We all know Tiger Woods had many contributions to the game. Perhaps the most important contribution was the stinger.
Of course, Tiger didn’t really invent this shot, but he made it something that every golfer wanted to have in their bag.
You can improve your game by learning how to hit the stinger. This shot was popularized in the late 90s and is still a favorite among golfers today.
Let’s take a look at how to hit a stinger far and low.
When It’s Best to Hit a Stinger Shot
The beauty of the stinger shot’s ability to cut through the wind and travel for long periods of time is its versatility. The stinger shot is the perfect shot to help you get on the right track if you’re looking at a fairway with tight grass and good rolling conditions.
When you learn how to do this, it becomes much easier to hit straight. It can be a great tool for those who struggle with control.
You can hit stinger shots from the fairway, the rough, or the tee box. Some golfers use them as a way to get out of trouble while others use them as a way to get into great positions.
4 Steps to Hit a Steer: How to Do It!
Tiger Woods shows us how to hit a low stinger. A consistent swing, steady movement, and square club face are necessary for the low stinger. Here’s how Tiger did it.
Now we’ll do a break down of each step below…
Proper setup
This shot doesn’t require any modifications. We like to see it just forward of the middle line of the stance. Probably one ball forward will be enough, don’t play it all the way up in your golf stance.
Another trick I use to hit the stinger shot is to put more weight on my frontfoot. It allows me to feel lower in the trajectory and helps me complete the follow-through wriststop.
Shortened Backswing
The stinger shot involves gaining a lot of club head speed and applying it to a square club face so that the ball rolls for a long time. This shot does not require a full swing.
If you intend to stop the golf club immediately after impact, it will be much more difficult if you take a full swing back. Most golfers that have success with a stinger shot are only taking the club back about ¾ of the way.
Most players have a hard time feeling where the top of their backswing is and don’t know when to start the downswing. Once you have completed the shoulder turn, where your shoulder is below your chin and you can transition to the downswing,
If you are learning how to hit the stinger, it is possible to have greater success in your first swing.
Low Stop on Follow Through
This shot requires you to feel like you are stopping your wrists right after impact. Tiger says that he feels this way because he keeps his arms open and feels like he can stop them after impact.
Of course, we know with science and momentum and physics that you won’t really be able to stop the club just after impact. It will feel like it.
You will need to exert some strength to hit the stinger shot. This is because you want to stop the momentum you just created on your backswing. I like to think about the golfball and imagine a two-foot area on the left side of it (after impact).
The line extends towards the target as I imagine. As I’m in my backswing and making my transition to the downswing, I see this area as the place I would like to stop my shot.
Of course, I’ll end up with about a ¾ finish, but feeling this hold in this area is what keeps the trajectory of the stinger low.
Golfers should ensure they take a proper divot when hitting a long stinger. They also need to keep their wrist angle at impact. You should aim the shot downwards and not up at the ball.
Tiger is a great example of how compression is important. These stinger shots look like they were hit with a lot of power, which is exactly what they were.
Abbreviated Finish
You may not finish these stingers if you are trying to stop the club immediately after impact. However, you can see from Tiger’s golf shots that he still makes a full turn of the hips and a weight transfer.
While you may be working to stop the club after impact, your body should not stop rotating. Tiger says that hip rotation and turn are key components to hitting the stinger.
You can miss this shot by hitting it slightly behind or hitting the shot higher that you expected. The stinger is a skill that can be learned by players who are skilled at it.
Variations on a stinger shot are easy to make with small movements.
The Best Clubs to Use for a Stinger
A stinger shot can only be hit if you choose the right club and lie. Here are some of our favorite clubs for a stinger.
Long Irons
Long irons have a lower loft, which is a great thing. This helps to keep the ball flying lower and makes it easier to achieve the desired trajectory.
For this stinger, long irons such as a 3, 4, or 5 iron are our first choice. If your ball is not well-placed, it can be difficult to hit a stinger with a long iron.
Mid Irons
It’s hard to get the proper trajectory for a low and far stinger when using a short iron. If you’re strong with your 6 or 7 iron, they will work. The 7 iron will have a slightly higher ball-flight and a little more spin.
This means that your total distance will probably be a few yards shorter, but it’s still a shot you can use.
Fairway Woods
A fairway wood stinger can be a great shot to approach a par 5 when fairways are tight and the wind is blowing in your face. You can go a little further and perhaps even run one on the green.
When hitting this shot with a fairway wood, make sure that you don’t get too quick with your tempo. These clubs are lightweight and graphite shafted. Some players become too eager and hit the top of their ball.
Driver
The driver may seem like an unlikely club to use when learning how to hit a stinger far and low, but it’s a really great shot to have in the bag.
Some holes require more precision. The driver can help you hit the ball down the center with a shorter swing. Be sure to release the clubhead while you are doing this.
If you don’t release the clubhead, your shot won’t go straight, and you may end up in a predicament.
