands cool throughout the day.
Click here to buy some Eucalyptus tape now.
Regrip Your Golf Clubs (Change Your Grips)
Sometimes your grip can be perfect, but you still find yourself getting those pesky blisters. If this is the case, you might need to change your grips.
When regripping, you can use the same grip if you prefer or switch to a softer, more padded grip. For example, Winn grips are much softer than fully corded grips and can lead to a better game. Plus, it can help with your right hand grip pressure too as they’re much softer.
Don’t forget, equipment counts more than you think sometimes! Click here to learn how to regrip your golf clubs at home.
Change Your Golf Shoes
When most people think of blisters in golf, it’s usually on their hands. But I’d argue that just as many get them on your feet too.
When it comes to getting blisters on your feet, it’s usually something to do with your shoes. It could be from the size, the material, or even your golf socks as well.
If your shoes are too small and tight, your toes will likely rub together and cause blisters. Plus, you won’t get as good of airflow and they can make for an uncomfortable round. This is made exponentially worse if you’re walking instead of riding in a cart too.
The second thing to look at is the inside of the shoe, especially if it’s too tight. Is there enough padding? Are they worn down? Is this a different brand than you normally buy?
While it’s fun to get new shoes, mixing up the brand can be a death sentence for your feet. Once I find a pair that is comfortable, I try to stick with that brand as I know the right size and width.
Also, don’t forget about your golf socks too. A lot of times if you wear “no show” socks, they might leave a blister on your heel. Instead, opt for slightly taller socks so that your heel is protected and don’t have to hobble around on the course.
Go here for help on finding some good golf shoes.
Keep Your Hands Dry
Don’t forget, one of the most common cause of blisters is moisture. When you grip the club with a wet right hand, it can lead to those pesky blisters.
To avoid execess moisture, make sure to constantly wipe off your hands dry by regularly using a towel between shots. You want to make sure to do this on the course and driving range too. This is even more important if you’re in the back yard hitting into a net or banging more balls on the driving range.
Buy New Golf Gear
If you have blisters but still want to get out on the course, there are some accessories that can help.
Sleeve Protectors
If you have blisters on your hands and normal bandages aren’t sticking, buy a pack of finger sleeves. These are great for covering an injury and giving your blister time to heal. Even if your ring finger rubbed the wrong way yesterday, a sleeve can help you bounce back quickly the next day.
These protectors are made of nylon fabric and spandex, but thin enough to still fit with a glove. Not to mention they help finger joint pain, tendinitis, and if you have a swollen finger. Plus, they’re super cheap and come in a large back so you can always keep some in your bag.
Use Blister Bandages
If you don’t want sleeves on your finger, opt for blister bandages instead. These are great for any area of your body and come in a variety of sizes to match the size/shape.
Not only do they protect an existing blister, but they also treat it as well. They are waterproof which means you’re protected from germs, sweat, and natural friction that occurs.
They’re also a lot stickier than a normal band aid so they shouldn’t fall off during the round. Click here to buy some now.
Anti-Blister Socks
If you have blisters on your feet, you should try out anti-blister socks instead of your normal pair. For example, the Balega Blister socks:
- Extra deep heel pocket so your stock doesn’t fall down.
- Keep your feet dry and cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
- Eliminate the risk of sheer friction blisters thanks to their mohair material.
- Have enhanced arch support that provides maximum comfort even if you’re walking 18 holes.
Reduce Practice Time (Stop Hitting So Many Golf Balls)
Finally, if all the other strategies aren’t working, sometimes the blisters are a signal to take some time off. Every few years this happens to me and while I hate to do it, it almost always helps. While taking a break is hard for golfers to do, sometimes your body needs a rest (especially for us range rats).
Specifically, I recommend less time on the range hitting golf ball after golf ball. Hitting golf balls over and over again is one of the most common reasons for getting blisters and can be avoided with a break. While it’s not always easy to do, sometimes its worth it to get your body back to 100%.
How to Heal Golf Blisters
If you’re unable to prevent blisters and find this article as one is settling in, let us provide some strategies to heal them.
Should I pop a golf blister?
The first thing that usually comes to mind is trying to figure out if you should pop it or not. From personal experience, I would say no!
Do not try to pop blisters.
Doing so is extremely painful and doesn’t usually help very much (if at all). In general, they usually take about a week to heal on their own but sometimes can heal faster. If you’re constantly playing golf with a blister, expect the healing time to take even longer.
How can I heal a blister fast?
To heal a blister fast, I would suggest using a blister bandage instead of a normal band aid or tape. While those are better than nothing, they don’t actually help heal the wound. Instead, they just protect it from additional damage and possibly getting infected.
But a blister specific bandage heels and protects. They should last a lot longer than most band aids and will speed up the healing process as well. These are your best friend on the course!
What do you put on a golf blister?
Depending on the location of the blister, you have a few options. If you’re trying to heal the blister and not just protect it, I suggest something like New Skin or a blister band aid. A product like these will help the wound, whether its on your foot or your ring finger rubbed wrong.
FAQs
Do you have even more questions about golf blisters? If so, we got you covered in the frequently asked questions and answers below.
Why do I get blisters on my right hand when playing golf?
If you’re a right handed golfer, this hand doesn’t usually wear a glove. So it kind of makes sense that your non glove hand, espeically index or ring finger, might get them more often. Try out the strategies above to help your right hand so you can grip the club properly.
Why do I get a blister on my thumb when golfing?
Don’t forget, blisters come from friction and excessive movement. Change your grip slightly or try out a different gloves as well.
Final Thoughts
Golf blisters are annoying but not the end of the world. To avoid them, make sure to:
- Keep your hands dry.
- Wear the right shoes.
- Check your grip and grip pressure.
- Wear a glove on your dominant hand.
- Play golf with the right equipement (regrip your clubs regularly).
- Not hit too many golf balls at the range (at least until you have developed calluses).
All of these tricks should lead to a better game, less injuries, and hopefully lower scores (even for range rats)!
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