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If you’ve ever stood at the tennis courts holding your racket and thought:
“My elbow hurts… but I’ve already driven here.”
Welcome to the club.
This is one of those questions recreational players ask quietly — usually while warming up and pretending everything is fine. The short answer is: it depends. The longer answer is the one that actually keeps you playing long-term.
Let’s break it down without panic, guilt, or pretending pain is “just part of the game”.
Why This Question Comes Up So Often
Elbow pain in tennis usually doesn’t start dramatically.
It starts as:
- a dull ache after playing
- stiffness the next morning
- something you ignore because “it loosens up”
I did exactly that for a while. And shockingly, ignoring it didn’t fix it.
Most of the time, elbow pain is caused by repeated strain, not one bad shot — which means what you do next matters.
When It’s Usually OK to Play
You can often still play tennis if your elbow pain is:
- mild
- not getting worse during play
- not affecting grip strength
- gone or much better after warming up
In these cases, I’ve found that reducing strain, rather than stopping completely, works better.
Two things that helped me during matches:
1️⃣ A Simple Tennis Elbow Support Strap
I resisted using one for ages because it felt like admitting defeat. Turns out it was just admitting I’m human.
A basic elbow strap helped:
- reduce strain during longer rallies
- stop discomfort building mid-match
- remind me not to over-grip the racket
It didn’t “cure” anything, but it made playing feel more manageable while I sorted the bigger picture.
👉 This is the type of elbow strap I’ve used:
https://amzn.to/4r72wVe
2️⃣ Light Warm-Up With Resistance Bands
Jumping straight into hard hitting is a great way to upset an already-sensitive elbow.
Using light resistance bands for 2–3 minutes before playing helped:
- wake up my shoulders
- reduce load on my elbow
- make the first few games feel smoother
They’re cheap, easy to carry, and far more useful than I expected (which is rare for fitness gear).
👉 These are similar to the resistance bands I use:
https://amzn.to/4qv8m2C
When You Probably Should NOT Play
As much as we all want to ignore it, there are times when playing is a bad idea.
I’d strongly consider resting if:
- pain is sharp or worsening
- your elbow hurts during everyday tasks
- grip strength feels weak
- pain lasts several days after playing
- each session feels worse than the last
That’s your body asking for recovery — not another match.
What to Do After Playing (This Matters More Than You Think)
A lot of elbow pain shows up after tennis, not during.
What helped me most was a short, boring-but-effective cooldown:
- gentle forearm stretching
- light movement (not collapsing immediately)
- avoiding aggressive stretching
It takes 5 minutes, but it makes the next day noticeably better.
👉 Want a Deeper Look at What Helped Long-Term?
If this sounds familiar, I go into much more detail here — including recovery habits and small changes that stopped things getting worse:
👉The Small Changes That Finally Stopped My Tennis Injuries From Ruining Matches
That article covers what I changed around tennis, not just during it.
The Honest Bottom Line
You don’t get extra points for playing through pain.
Sometimes the smartest move is:
- playing with adjustments
- reducing strain
- improving recovery
And sometimes it’s taking a short break so you don’t end up taking a long one later.
If you listen early, your elbow usually stops shouting.
Quick reminder
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Tennis injury Prevention 
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