Miles Bennett
Me and My Golf is a golfer-founded platform that provides golfers with access to simple, step-by-step plans to improve their game. One of the techniques they teach is how to play the Stinger shot, a low golf shot with a lot of power and forward spin, popularized by Tiger Woods. The Stinger is achieved by creating a low dynamic loft when striking the golf ball, which results in a low launch and low spin. This shot is particularly useful in windy conditions or on links-style golf courses, as it helps golfers find more fairways and maximize their distance.
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What You'll Learn
- The stinger shot is a low shot with a lot of power and forward spin
- To hit a stinger, produce a low dynamic loft when striking the ball
- The stinger is best suited for windy conditions and links-style golf courses
- To master the stinger, focus on wrist mechanics and keeping tension out of your forearms
- The 5-iron is a good club to use for hitting stingers as it provides a good combination of forgiveness, distance, and lower ball flight
The stinger shot is a low shot with a lot of power and forward spin
The stinger shot is a powerful low shot with lots of forward spin. It is a useful shot to have in your arsenal as a golfer, particularly in windy conditions or on links-style golf courses. It can help golfers maximize their distance and find more fairways.
To hit a stinger, you need to produce a low dynamic loft when striking the ball. This means creating a shaft that leans towards the target at impact, which lowers the loft, launch angle, and spin rate. A key element of the stinger is to keep the loft off the club through impact, so reducing power slightly can help achieve this without losing distance.
The stinger shot is best suited for golfers who can generate good shaft lean. It is important to keep the weight 50/50 between each leg with a neutral ball position. To create a shallow angle of attack, maintain more weight on your trail side as you start your downswing, which will get the club bottoming out earlier.
Additionally, understanding the relationship between the wrist and the club head is crucial for the stinger shot. The wrist should be in front of the golf ball to avoid angling the clubface up, which would result in a higher lofted shot. Keeping the body and rotation leading the swing, rather than relying on hand motion, will also help achieve more consistent results.
The stinger shot can be hit with any golf club, but clubs with a loft less than a 6-iron are recommended for better control. The 5-iron is a popular choice due to its combination of forgiveness, distance, and lower ball flight.
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To hit a stinger, produce a low dynamic loft when striking the ball
Hitting a stinger is a great way to keep the ball in play off the tee and is a versatile shot that can be used in a variety of conditions. It is a low-flighted, penetrating shot that can give you a huge advantage when playing in the wind or on a links-style golf course.
To hit a stinger, you need to produce a low dynamic loft when striking the ball. This will create a low launch and low spin, which will help keep the ball low and running. One way to achieve this is by creating a shaft lean towards the target at impact. This will deloft the club and lower the launch angle and spin rate.
The key to achieving this low dynamic loft is in the lead wrist. Make a swing with your lead arm, without a club, and return your hand to impact with your lead wrist "bowed" so that the logo on your glove points to the ground directly in front of the ball. This will help lean the shaft forward and square the face up when striking the ball.
It is also important to focus on your follow-through. You want to feel your wrists are "passive" with a curtailed finish. This will help reduce any unwanted loft and ensure the ball starts low and stays low. Additionally, reducing the power slightly can help keep the loft off the club through impact without losing distance.
When learning to hit a stinger, it is recommended to start with a mid to long iron, such as a 4 or 5-iron, as it will be easier to see the results and practice the technique. Once you are comfortable, you can progress to a lower lofted club. Remember, the stinger is all about mastering wrist mechanics and understanding the relationship between the wrist and the clubhead. With the correct technique, understanding, and practice, you can master this shot and have it in your bag whenever you need it!
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The stinger is best suited for windy conditions and links-style golf courses
The stinger is a powerful shot that can be advantageous in certain situations, particularly when playing in windy conditions or on links-style golf courses.
When playing golf in windy conditions, it is often beneficial to get the golf ball on the ground as quickly as possible. The stinger is a low-flying shot that can help achieve this. By producing a low dynamic loft at impact, the stinger creates a low launch and low spin, allowing the ball to stay low and penetrate through the wind. This technique can be challenging for golfers as it requires precise control over the shaft lean and impact dynamics to avoid adding excessive spin that causes the ball to rise.
