There's no shot in golf quite as legendary or satisfying as the stinger. Popularized by Tiger Woods, this low, piercing ball flight is more than just a cool-looking party trick, it's a practical and versatile weapon that can save you strokes and boost your confidence in tough situations. This guide will walk you through exactly why you need the stinger in your arsenal and provide a clear, step-by-step tutorial on how to hit it yourself. You’ll learn when to use it, why it’s so effective, and the simple mechanics to pull it off consistently.
You might think the stinger is reserved for tour pros or gale-force winds, but its applications are far more common than you'd expect. Understanding why it's so useful is the first step to making it a go-to shot in your own game.
This is the most famous reason to hit a stinger, and for good reason. A well-struck stinger renders the wind practically irrelevant. Let's see how:
Every golfer knows the feeling of a stray tee shot leaving them with a less-than-ideal look at the green. The stinger excels at turning a potential disaster into a manageable recovery.
Imagine your ball is sitting a few feet behind a low-hanging tree branch. Your direct line to the green is blocked. You could try to punch out sideways, but that gives up the hole. This is a perfect scenario for a stinger. You can hit a low-flying shot that stays safely under the trouble but still has enough power to run a long way down the fairway, or even onto the putting surface. It offers significantly more distance and control than a basic, short `punch-out, transforming a "chop it out" situation into a legitimate attempt at par.
If you've ever played links golf or just a dry, baked-out course in the middle of summer, you'll know that the ground game is a huge factor. On firm fairways, a high-flying shot with a lot of backspin can sometimes be a disadvantage, as it will stop dead on impact. A stinger, however, is designed to hit the ground hot and run. This can be a massive strategic advantage. You can land the ball 20-30 yards short of a green and let it chase all the way to the flag. This gives you more control over your distance and allows you to use the contours of the ground to your advantage.
This might be the most important benefit of all. The fundamentals required to hit a good stinger are the exact same fundamentals required for pure, compressed iron shots across the board. By practicing the stinger, you are actively training yourself to:
Feeling convinced? Good. Now let’s get into the mechanics. The great thing about the stinger is that it’s more about a few simple setup adjustments and a specific swing thought than it is about making a complex, difficult motion. Anyone can learn this shot.
The magic of the stinger begins before you even start the swing. Your setup pre-loads the conditions you need to produce that low, penetrating ball flight.
The stinger swing is powerful but not wild. The theme here is control and connection.
If you've ever seen Tiger hit a stinger, you know his finish position is unmistakable. It’s low, abbreviated, and powerful. Mimicking this finish is not just for style, it ensures you execute the shot correctly.
Through impact and beyond, resist the temptation to let your hands and wrists release skyward in a normal follow-through. Instead, feel like your hands and the clubhead are staying low to the ground and moving left (for a righty) after the ball is gone. Your follow-through should feel very abbreviated, almost like you are punching the ball. Your hands might only finish around chest height, with the club shaft pointing towards your target. This low, "held-off" finish is the natural result of keeping your body turning and preventing your hands from flipping the club, which is what adds loft and height to a shot.
The stinger is far more than just a shot to impress your playing partners. It’s a vital tool for managing the wind, recovering from trouble, and navigating firm courses. More importantly, the process of learning it will build rock-solid ball-striking fundamentals that translate to every other club in your bag.
Mastering a shot like this comes down to making smarter decisions on the course, knowing you have the right tool for the right situation. That's precisely where an on-course partner like Caddie AI can make a real difference. By helping you analyze a tough lie from under the trees or understanding how a strong headwind will affect your club choice, you get expert-level strategic advice in your pocket to help you confidently select the smartest play - and know exactly when it’s the perfect time to pull out the stinger.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
