Try these 3 steps to hit a penetrating stinger with your 4-iron

The stinger might be one of the most aesthetically pleasing shot shapes in all of golf. From Gary Woodland’s signature worm burner, to Tiger Woods’ mesmerizing low bullet, the stinger is a shot everyone wishes they had in the bag.

The stinger is not only good looking, but it’s also a handy shot on any golf course. Facing a strong headwind? Pull out the stinger. Need to keep the ball below a tree branch? Pull out the stinger. Facing a must-hit fairway? You guessed it, hit the stinger.

Luckily, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Joe Plecker has three steps to help turn your 4-iron into a 1-iron so you too can hit the sexiest shot in golf.

1. Ball position

You want the ball position to be just back of center. It’s not quite as exaggerated as it would be for a full punch shot, but it should be in the back half of your stance.

2. Control the clubface

The clubface should be slightly shut when you are halfway into your backswing. Your takeaway will typically have a natural rotation of the toe of the club toward the sky, but you want it to be in a stronger position for the stinger.

“You’ll notice that the toe is over the heel,” Plecker says. “This delofts the golf club. Making sure the toe doesn’t rotate up to add loft is a really important key of the stinger shot.”

3. Follow through

It’s important on the follow through to make a conscious effort to turn your trail shoulder through the ball. Keeping that shoulder turning through the ball drives the clubhead forward after impact.

“When you do that,” Plecker says. “You’ll turn your 4-iron into a 1-iron.”

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