Where does golf rank in the list of most dangerous sports to play at home?

Golf ranks only as the eighth most dangerous sport to play at home – and we have to say we are a little surprised.

Maybe it’s from our time pouring over golf fail videos, but it does seem like golfers put themselves at risk when they break out the clubs at home.

While there are many great aids for your golf game that you can use safely at home, injuries happen when equipment is used inappropriately.

You also cannot discount the risk of a fluke injury due to catastrophic equipment failure or a horrendous biological malfunction brought on by golfing too hard.

A new study by injury lawyers Bader Scott has uncovered the sporting equipment that is most likely to send Americans to the hospital for treatment, with basketball appearing at the top.

“This study reveals the high risks associated with sports like basketball and football around the Fourth of July and underscores the critical need for proper warm-ups and correct footwear.

“Sports are a vital part of American culture and family bonding, and by adopting recommended safety measures, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of injury.”

The data reveals that basketball is the most dangerous sport to learn at home. From finger fractures during passing to sprains and falls, basketball equipment sends more Americans to the emergency room than any other sporting equipment, leading to an estimated 314,000 injuries per year.

Injuries caused by basketball equipment may be so high because participants have minimal protection, unlike football or soccer. The data also reveals that people aged between 15-24 account for almost half of all basketball equipment injuries, at 144,000.

Football is second, with 266,000 estimated injuries across America. It may come as a surprise, but football equipment injuries are not the leading cause of emergency room visits in America. However, they are very close; these injuries can include things such as arm injuries from passing and broken fingers from receiving.

Football equipment injuries are most common in children aged between 5-14, accounting for more than half of all injuries, at 145,000.

Skateboards, scooters, and hoverboards secure the third sport. These pieces of equipment account for more than 230,000 estimated injuries yearly.

The injuries resulting from skateboards, scooters, and hoverboards can range widely from collisions with vehicles and pedestrians to concussions caused by falls. Injuries from these pieces of kit are most common in adults aged between 25-64, with 88,000 reported injuries yearly, which is around a third more than that of 15-24-year-olds.

In fourth place are injuries caused by swimming, pools, and swimming equipment, accounting for 187,000 estimated injuries each year nationwide.

Due to the repetitive motions used during swimming, common swimming injuries are usually related to the neck and shoulders. However, many experience trips and falls near pool walkways, which can become slippery when wet.

Soccer equipment rounds off the top five, with 179,000 estimated injuries each year across America. These soccer mishaps can vary from head injuries caused by collisions with goalposts and boots to injuries caused by studs.

Baseball and softball are sixth, with an estimated 137,000 injuries. Lacrosse and rugby injuries rank seventh, along with those from miscellaneous other ball games, with 69,000 injuries.

Golf only the eighth most dangerous sport

Golf ranks eighth with an estimated 61,000 injuries and experiences the highest injury incidence among those over 65 compared to any other sport in this study, at 23,815.

Volleyball ranks ninth with an estimated 51,000 injuries, and rounding out the top 10 are injuries caused by hockey equipment, with an estimated 38,000 cases nationwide.

The World Health Organization states that one-third of all injuries worldwide happen in domestic settings.

Interestingly, on the opposite side of the spectrum, the data also shows that injuries caused while using boxing equipment account for the fewest injuries nationally at 17,445.

To reduce the risk of injury, individuals are advised to:

• Warm up properly: This will reduce the risk of injuries to muscles and tendons.
• Stretch before undertaking sports: Stretching reduces the risk of injuries.
• Wear correct footwear: Correct footwear will improve comfort, and performance, and prevent injuries.
• Practice: Johns Hopkins Medicine says that learning the proper techniques to play your sport can reduce the odds of injury.