Trevor Ng
Hitting a golf stinger is no easy feat. The stinger is a low-flying tee shot that is difficult to execute consistently. It requires a lot of practice and good forearm strength. Tiger Woods, who made the stinger his signature move in the early 2000s, developed this shot to gain an advantage on windy days. To hit a stinger, the ball must be positioned in the middle of your stance, and your hands should be slightly ahead of the ball. You should also stand closer to the ball than usual, and cut off the finish of your swing.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Stand closer to the ball, cover it, and cut off the finish
To hit a golf stinger, one of the key techniques is to stand closer to the ball than you would normally. This allows you to cover the ball, meaning your chest stays more on top of the ball during the through-swing.
To cover the ball, you need to hit down on it a little. This is achieved by playing the ball farther back in your stance than usual. The ball should be in the middle of your stance, or even an inch or two forward of the centre. This will help minimise the ball's spin rate off the clubface and increase rollout once it hits the turf.
Standing closer to the ball also means you need to start getting your left side out of the way quickly on the downswing, to ensure the club can move freely through the swing. This is where forearm strength comes into play, as you need to be able to control the club in this way.
Finally, to sting the ball, you need to cut off the finish. This means cutting off the follow-through as quickly as possible, stopping your hands immediately after impact. The lower you want the ball to fly, the faster you should stop the swing.
Golf: Easy to Learn, Tough to Master
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Play the ball in the middle of your stance
To hit a golf stinger, you must play the ball in the middle of your stance, or even an inch or two forward of the centre. This will help minimise the ball's spin rate off the clubface and result in more rollout once it hits the turf.
Playing the ball in the middle of your stance is especially important when hitting a stinger with a driver. This will lower the attack angle at impact for a lower flight.
To achieve the stinger's characteristic low trajectory, you must also take a shorter backswing, which enables you to contact the ball with a clubface that is slightly open. You can further keep the ball on a low trajectory by following through low and to the left.
When hitting a stinger, it is important to keep your arms relaxed and avoid tensing up. This will help you maintain speed through the ball and deliver the clubhead to where it started.
Golfing with Apple: Is There an App for That?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Use a long iron, such as a 3, 4, or 5-iron
To hit a golf stinger, you need to use a long iron, typically a 3, 4, or 5-iron. The stinger is a unique shot that is known for its low, piercing trajectory and ability to cut through the wind. It is a difficult shot to master and requires practice to execute consistently.
When using a long iron for a stinger, the ball position is crucial. You want to position the ball in the middle of your stance or even an inch or two forward of center. This may be contrary to what many golfers are used to, as they often place the ball too far back in their stance, leading to a steep downswing and too much spin. By positioning the ball in the middle, you can minimize the ball's spin rate and achieve the desired low trajectory.
Additionally, you should ensure that your feet are about shoulder-width apart, avoiding a too-wide stance. Your hands should be slightly ahead of the ball at address, and you should focus on keeping your weight centered during the backswing, rather than letting it shift too much to your back foot.
When using a long iron for a stinger, the descending blow alters the angle of the clubface at impact. This effectively turns a 5-iron into a 4 or even a 3-iron. As you get comfortable with the 5-iron stinger, you can gradually decrease the loft by moving to a 4-iron and then a 3-iron for an even lower launch.
Remember, the key to a successful stinger with a long iron is to focus on minimizing spin and achieving a low trajectory. This will allow your shot to penetrate the wind and roll out further once it hits the turf.
Topgolf: Mini Golf or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Develop forearm strength to control the club
Developing forearm strength is crucial for controlling the club and executing a powerful golf swing. Eighteen out of 35 muscles that control hand movements originate in the forearms, so strengthening these muscles will help you transmit force more effectively. Here are some exercises to develop your forearm strength:
- Bicep curls: Stand with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward, and arms fully extended at your sides. Keep your upper arms stationary and curl the weights while contracting your biceps. Continue until the dumbbells reach shoulder level, then slowly lower them back down. This exercise strengthens the muscles in the front of your arms, improving control during the swing and preventing muscle imbalances.
- Dumbbell finger hold: Sit on an incline bench and hold two dumbbells at your sides. Lift the weights to your chest with your palms facing inward, then rotate your palms away from you before returning to the starting position.
- Dumbbell wrist twist: Hold a dumbbell with your fingers and twist your wrist. This exercise isolates the forearm muscles and helps improve grip strength.
- Military pull-ups: Grab a pull-up bar with an overhand grip and your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Pull yourself up until your chin clears the bar, then lower yourself back down with control. Regular pull-ups develop upper-body strength and endurance, leading to increased clubhead speed and more consistent ball striking.
- Stress ball squeeze and twist: Squeeze a stress ball and twist your wrist to strengthen your grip.
In addition to targeted forearm exercises, it is beneficial to incorporate general movement patterns that develop grip strength. This enhances stability throughout the body and improves athletic performance. Furthermore, ensuring adequate forearm extensors strength helps stabilize the wrist and reduces the risk of injury.
Golf's Fun, Speedy New Format: Spark Golf
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Practice with ArmAlarm to improve arm structure
One of the main reasons many golfers find it difficult to execute the stinger consistently is poor arm structure, which can cause too many moving parts. Tiger Woods, for example, keeps his arms perfectly connected and in sync with his body throughout his swing.
To improve your arm structure, you can practice with ArmAlarm, a tool that provides real-time audible feedback if your arms separate during your swing. This device is simple and easy to use, both indoors and outdoors. It will help you keep your arms in sync with your body, which is crucial for executing a proper stinger shot.
To hit a stinger, it is important to stand a little closer to the ball than normal, which allows you to cover the ball better and keep your chest on top of it. You also want to hit down on the ball, but not too much, as too much steepness will result in too much backspin, causing the ball to balloon in the air. Instead, you want to minimize the ball's spin rate by playing the ball in the middle of your stance or slightly forward of center. This will also give you more rollout once the ball hits the turf.
Additionally, you should pull the club so that the clubhead is behind your hands as you enter the impact zone. This will help push the ball straight with minimal launch. It takes some practice to get comfortable with this technique, but it is essential for mastering the stinger.
Golfing Greatness: My Scorecard Journey
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A long iron is the best club to use for a golf stinger. A 5-iron is the most commonly used, but you can also use a 3 or 4-iron. If you're feeling bold, you can even try a 2-iron.
To hit a golf stinger, you need to stand a little closer to the ball than normal and play it in the middle of your stance. This will help minimize the ball's spin rate and increase rollout once it hits the turf. Make sure your feet are about shoulder-width apart and get your hands slightly ahead of the ball.
The stinger is an effective shot because of its low trajectory and minimal spin. These attributes allow the ball to cut through the wind and prevent it from veering offline as much as a normal golf shot would.
