How To Hit A Stinger

Hitting a stinger — a low, piercing shot often used to control trajectory and minimize wind interference — is a useful skill in golf. Tiger Woods famously popularized the stinger with a 2-iron, but it can be hit with a variety of clubs, usually a long iron or hybrid. Here’s the correct way to hit a stinger:

✅ Setup

1. Club Selection
2. • Typically a 2–5 iron, hybrid, or low-lofted fairway wood (like a 3-wood).
   • The lower the loft, the easier it is to keep it low, but also harder to hit cleanly.
2. Ball Position
3. • Slightly back of center in your stance — not all the way back like a punch, but just behind your usual position for that club.
3. Hands Ahead
4. • Set your hands slightly forward at address to deloft the clubface and promote a downward strike.
4. Narrow Stance & Slight Forward Lean
5. • A slightly narrower stance helps with balance and control.
   • Keep a bit more weight forward (~60% on front foot).

🏌️‍♂️ Swing Mechanics

1. Takeaway
2. • Smooth and controlled — don’t overswing or get quick.
   • Keep the club on-plane and compact.
2. Downswing & Impact
3. • Focus on hitting down on the ball (ball-first contact).
   • Keep the hands ahead of the clubhead at impact to maintain low loft.
   • Compress the ball — this is key.
3. Follow-Through
4. • Shorter finish — your hands should not finish high.
   • Think of a “low and left” finish (for right-handers) to keep trajectory down.

🔁 Swing Thoughts

• “Trap the ball.”
• “Low finish.”
• “Smooth, not fast.”
• “Flight it down.”

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• Overswinging — this adds height and loses control.
• Ball too far back — can lead to thin shots or chunks.
• Not committing — a stinger requires confidence in the strike.