Golf and numerous sports activities appear to breed superstition amongst athletes.
As golfers, we are inclined to do the identical issues each spherical in an effort to maintain the Golf Gods comfortable and hopefully, play higher golf.
Some gamers solely maintain one marker of their golf bag, even when it’s 15 years previous. Different gamers at all times carry 5 tees of their proper pocket and solely put their glove within the again left pocket. It’s all private choice and on the finish of the day, we’re all simply making an attempt to play our greatest golf.
Apart from superstition, most of us aren’t afraid to ask the Golf Gods for some additional assist both. We ask them issues like:
- Not let our golf ball hit the cart path and find yourself out of bounds
- To present us the braveness to hit the scary shot over water with the match on the road.
- To have that ball that’s sitting on the lip of the cup, tumble yet one more rotation and go into the opening.
We’re at all times asking for just a little assist, generally even praying, for an excellent break.
A brand new option to appease them would possibly come within the type of a placing grip. It’s referred to as the prayer grip and is changing into an increasing number of fashionable with professionals and amateurs alike.
Preserve studying to study extra about this distinctive grip and see if you happen to can “pray your approach” to higher placing.
Prayer Placing Grip – Every thing You Must Know
So, what’s the prayer grip anyway? How does it have an effect on your placing stroke?
In essence, you grip the putter along with your palms on either side of the grip… as if you happen to have been praying. It’s also referred to as the palms going through grip as your proper or left hand isn’t decrease than the opposite. Which fits towards just about all the things we learn about placing.
The index finger of every hand goes down the shaft and it’s removed from a traditional grip. And it’s even completely different from the arm lock and different types you is perhaps accustomed to.
So, what are the prayer placing grip options? The place do your house your palms particularly?
Let’s get into it…
Find out how to Use Prayer Grip
First off, I don’t know who to credit score for this fashion as info is sparse on-line. I can’t attribute one particular teacher or trainer for this methodology.
However excellent news is that you simply don’t have to do a lot to get began.
To present this methodology a attempt, you would possibly want a bigger grip as a smaller grip received’t work. Since your palms might be in a really completely different place than regular, a smaller grip received’t do the trick. Try the hyperlinks beneath to search out the very best grips for this methodology.
After you have the appropriate grip, you need to place your palms on the grip going through one another… similar to you’re praying. Your left thumb and proper thumb are subsequent to every on the grip.
The grip ought to run via the primary a part of your palms and your complete palm will wrap across the shaft of the golf membership.
Begin by inserting your left palm on the grip. Then, add your proper palm so your index fingers are positioned immediately down the shaft. Interlock your wingers or wrap them round one another.
Please be aware, like different grips, there are completely different variations although. Some gamers have their index finger down the shaft, whereas others have their left index finger curl round. You probably have each your left index finger and proper on the shaft, it canassist with extra assist and extra management to maintain the putter face sq..
Why Prayer Putter Grip Works
As a result of your proper and left hand place, many of the motion goes to occur along with your shoulders, not your palms. This fashion additionally forces you to grip the putter calmly because the grip is so massive, which ought to assist along with your rhythm.
The prayer grip will assist create an ideal triangle along with your arms. It ought to assist with a clean stroke and easy “One – Two” tempo that each one good putters use. Merely grip it such as you’re about to wish to the large man and watch how your placing movement will get smoother than ever.
Benefits
One of many major advantages to utilizing this grip is that your palms are on the identical degree, thus conserving your shoulders degree as properly. Versus a standard grip the place your proper shoulder is barely decrease than your left. Vice versa if you happen to use a left hand low, cross handed grip.
This could assist create a extra pendulum stroke because it creates a triangle between your shoulders and arms. Neither hand will dominate the stroke like different strategies and will enable you keep in a impartial place.
One other profit is that your hand motion might be minimized because of the place and dimension of the grip. This would possibly assist in case you are somebody who will get too wristy in your placing movement and causes you to overlook putts.
Lastly, if you happen to are inclined to grip the putter too tight, particularly along with your dominant hand, this would possibly assist too. While you add an excessive amount of stress along with your proper hand, it may well result in lacking numerous putts to the appropriate of the opening. This would possibly enable you keep away from that because it doesn’t permit a “loss of life grip” as Tiger Woods as soon as referred to as extra grip stress.
