Golf After Knee Replacement: Returning to the Course
What golfers need to know about timing, physical readiness, putting, practice, and a gradual return to play.
Have you recently had a total knee replacement, or are you preparing for surgery and wondering what recovery will really be like? Welcome to the Total Knee Success Podcast, your resource for total knee replacement recovery and life after surgery. Hosted by Michelle Losurdo, a trusted doctor of physical therapy and board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, this show is designed for anyone considering, preparing for, or recovering from knee replacement surgery.
In about the time it takes to put a cold pack on your knee, each episode shares practical total knee surgery tips, evidence-based guidance, and clear strategies to help you manage pain, improve mobility, and thrive through the healing process. You’ll learn about post-operative knee rehab exercises, approaches to knee replacement physical therapy, and real-world tools for building confidence, improving sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and regaining natural movement. From time to time, you’ll also hear patient perspectives and success stories that encourage you along the way.
Michelle also highlights the mindset and motivation strategies that make a lasting difference in recovery—helping you stay positive, focused, and resilient. And if you’re a family member, friend, or caregiver supporting someone through a knee replacement, you’ll find valuable insights here, too.
Please remember: Michelle is not your personal therapist and does not know you. This podcast provides general education and opinion only. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your recovery plan. This podcast is not related to her clinical or teaching roles.
If you’re ready to feel stronger and more confident on your journey—or if you’re supporting someone you care about—this is the total knee replacement podcast that will help you succeed—one step at a time
Episode 100 is for golfers who want to return to the game after total knee replacement. Michelle reviews typical return timelines and explains why surgeon clearance, strength, weight shifting, balance, endurance, and rotational movement all influence readiness.
Read Episode 100 article & resources
Thank you for listening to 100 episodes! Have a question we can answer on the podcast? Click here for Ask Michelle
The Episode follows a gradual progression from putting at home to chipping, partial swings, controlled range sessions, a short outing, and eventually a complete round. It also explains how a golf-aware physical therapist and a golf teaching professional can help with different parts of the return.
SuperStroke Golf Ball Pick Up Tool
Josongslax Telescopic Golf Ball Retriever
Other Resources:
Free Total Knee Success Insider Newsletter
Free Guide: Less Pain, More Gain
Book! Making Sense of Pain After Knee Replacement
Book! Walking Like Yourself Again After Knee Replacement
Resources at totalkneesuccess.com
Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content is not intended to replace individualized medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your surgeon, physical therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider regarding your specific condition, surgical decisions, and rehabilitation plan.
Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer: Some resources mentioned in this podcast may include Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Evidence-Based Content Statement: All information presented in this episode is grounded in peer-reviewed research, published clinical guidelines, and current best practices in orthopedics and rehabilitation.
Music Licensing Statement: Intro and outro music for the Total Knee Success Podcast is licensed for commercial use. Editing and production for this episode were completed using Descript.
If getting back to golf is high on your list after knee replacement, there is good reason to be optimistic. Most golfers in published studies returned to the game. The more useful question is not whether you can play again. It is how your knee, strength, balance, endurance, and swing are progressing toward the kind of golf you want to play.
Golfers do not all return to the same game. Riding nine holes on a familiar, fairly level course is different from walking eighteen on a hilly course. Your preparation should fit your course, whether you plan to ride or walk, and how often you want to play.
Can You Golf After Knee Replacement?
Research on golfers after knee replacement is encouraging. A systematic review reported that many golfers returned within several months. One study of 143 regular golfers found that almost all returned, with the average return to an eighteen-hole course at about 3.7 months. Another study reported that about 82 percent returned at an average of 5.3 months. Other research has reported averages closer to eight months.
Return timelines offer perspective, not a tee time.
These numbers describe groups of golfers. They do not predict one person’s return date. A friend may have played sooner or later because of a different course, a different way of playing, a different surgical history, or a different healing process. Compare your current abilities with the demands of your game, not with someone else’s calendar.
