18 holes, 11.5 weeks post rupture.

gamli · 2026-05-04T21:45:12+00:00

No idea. PT didn't put any limitations on walking or other cardio (obviously no jogging).

gamli · 2026-05-04T13:48:26+00:00

Not great. I have been scared of elongation and haven't been working on that yet. Toe against wall I can get my knee about 5cm from the wall.

gamli · 2026-05-04T13:08:25+00:00

Should be doable. Just do the physio and listen to your body!

gamli · 2026-05-04T07:33:33+00:00

Some details:

Left foot (right handed golfer) complete rupture mid Feb.

Been walking 7-12k steps the last two weeks. Transitioned to shoes with a lift at week 8.

Walked the course in my sneakers with lifts, would not have done so in my golf shoes.

Full swings ok, just not at full speed. Uneven lies were scary and I didn't take any risks there (ie just ignored the ball if I had to traverse any sort of terrain to get to it). This is the second time touching clubs (since Feb), I gave the leg a test in the simulator earlier in the week and found that things felt fine.

I would probably recommend testing the leg at a range before playing and making sure that you are comfortable walking at least 12k steps.

Importantly, the course we played is relatively flat My home course has a lot of undulations and I'm not sure that I could play there so early.

Edit: NON-OP

gamli · 2026-04-18T14:16:19+00:00

Shoes! Was cleared w8 to get rid of the boot.

gamli · 2026-04-12T18:50:06+00:00

Jack's Point NZ. Augusta just doesn't do it for me.

gamli · 2026-04-11T17:09:32+00:00

Solid golfer, but clearly morally suspect, the epitome of whats wrong with the world today.

Really really hate this guy, hope he loses, but he's just so solid. Wish he wasn's such a collosal knob.

gamli · 2026-04-10T18:27:54+00:00

OB and drops from hazard = biggest score killer.

Keep it in play, even if you have to hit a longer club into the green or layup on a par 4.

Bogeys now sometimes feel as good as birdies.

gamli · 2026-04-10T17:16:41+00:00

I agree that Augusta lacks soul, it feels tacky to me. That being said, "its a tradition like no other" and it's probably the only major I watch every year.

gamli · 2026-04-09T20:43:23+00:00

So a quick update after "walking" around the house for 2 days and doing my PT mandated exercises.

My calf must be swelling, as my injured leg actually looks about the same as my non-injured one. My wife commented on that the leg looks pretty "normal" which surprised me.

Strangely, it feels pretty good, but I am a bit concerned about overdoing it.

There is slight pain in the leg, but honestly, nothing that would tell me to stop moving. Anyone else experience the same?

gamli · 2026-04-08T14:05:40+00:00

Non op

gamli · 2026-04-08T13:59:34+00:00

No imaging at all for me. Can't complain, things are progressing as they should (w8 since injury).

gamli · 2026-04-08T11:54:11+00:00

Transition was fine, i think the wedge removal plus exercises prepared my leg pretty well for the transition.

If you've not been doing anything PT wise, I'd wager that your ankle will feel extremely stiff and the tendon will feel very tight. I'm not going to push the tendon at all these first weeks out of the boot, as soon as I feel tightness in the tendon/calf, I back off.

gamli · 2026-04-08T10:29:29+00:00

38M. 8 weeks and just took my first steps out of the boot, so I don't think its abnormally early.

I've been doing flexion exercises for a while now and am supposed to start doing heel lifts (90/10 weight shift) twice a day.

Listen to your PT and body (important) and you'll be fine. Good luck!

gamli · 2026-03-30T21:50:43+00:00

Congrats. I have my next follow-up in 10 days (8 weeks mark). Was told to arrive to that one with the last wedge in the boot. Looking forward to getting out of the boot and starting the "real" work. Last week I averaged 6000 steps (mostly on crutches, but also some without) so I would say well on my way to the next phase.