Disadvantages
The principle draw back to this grip is that you must purchase and set up a distinct kind of grip.
A regular grip received’t work attributable to your hand place. In contrast to a standard grip, you’ll be able to’t alternate between conventional, claw, or cross handed. This isn’t very sensible for the typical golfer.
Plus, it takes some getting used too and would possibly wrestle with dialing within the velocity of the greens whenever you first begin out.
Prayer Grip Drill
Whereas there are professionals and cons to each fashion of grip, there may be an additional con with this methodology. You may’t do that one out with out getting a brand new grip and committing 100% to it.
As a substitute, you need to use it as a drill on the follow inexperienced. It will enable you get some extra rhythm again in your stroke, reduce grip stress, and reset your stroke.
To learn to use it as a drill, watch this Golf Channel video because it particulars the drill extra and exhibits you easy methods to get began.
I do one thing related with the claw placing grip. Whereas I putt historically, generally my proper dominant hand will get over energetic. On the placing inexperienced, I take advantage of the claw methodology to reduce my proper hand in follow however putt usually on the golf course.
The identical works with this drill as you’ll be able to prepare your stroke on the placing inexperienced to assist enhance your goal line, and sync your higher physique for an ideal stroke.
Professionals That Use the Prayer Technique
I’m certain you’ve puzzled, who makes use of the prayer grip? It’s an excellent query – listed here are some elite participant on the earth who use this grip:
- Matt Wallace
- Matthie Pavon
- Stephen Brown
- Jordan Smith
- Whitney Hillier
Different PGA Tour gamers and professionals favor arm lock placing grip, a reverse overlap grip, left-hand low, and every kind of different strategies.
Prayer Putter Grips
As I discussed, if you wish to check out this putter grip, it’s important to decide to it by shopping for and putting in a brand new grip. You shouldn’t use your present, conventional grip with the prayer fashion. As a substitute, you must purchase a bigger one that enables your palms to get into the appropriate place.
Listed below are a few of our high picks:
Two Thumb Grip
Whereas there’s a giant choice on the market, Two Thumb Grip appears to be the clear chief on this new methodology. They provide six completely different fashions together with the OG Lite, Octogrip, and Pistol 7E that can assist you discover the appropriate one to your palms.
In addition they make it simple to search out the appropriate one utilizing their grip selector device. Particularly, this helps discover the appropriate one based mostly in your stroke.
In case you are somebody who has a straight arc (often known as a straight again, straight via methodology), it’s fairly completely different from an in to out placing stroke. This manner your grip matches your most well-liked stroke path and units you up for fulfillment.
Two Thumb Grip additionally claims it may well assist you probably have the dreaded “Y” phrase along with your placing. As they stated on their web site,
“A significant contributing issue to the ‘yips’ is an excessive amount of grip stress which results in larger stress within the wrists. One efficient option to cut back the stress is to extend the floor space of the grip and by doing so the pure result’s a discount on grip stress and due to this fact stress.
Because of this our Octogrip, OG Lite and OG Taper vary can be an important choice so that you can attempt which can be utilized at the side of any grip approach.”
In addition they ship domestically and internationally. Click on right here to study extra about them now and discover the grip to your recreation.
FAQs In regards to the Prayer Grip
Do you’ve got extra questions on this distinctive grip? In that case, hopefully we’ll reply them and put extra placing recommendation beneath to construct your confidence on the greens.
What placing grip is the very best? Claw grip? Conventional?
No matter grip works the very best to your stroke. You need to at all times use the grip that helps you’ve got probably the most quantity of confidence over each putt.
Too many gamers attempt to use a grip their good friend advisable or copy the one which their favourite PGA Tour participant makes use of. This isn’t a good suggestion and as an alternative, ought to do some trial and error to see what works greatest for you.
The kind of putter, your stance, hand dimension, stroke, and different components all play a pivotal position in deciding which fashion to undertake. When you do discover a grip that works for you, don’t swap until you’re going via a stoop.
The previous saying, “If it ain’t broke don’t repair it” applies completely to golf and your grip. Mastering your stroke on the greens is difficult enterprise so don’t make it tougher on your self by making an attempt a brand new grip with out purpose.
How do you grip a putter?
So, what are the completely different placing grips on the market?