Get your surgeon’s clearance before returning. Your physical therapist can also help you assess whether your current strength, balance, movement, standing tolerance, and endurance fit the outing you have planned.
Prepare for the Swing and the Round
Tell your physical therapist early that golf is one of your goals. Standard knee exercises are important, but golf also asks you to shift weight, rotate through the ankle, hip, pelvis, lumbar spine, and trunk, and repeat those movements as your leg tires. The round adds walking on grass, slopes, cart transfers, standing, and bending to tee up or retrieve a ball.
Weight shifting may feel different after knee replacement. If you do not trust the surgical leg yet, you may move away from it quickly, shorten your turn, or change your finish. Research comparing golfers with and without a knee replacement found that many hip and knee movements during the swing were similar, although differences in rotation remained.
A physical therapist who understands golf can connect strength, balance, mobility, and weight transfer to the way you move on the course. Many physical therapists can do this without special certification. The Titleist Performance Institute, or TPI, also offers advanced training for medical, fitness, and golf professionals who want additional golf-specific education.
Keep the rest of your body prepared while your knee is healing. Ask your surgeon and therapist what upper-body and trunk strengthening you can continue. Your shoulders, upper back, arms, and trunk will all have work to do when the club is back in your hands.
Start with Putting
Putting at home can reconnect you with the game before you are ready for the course. Once you can stand comfortably and your healthcare team agrees, begin with a short session. Putting lets you work on your stance, balance, and small weight adjustments without the force and rotation of a full swing.
Five or ten minutes may be enough at first. Notice whether you lock the surgical knee or keep most of your weight on the other leg. Standing still can be more tiring than walking, so pay attention to how your leg feels during the session and later that day.
Reading a green can require more knee flexion than the putting stroke. If getting low behind the ball is uncomfortable, you can stay higher or step farther behind the ball to read the line. Another option is AimPoint, a green-reading method used by golfers including Adam Scott and Justin Rose. It uses the feet to assess slope and the fingers to select a starting line, so much of the read can be done while standing.
If reaching into the cup requires more bending than your knee currently allows, a pickup attachment on the end of your putter or a telescopic ball retriever may help. These tools do not replace knee motion work with your therapist, but they can give you another way to handle the task while your motion is still limited.
Build from Short Swings to the Course
When you are ready to move beyond putting, begin with short chips from level ground. Progress to slightly longer chips, pitch shots, and partial swings with a wedge or short iron. Add swing length, club length, or the number of balls you hit one at a time. That makes it easier to judge how your knee responds.
Keep the first range visits short. Watch your weight shift, turn, and finish as you tire. Changes in your movement can show up before pain or swelling. A golf teaching professional who understands that you have had a knee replacement can help you adapt your swing as your timing, rotation, and weight transfer develop.
Being ready to swing is not the same as being ready for a round. Before your first outing, build your standing and walking tolerance toward the total time you expect to be out. If you plan to ride, remember that you will still get in and out of the cart, walk from the path to the ball, and stand for each shot. If you plan to walk, build the distance before combining it with golf.
Your first outing might be a few holes at an uncrowded time or nine holes on a familiar course. Choose dry conditions when possible because wet grass and soft ground can make footing less predictable. During a casual round, move or pick up a ball from a difficult slope, deep rough, or a bunker that is hard to enter or exit. You already know how to play the shot. The first outing is a chance to learn how your knee responds.
Golf Shoes and Useful Equipment
Stable footing supports the weight shifting and turning used in a golf swing. Choose golf shoes that fit securely and provide traction appropriate for the course conditions. Early after knee replacement, reaching the foot, tying laces, and pulling on a structured shoe may also require more knee bend and twisting than expected. A hands-free slip-in golf shoe may be easier to put on.
BACK-SAVING DESIGN: Eliminates bending to retrieve golf balls, reducing strain during your round.
