We all know that Tiger Woods had quite a few contributions to the game of golf. Perhaps one of the most important was the stinger shot.

Of course, Tiger didn’t really invent this shot, but he made it something that every golfer wanted to have in their bag.

Learning how to hit the stinger can help your game in various ways. This shot that became popular in the late 90s is still something golfers want to use in their game 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 great thing about the stinger shot is that it can cut through the wind and travel for a long time. If you are looking at a fairway where the grass is cut tight and things are rolling well, the stinger is a perfect shot to get you rolling toward your target.

This shot becomes easy to hit straight when you learn how to do it. For those that struggle with control, it can help you hit some straight shots with very low spin.

Stinger shots can be hit from the tee box, the rough, and the fairway. Some golfers use them to get out of trouble; others use them to put themselves in a great spot.

How to Hit a Stinger: 4 Simple Steps

There is no better way to learn how to hit a stinger far and low than to have Tiger Woods show us how to do it. The low stinger requires a consistent swing, stable movement, and a square club face. Here is how Tiger did it:

Now we’ll do a break down of each step below…

Proper Setup

The setup on this shot does not have to be modified all that much. We like to see the ball just forward of the middle 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 like to use when hitting the stinger shot is I put a little more weight on my front foot. It helps me to feel like I can keep the trajectory lower and complete that wriststop on the follow-through.

Shortened Backswing

The stinger shot is about getting plenty of club head speed and applying it with a square club face, so the ball rolls for quite some time. This shot is not entirely about distance, so there is really no need for a full swing.

In addition, if you plan on stopping the golf club just after impact, you will have a much harder time if you take a full backswing. 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 made that shoulder turn where the shoulder is beneath your chin, you are in a position where you can make that transition to the downswing.

When learning how to hit the stinger, you may see more initial success if you take a shorter rather than longer swing.

Low Stop On Follow Through

The key to this shot is to feel as though you are stopping the wrists just after impact. Tiger mentions that the way he feels this is to keep his arms loose and feel as though he can stop them just 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. However, it will feel like it.

This is where you will need a little bit of strength to hit the stinger tee shot because you are working to stop the momentum that you have just created on the backswing. I like to think of the golf ball and imagine a two foot area extending on the left side of the golf ball (after impact).

The line, I imagine, extends towards the target, so it is straight. 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 need to be sure to take a divot when hitting a stinger and to maintain wrist angle at impact. The shot needs to come as a descending blow into the ball and not something that you hit up on.

Compression here is key, and nobody shows us that better than Tiger. These stinger shots always looked like they were hit with a tremendous amount of power because they were.

Abbreviated Finish

As you work so hard to stop the club just after impact to get that lower flight, you may not make it to a full finish on these stingers. However, you can see from Tiger’s golf shots that he still makes a full turn of the hips and a weight transfer.

Make sure that as you are working on stopping the club after impact, you are not stopping your body from rotating. In fact, Tiger mentions that hip rotation and turn are the key elements to hit the stinger well.

Some of the miss hits that you can get with this shot are hitting slightly behind it or even hitting the shot higher than you expected. Players that get really good with the stinger can learn how to hit a stinger draw or stinger fade.

The variations on a stinger shot should be relatively simple and can be made with small movements in the setup.

Best Clubs to Use for a Stinger

One of the key elements to hitting a stinger shot is to choose the proper club as well as the appropriate lie. Here are a few of the best clubs to use for a stinger.

Long Irons

One of the great things about long irons is that they are already lower lofted. These clubs have a lower loft that helps keep the ball flight down, and it can be considerably easier to get the trajectory that you are looking for.

Long irons like a 3, 4, or even 5 iron would be our first choice for learning how to hit this stinger. Hitting a stinger out of the rough with a long iron can be tough; I would recommend switching to the mid irons if your ball is a bit buried.

Mid Irons

It’s hard to get the proper trajectory for a low and far stinger when using a short iron. However, if you are strong with your 6 and 7 iron, you can usually get them to work. With the 7 iron, expect a slightly higher ball flight and maybe 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

When fairways are tight or the wind is in your face, a fairway wood stinger is an excellent shot for an approach on a par 5. You can get a little extra distance and maybe even run one up on the green.

When hitting this shot with a fairway wood, make sure that you don’t get too quick with your tempo. Since these clubs are graphite shafted and lightweight some players get a little too eager and end up hitting the top of the 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.

Certain holes require a bit more precision, and the driver can help you send your shot down the center with a more abbreviated swing. One thing to be careful of here is that you are still releasing the club head.

If you don’t release the clubhead, your shot won’t go straight, and you may end up in a predicament.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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Arm lock putting grips are currently all the rage on the PGA Tour as stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar, and Will Zalatoris have all started using it.

So what is the arm lock putting grip and will it help your game?

This putting grip is a remarkable aid to making smooth, safe, and speedy putts. Learn more about it and our top brand picks here.

What is an Arm Lock Putting Grip?

The arm lock putting grip has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years because more and more famous PGA Tours are using it. Armlock putting is a different style that helps take the hands and wrists out of the putting stroke by resting the putter grip against the left forearm. 

The goal of the arm lock putting style is to make the left arm an extension of the putter. This makes the golfer use the shoulders when putting, which helps create a more natural rhythm during the stroke. The armlock putting style may be the perfect solution for golfers who are struggling with the putting yips.