Links-style golf courses often feature wide-open spaces and rolling fairways, where the wind can be a significant factor. The stinger shot is well-suited for these conditions as it keeps the ball straight and rolling down the fairway. By mastering the stinger, golfers can maximize their distance and improve their performance on longer par 4 and par 5 holes.
To execute the stinger effectively, it is crucial to understand the relationship between the wrist and the clubhead. The wrists should be "passive," with a curtailed finish, to reduce unwanted loft and keep the ball flying low. Additionally, maintaining a shallow angle of attack while keeping a low dynamic loft at impact is essential for achieving the desired low "spin loft." This involves keeping more weight on the trail side during the downswing to create a descending blow and straight clubhead path through impact.
While the stinger can be a valuable shot in specific situations, it may not be for everyone. It suits golfers who can generate good shaft lean and are comfortable with the technique. Golfers can experiment with different clubs to find the best option for their stinger shot. The 5-iron is a popular choice due to its combination of forgiveness, distance, and lower ball flight.
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To master the stinger, focus on wrist mechanics and keeping tension out of your forearms
The stinger is a low golf shot with a lot of power and forward spin. It is a shot that can be used in a golfer's bag of tricks, especially in windy conditions. The idea is to keep the ball straight and ensure it rolls down the fairway.
Understanding the relationship between the wrist and the club head in the stinger shot can take some time. A feedback tool like HackMotion can help you get there faster by analyzing the perfect wrist angle and ensuring you are in the right position as you approach impact. While we want the wrists to be in the proper position at impact, stinger shots work best when the body and your rotation are leading the swing. Too much hand motion in the swing can lead to inconsistent results.
Additionally, tension in the forearms can restrict your rotation and total distance. It is important to keep your arms relaxed and not to grip the handle too tightly. This may seem counterintuitive, as you might think that tensing up will help you swing harder, but it actually slows down your swing and limits speed through the ball.
To create the low spin needed for the stinger, you need a low "spin loft". To achieve this, maintain some shaft lean towards the target, which delofts the club and creates a low "spin loft" at impact, resulting in the ball piercing through the air.
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The 5-iron is a good club to use for hitting stingers as it provides a good combination of forgiveness, distance, and lower ball flight
The stinger is a low-flying golf shot with a lot of power and forward spin. It is used to keep the ball straight and ensure it rolls down the fairway. The shot is not for getting out of trouble but for control and distance.
To hit a stinger, you need to produce a low "spin loft", which is the difference between your angle of attack and your dynamic loft at impact. A steeper angle of attack creates a larger spin loft, which will lead to too much height. To create a low spin loft, you need to produce a low dynamic loft when striking the golf ball. This will create a low launch and low spin, which is what you want for a stinger.
When using a 5-iron for a stinger, it is important to keep your weight 50/50 between each leg and maintain a neutral ball position. This will help you create a shallow angle of attack while keeping a low dynamic loft at impact. Additionally, you should focus on your wrist mechanics and ensure that your wrists are "passive" to reduce any unwanted loft through the ball.
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Frequently asked questions
A Stinger shot is a low golf shot with a lot of power and forward spin. It is used to keep the ball straight and ensure it rolls down the fairway.
To hit a Stinger, you need to produce a low dynamic loft when striking the golf ball. This will create a low launch and low spin. Focus on your wrist mechanics and ensure your wrists are "passive" to reduce any unwanted loft.
Technically, you can hit a Stinger with any golf club in your bag. However, clubs with a loft less than a 6-iron are recommended as they provide better control over the ball. My favourite club for hitting a Stinger is the 5-iron.
The Stinger shot is particularly useful in windy conditions or on links-style golf courses. It can help you find more fairways and maximise your distance.
One of the biggest mistakes is tensing up, which slows down your swing and limits your speed. Another mistake is having your wrist behind the golf ball, which angles the clubface up and results in a higher lofted shot.