In contrast to a full swing, there are tons of placing grips. Whereas this text discusses the prayer fashion rather a lot, there are tons of different strategies together with:
- Claw grip like Justin Rose
- Arm lock grip like Bryson DeChambeau
- Conventional grip fashion like Tiger Woods
- Cross Handed grip fashion like Jordan Speith
- Lengthy putter (2-hand grip) like Adam Scott
Whereas a stomach putter fashion (the place the butt-end goes into your abdomen) is now not allowed by the USGA or is anchoring of any kind. There are additionally variations of those resembling a reverse overlap grip and extra.
What’s the customary placing grip?
A regular or conventional grip is much like the way you grip the membership with a standard golf swing.
Your proper hand is decrease on the grip and the left hand is the extra dominant one. Whereas some gamers, together with Tiger Woods, interlock their grip in a full swing, this isn’t the case with a standard placing grip.
A regular grip is often a great way to study placing and construct a strong basis. Then, you’ll be able to check out different grips (just like the claw grip) and others to see in the event that they carry out higher.
The other of a typical grip is cross-handed, which is also referred to as left-hand low. That is one other widespread grip that minimizes wrist motion and is utilized by PGA Tour gamers together with Jordan Speith.
Is the arm lock placing methodology efficient?
Like several grip, it’s one thing that you must take a look at out as it really works for some whereas others don’t find it irresistible.
With the arm lock, you want an extended putter as it can relaxation in your left forearm (for right-handed golfers). The putter head shouldn’t transfer as a lot and it does present some shaft lean which is a typical trait amongst good gamers.
You additionally want completely different sized grips and a distinct putter for this methodology to work correctly.
Do you have to choke down on a putter?
Choking down on a putter produces related outcomes to choking down on a golf membership for a full swing. While you choke down from the highest of the putter, you make the membership shorter and simpler to manage.
For placing, I believe it is best to solely choke down on quick putts or ones which are downhill and really quick. With quick putts, you don’t have to hit it far so choking up is an effective option to maintain the face secure via influence. For downhill putts, it gives you extra management and allow you to ease the putt all the way down to the opening with out it racing by too far.
You also needs to ensure you have the appropriate putter size too. This is a vital a part of placing that numerous gamers skip over and sometimes play putters that aren’t fitted to their peak.
Click on right here to study extra about utilizing the right putter size.
How exhausting must you grip a putter?
This is among the greatest questions which you could ask your self in the case of placing. Whereas the grip itself is talked about and performs a giant position, always remember about hand stress both.
Grip stress is among the most important components of placing and is sort of completely different from a full swing. With placing, you need a lot much less grip stress than you do with a full swing.
In case you had to consider stress on a 1-10 scale, one being barely holding and ten being a loss of life grip, you desire a 4. Mainly, simply sufficient to ensure the membership face received’t twist an excessive amount of however have an excellent maintain on the putter deal with.
On the identical time, you don’t need an excessive amount of grip stress as it can cut back your really feel and add stress. While you grip the membership too tight, it provides stress to your forearms and higher physique which makes it exhausting to make a constant stroke.
No matter grip you determine to make use of on the placing inexperienced, make certain to at all times examine your stress. Particularly on vital putts the place you are inclined to get just a little tense and nervous. It will undoubtedly enable you drain extra putts.
Last Ideas on Prayer Placing Grip
The prayer grip is a singular golf placing approach to carry the putter.
Whereas it’s definitely not one of many widespread placing grips, it would assist the putter shaft and head enable you produce higher outcomes. On the finish of the day, you simply have to try it out if you happen to’re having some placing woes.
Some golfers swear by it whereas others are terrified simply enthusiastic about it. Just like the arm lock, left-hand low or different fashion, it may well work and isn’t inherently good or dangerous. As a substitute, it provides a singular method to inserting your palms on the grip and hopefully, improves your placing.
Even if you happen to don’t need to purchase a brand new bigger grip and commit 100%, you need to use the prayer drill. It will assist reduce hand motion, cut back grip stress, and enable you create higher rhythm in your stroke.
Simply keep in mind, no matter grip you determine, discover one you’re keen on and keep it up. Don’t attempt to change it each week or month. Discover a grip fashion you’re keen on, follow with it, and maintain with it until you go into a serious stoop.
Hopefully, a prayer to the Golf Gods and this fashion will help you drain extra putts.
