Smash Hits & Shoulder Misses: Serving Up the Truth About Rotator Cuff Injuries in Racquet Sports

Whether you're dominating the pickleball court, slicing your way through tennis rallies, or smashing shuttlecocks in badminton, your shoulders are doing a lot more than you think. One wrong serve, swing, or smash can leave you nursing a rotator cuff injury—benched, frustrated, and in pain. But what even is the rotator cuff, and why does it matter so much in racquet sports?

Let’s break it down:

What Is It?

The rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles and their tendons that stabilize your shoulder joint and control movement—especially lifting and rotating the arm. When these muscles are overused, strained, or torn, it can lead to pain, weakness, and limited range of motion.

In racquet sports, repeated overhead movements (think: serving, smashing, lobbing) put this area under serious pressure. That’s when injury strikes—and often without warning.

Anatomy

Here’s your shoulder’s dream team:

• Supraspinatus – raises your arm (vital in serving)
• Infraspinatus – helps with external rotation (great for backhands)
• Teres Minor – assists with stabilizing the shoulder
• Subscapularis – rotates the arm inward (key for forehand power)

These muscles connect the scapula to the humerus, keeping the arm bone centred in the shoulder socket through every swing, drive, and volley.

Symptoms

How do you know your rotator cuff is crying out for help?

Dull ache deep in the shoulder

• Weakness in lifting or rotating your arm
• Pain that worsens with specific movements (especially overhead ones)
• Disturbed sleep, especially when lying on the injured side
• Limited range of motion or stiffness

If any of these sound familiar and haven’t gone away after rest, it’s time to get it looked at.

Common Causes in Racquet Sports

Rotator cuff injuries don’t just happen randomly—they usually build up over time. Key culprits include:

• Overuse – playing too many matches back-to-back
• Poor technique – especially in serving or overhead shots
• Inadequate warm-up – cold muscles are stiff and injury-prone
• Muscle imbalances – weak shoulder stabilizers or tight chest muscles
• Repetitive movements – common in pickleball, tennis, squash, and badminton

Racquet sports are notorious for creating asymmetrical strain, meaning your dominant arm takes most of the load. Without proper recovery, that wear and tear adds up fast.

Treatment Options

Rest won’t fix everything. Here’s how to get back on court:

• Physiotherapy – tailored rehab plans to rebuild strength and improve mobility
• Ice and anti-inflammatories – to manage pain and reduce swelling
• Strengthening exercises – especially for shoulder stabilizers and scapular muscles
• Stretching and mobility work – loosening tight muscles and improving range of motion
• In more serious cases: corticosteroid injections or surgery may be necessary

It’s essential to see a physiotherapist. They can diagnose the issue, create a rehab program, and help you correct the technique or strength deficits that caused the problem in the first place.

Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Shoulder Be the Weakest Link

Your rotator cuff is small but mighty—and in racquet sports, it’s doing the hard yards. If you're feeling shoulder pain that doesn’t go away with rest, don't wait for it to worsen. The earlier you address it, the faster (and safer) you can return to playing.

Book in now with GroundUp Physio, get a proper assessment, and take the pressure off your shoulder—before it turns into something serious.