Alright, so let me walk you through this whole prayer putting grip thing I’ve been messing with. My putting, man, it was just awful. I mean, seriously, I’d hit two great shots onto the green and then three-putt like it was my job. Or worse, four-putt! It got so bad I was actually dreading getting to the green. I’d miss short ones, blow long ones miles past. It was costing me so many strokes, and honestly, a lot of enjoyment too.
Finding Something New
I was pretty much at my wit’s end. I’d tried changing my putter, my stance, my pre-shot routine, you name it. Nothing really stuck. Then one day, I was just watching some golf on TV, or maybe it was some video online, I can’t quite remember. I saw this pro, can’t recall who, using this grip that looked… well, it looked like he was praying. His palms were kind of together on the grip. They called it the “prayer grip” or “palms-facing grip.” My first reaction? “Nah, that looks way too weird. Can’t be stable.”
But the more I thought about how bad my putting was, the more I figured, what have I got to lose? The yips were setting in bad on those little three-footers. So, the next time I went to the practice green, I decided to give it a whirl.
The Awkward First Steps
Actually getting into the grip felt super unnatural. I basically placed my hands on the putter so my palms were facing each other, kind of like I was holding a sandwich, if that makes sense. Then I just let my fingers wrap around the club. Some people interlock fingers, some don’t. I tried a few ways.
My initial feelings were:
- Really weird: It felt like I had less control, not more.
- Disconnected: My hands felt like they weren’t working with my arms.
- Weak: I wasn’t sure I could get any power for longer putts.
The first few putts? Oh boy. Some I barely nudged forward, others I accidentally jabbed and sent screaming past the hole. It was not pretty. I almost ditched it right there and then. I thought, “This is even worse!”
Sticking With It (The Grind)
But then I remembered why I was trying it in the first place – my old way was a guaranteed disaster. So, I told myself, “Okay, give it a real shot. A few weeks, at least.” I started spending a lot of time on the practice green. Just short putts at first, like three to five feet. I really focused on trying to take my wrists out of the stroke. That’s supposed to be one of the big benefits, right? Making it more of a shoulder rock.
It was a grind, man. Some days I felt like I was making progress. The ball would roll a bit truer. Other days, it felt like I’d never holed a putt in my life. I tinkered with how much pressure I was using, how close my palms were. I tried to make sure my elbows were tucked in a bit, trying to create that pendulum motion everyone talks about. It was a slow, frustrating process. I had to be really patient, which isn’t always my strong suit.
The “Aha!” Moment (Sort Of)
I think it was maybe into the third week of pretty consistent practice. I wasn’t really thinking about the grip anymore, just trying to roll the ball at the hole. And then, a few putts just… dropped. And then a few more. They weren’t just going in; they felt different coming off the putter face. Smoother. More solid.
It felt like the putter head was staying square through impact much more easily. Those little nervy wrist flicks on short putts? They started to disappear. It wasn’t like a magic bullet, but I definitely felt a shift. The biggest thing was the consistency in starting the ball on my intended line.
Distance control took longer. That was the real challenge with this grip for me. Because my hands felt less active, judging the oomph for long putts was tricky. I spent a lot of time just hitting putts to different lengths, trying to get a feel for it with this new setup. Gradually, it started to come around.
Where I’m At Now
So, am I still using the prayer grip? Yep, I am. It’s become my go-to. My putting isn’t perfect – whose is? – but it’s a heck of a lot better than it was. I’m making more short putts, and my lag putting has improved because the stroke feels more stable. I feel more confident standing over the ball, which is huge.
It’s not for everyone, I get that. It still feels a bit odd compared to a conventional grip if I think about it too much. And it took a real commitment to practice to get comfortable. But if you’re struggling like I was, especially with twitchy wrists or starting your putts offline, I’d say it’s worth trying out for a while. Don’t just try it for five minutes and give up. Give it a few solid practice sessions. You might be surprised. For me, it’s definitely helped me shave a few strokes and, more importantly, made putting a little less terrifying!