For retrieving a ball, options include the SuperStroke Golf Ball Pick Up Tool above which attaches to the end of a putter grip, and the Josongslax Telescopic Golf Ball Retriever. You can get one that telescopes up to 20 feet!
You can also view the complete list of golf products including slip on golf shoes mentioned in this article.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links are provided for convenience. Choose equipment based on fit, course conditions, and your own needs.
Pay Attention to Your Knee’s Response
Notice how your knee responds later in the day and the next morning. More swelling, stiffness, a new limp, or reduced motion can mean the outing was too demanding that day. The next step may be a shorter session, fewer holes, or more time between outings.
Contact your healthcare team if symptoms continue or worsen. Seek prompt medical evaluation for calf pain. Chest pain or shortness of breath requires urgent care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after knee replacement can I return to golf?
Studies report group averages ranging from about four to eight months, with some golfers returning earlier and others later. Surgeon clearance and your strength, balance, motion, endurance, and planned type of golf should guide the decision.
Should I start with putting after knee replacement?
Putting at home is often a useful first step once you can stand comfortably and your healthcare team agrees. Start with short sessions and watch for fatigue, stiffness, swelling, or changes in how you load the surgical leg.
What if I cannot squat low enough to read a green?
You can stay higher, step farther behind the ball, or consider a standing green-reading method such as AimPoint. Work with your therapist on knee motion while using an approach that fits your current abilities.
Should I walk or ride for my first round?
Either can be appropriate. Match the choice to your current walking and standing tolerance, the course terrain, and the length of the outing. Riding reduces some walking but still includes repeated cart transfers, standing, and walking to the ball.
Why Walking Feels Awkward and How People Rebuild Smooth, Confident Walking for Everyday Life (The Total Knee Success Series Book 2)
Can a physical therapist or golf instructor help?
Yes. A physical therapist can help with strength, balance, motion, weight transfer, and endurance. A golf teaching professional can help adapt your swing as your movement changes. Golf-specific training such as TPI can be useful, but it is not required for a physical therapist to help a golfer prepare for the game.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist, or another qualified healthcare professional before returning to golf or changing your activity program.
References
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2. Robinson PG, Williamson TR, Creighton AP, et al. Rate and timing of return to golf after hip, knee, or shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2023;51(6):1644-1651. doi:10.1177/03635465211064292.
3. Tramer JS, Maier LM, Klag EA, Ayoola AS, Charters MA, North WT. Return to play and performance in golfers after total knee arthroplasty: does component type matter? Sports Health. 2022;14(3):433-439. doi:10.1177/19417381211019348.
4. Pioger C, Bellity JP, Simon R, Rouillon O, Smith BJ, Nizard R. A playtime and handicap analysis of 143 regular golfers after total knee arthroplasty at minimum 2-year follow-up. J Arthroplasty. 2020;35(5):1257-1261. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2020.01.005.
5. Rankin CS, Coleman S, Murray IR, Robinson PG, Clement ND. Native knee kinematics are reproduced during the golf swing after total knee arthroplasty apart from rotation: a case-control study of hip and knee kinematics of patients returning to golf compared with matched controls. J ISAKOS. 2024;9(3):341-347. doi:10.1016/j.jisako.2024.03.004.
6. Baker ML, Epari DR, Lorenzetti S, Sayers M, Boutellier U, Taylor WR. Risk factors for knee injury in golf: a systematic review. Sports Med. 2017;47(12):2621-2639. doi:10.1007/s40279-017-0780-5.
7. Lester D, Barber C, Sowers CB, Cyrus JW, Abdel MP. Return to sport post-knee arthroplasty: an umbrella review for consensus guidelines. Bone Jt Open. 2022;3(3):245-251. doi:10.1302/2633-1462.33.BJO-2021-0187.R2.
8. Bove AM, Carroll LA, Cone S, et al. Clinical practice guideline for physical therapist management of total knee arthroplasty: revision 2026. Phys Ther. 2026;106(7). doi:10.1093/ptj/pzag058.