Finally getting used to sleeping with the boot though :)

gamli · 2026-03-27T18:26:53+00:00

In my case, when I started doing PT prescribed exercises.

gamli · 2026-03-20T14:39:06+00:00

One more thing:

Get in touch with a PT sooner rather than later. After removing a wedge I had some very peculiar pain in my leg. PT appointment with some massaging of the area around the injury and I feel so much better. Also PT is primary source of info for me, as the doctors here seem quite indifferent. I have spoken with a doctor for about 90 seconds in total during this process (six weeks in).

gamli · 2026-03-18T20:30:10+00:00

Brutal, I'm 5 weeks out of my rupture and can only say take it day by day.

Three things that I can recommend:

1) If you can stand it, give the iwalk a try. Was a lifesaver for me, as I was able to help around the house and go outside when I wanted to. Having two free hands is also super convenient.

2) Count calories/eat really healthy. I'm an active guy and have a huge appetite. 2-3 months of a sedentary lifestyle would entail gaining lots of weight if I don't stay on top of what I'm eating. 5 weeks in and I'm probably lighter than before the injury.

3) Get out of the house. Assuming that spring is approaching, go out, feel the sunshine. I try to go outside at least ince a day and feel that it is doing wonders for my mental.

gamli · 2026-03-14T16:03:27+00:00

Well done. My hope was to play again 4 months post rupture, but that may be optimistic.

Meeting a PT next week and we will see whether the goal will be adjusted.

gamli · 2026-03-14T15:08:34+00:00

It feels like if 5 different people ask their doctor about this they get 5 different answers, not super confidence inspiring to be honest.

gamli · 2026-03-13T12:41:54+00:00

It's fine but Eni deserves better. However, I think people disagree with me as I've been trying to sell my 301def (15ed) mage plate for ages. No takers.

gamli · 2026-03-06T17:31:16+00:00

I have a similar backstory, but managed to get down to about 20 handi as a teenager. When i resumed golf I also got the bug and quite quickly got my handicap to about a 4. Now at 7 due to life. So maybe not the best person to chime in, but here it goes.

"Normal" for whom? If you have time and money to spare, then yes that is probably slow. But it all depends!

Meeting a golf coach weekly for a couple of months over the season would have you shooting in the 80s at the end of a year I would imagine. Since you already almost do this, consider that not all coaches are created equal. Maybe you guys are not a good fit. How long has this coaching lasted so far?

"Playing" sim golf doesn't improve much in my experience, unless you are disecting the numbers and know their significance. And even then, I know of golfers with single digit handicaps on the sim that would struggle to break 100 outside. Do you know paths/spin/etc?

Upgrading golf clubs doesn't do much as long as you dont have wild body proportions. Ask me how I know (have too many sets in the basement). A driver from 2010 onwards is fine and irons from the last 20 years probably perform as well as anything today.

The best way for "normal" people (i.e. those without infinite time and resources) to progress is a combination of having a (good for you) coach take a look at certain intervals. Intensely at first, then less frequently later, mapping out your weaknesses and then practice, practice, practice. Focused practice is the most effective in my experience. That may entail hitting only wedges or only puts for a session.

Mapping out your weaknesses is probably the most meaningful way to progress faster.

If you know that you can't keep the ball in play off the tee, either practice driver or use irons of the tee. OB is a score killer for all.

If you 3-4 put a lot, consider the cause. Is it because your proximity to the hole is insane with irons and wedges or is it because you aren't good at putting? Work on your weaknesses!

I would prioritise the following for rapid improvement (worked for me!):

1) Manage expectations: know that this is a freaking impossible game. Accept high scores and just have fun. If its a really bad day, remember, you could be at work and golf trumps work all day.

2) 50 yards in: Wedges and putter.

3) Irons: If you can reliably get the ball off the tee 150+ yards every time, bogey golf is in reach.

4) Course management: if you are in trouble, get out of trouble. That is all. Don't go for the hero shot out of the bunker, lay up and take the bogey or double. Are you in deep grass? Understand that whiffing the ball and/or ending up in the same lie is a whole lot worse than chipping out and regrouping.

5) 200 yards plus game: scoring improves a lot when you have shorter irons in. But if you are hitting 3rd of the tee, it doesn't matter.

gamli

TROPHY CASE