Here's The Rub

No matter what you see on the spa menu, there are only two types of massages. The first is a put-you-to-sleep massage: Swedish, hot stones, aromatherapy, Reiki, etc. The second is a grit-your-teeth massage. These are often called deep-tissue or trigger-point therapy and aren't designed to be enjoyable experiences. If you're a golfer, it's important you know the difference, says Craig Knight, a therapist who gives massages to several PGA Tour pros, including Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler.

You can get a relaxing massage almost anytime, Knight says, "but you might not want to be too relaxed on the first tee."

Deep massages should be done well before a tee time-- at least 48 hours is ideal, says Golf Digest fitness advisor Ralph Simpson. If you get one right before a round, you might be too sore to play, or your muscles won't perform optimally.

Vigorous massages are designed to increase blood flow, break up adhesions and reduce rigidity in muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. "If you're on a trip and you feel banged up after one day, get some deep-tissue work," Simpson says.

Just about every masseuse can give you a relaxing massage, but a therapist's accreditation is key for deep-tissue work. Do a background check with the American Massage Therapy Association (amtamassage.org) or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (ncbtmb.org). Also be leery of extreme techniques. Thai massages, for example, often stretch the body beyond reasonable ranges of motion.

"You don't want someone yanking your arms behind your back if you've had shoulder injuries," Knight says.

One deep-tissue technique is performed with a golf ball. Certified therapist Heather Karr invented a technique that hits golfers' hot spots--like the lower back, hips and shoulders--by rolling a golf ball firmly over the sore area. The idea, she says, is to make muscles more pliable without stretching them too far.