This unique putting style requires a different kind of putter or an extended grip. While most standard putters are only 33 to 35 inches long, an arm lock putter is in the 40 to 43 inch range. Armlock putters are a little bit heavier and have some extra loft as well.

To use the arm lock putting technique, golfers will also need a longer putter grip. This makes it much easier to rest the grip against the lead forearm (left arm for right-handed golfers). Most golfers that use the arm lock putting style need a grip that is between 17 and 21 inches.

How to Hold an Arm Lock Putter

Before using any arm lock putter, keep in mind that the putter grip can’t exceed past your elbow. Also, the golfer must not use his right hand to keep the putter grip against his left forearm. If a golfer does either of these it’s considered a violation of USGA Rule 14-1b, which bans the use of an anchor point during putting strokes.

Here’s a quick guide on how to hold an arm lock putter:

1. Firmly grab the putter grip near the bottom and make sure the top of the handle doesn’t extend past your elbow.
2. Rest the putter grip tightly against your left forearm and lock it in place
3. Place the right hand anywhere on the grip to help guide your putting stroke. Lots of golfers prefer the right hand to be a tad lower than their left but this is simply a matter of personal comfort

Can you put an arm-lock grip on any putter?

Yes, any putter can be converted into an arm lock putter. All you need to buy is a specialty arm lock grip that will replace the grip of your traditional putter. 

While there are certain arm-lock putters on the market, they are very expensive ($300-$400). Most golfers do just fine with changing out their putter grip to make it armlock friendly.

Pros Who Use an Arm Lock Putter

Here’s a list of some professional players who use this grip…

Bryson DeChambeau

Though more well known for his insanely long drives off the tee, DeChambeau is also known for using an arm lock putter. The 2020 U.S. Open champion went to the arm lock putting style after his side-saddle putting method was deemed illegal back in 2017.

DeChambeau says that being able to rest the putter grip against his forearm helps make his putting stroke more repeatable. That high level of repeatability has resulted in more consistency on the greens for DeChambeau.

Webb Simpson

Simpson has been one of the most consistent putters on the PGA Tour for quite some time. The 7-time PGA Tour event winner used the belly putter for a few of his victories before both the USGA and R&A outlawed it. After the ban on the belly putter, Simpson switched to the arm lock grip putter.

Keegan Bradley

Like Simpson, Bradley used the belly putter while winning a major championship, the 2011 PGA Championship. Bradley has always looked up to Simpson, so he made the switch to the arm lock putter right after Simpson did. Bradley has four career PGA Tour victories.

Matt Kuchar

Kuchar has always been a very good putter but, like all golfers, he’s constantly seeking ways to improve. The 9-time PGA Tour winner wanted to get back to the forward press that he’d used as an amateur so he decided to give the arm lock style a try in 2011. The move paid huge dividends, as “Kuuuuuch” has won six times since making the switch.

Bubba Watson

Watson had used a traditional putting technique until 2019, when he started tinkering with the armlock putting grip with some help from Bryson DeChambeau. Watson has gone back and forth between the armlock and the standard reverse overlap grip in recent years. He is one of the few lefties to try the arm lock style.

Xander Schauffele

Schuaffele has called for a ban on arm lock putters in the past. However, the 4-time PGA Tour was spotted using an arm lock putter several times during the 2021 season. Schuaffele said, “I had to see what the craze was about” (Golf Digest).

5 Arm Lock Putting Grips to Check Out

1. Arm-Lock Golf Putter Grip

This putter grip is certified by the USGA and provides golfers with a ton of stability. Golfers love the extended grip length of 17 inches. This grip automatically adds 2 to 3 degrees of loft which helps cancel out the delofting that happens when you rest the grip against your forearm.

Price: $38.99 or $42.00 for the larger Big Red Version (19.5”)

Link to Buy on Amazon

2. JumboMax Armlock 21 Golf Putter Grip

Here’s another great option for golfers looking to try the arm lock putting technique. Though this grip isn’t as thick as some other brands, it’s 21 inches long which makes it ideal for golfers who desire a longer grip. This grip is personally endorsed by Bryson DeChambeau.

Price: $28.99

Link to Buy on Amazon

3. Winn 17-Inch Long Pistol Putter Grip, Dark Grey

Winn has been making high quality golf grips for quite some time. This 17 inch grip may be called a pistol grip, but it can easily be used when utilizing the arm lock technique. It has an impressive 4.7 rating on Amazon and the price is incredibly low.

Price: $16.99

Link to Buy on Amazon

 

4. Winn PolyCord 21 Inch Round Belly Grip

Here is another option from Winn for golfers that want a putter grip that is a bit longer. Though this is listed as a belly grip, it can be used as an arm lock grip as well. The red and black color has a nice look to it.

Price: $19.95

Link to Buy on Amazon

 

5. SuperStroke Traxion Flatso 17 Golf Putter Grip

This SuperStroke arm lock putter grip gets high marks for its high amount of control and comfort. This grip is 17 inches long and is made specifically for golfers who rest the grip against the forearm of their leading arm. The technology SuperStroke uses helps golfers use less grip pressure when putting.

Price: $34.00

Link to Buy on Amazon

 

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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