Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today, have a breakdown of Tiger Woods’ famous stinger from our January 2001 issue.
With three majors behind us in the 2026 major season, just one remains: the Open Championship. Last year, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler nabbed his first Claret Jug at Royal Portrush, joining an iconic list of champions that includes some of the all-time greats.
Among the hall of famers whose names are etched into the Jug is Tiger Woods, who won the Open three times during his career. One of the biggest reasons for his success on the links-style layouts? The ability to keep his tee shots out of the wind with his famous “stinger.”
It’s a shot that every golfer could use in their arsenal — and one that’s easier to execute than you may think. Back in the January 2001 issue of GOLF Magazine, Hall of Fame Teacher Craig Harmon broke down how to hit the iconic shot. Check it out below.
How to hit the Tiger stinger
You can wear Tiger’s clothes, play Tiger’s driver and pump your fist when you make a crucial putt. But can you play like Tiger? Yes, you can, or at least you can learn to hit his low, penetrating tee shot, called the “stinger.”
Contrary to popular belief, Tiger did not invent the stinger. My dad, Claude Harmon Sr., taught the mechanics of the shot to many of his students, including my three brothers and me. I’m sure he never envisioned that someday a player would use it to hit the ball 280 yards with a 2-iron, and I don’t think you can expect Tiger-like distance from this shot, either. But the good news is, with the right technique, just about anybody can hit it.
Why, you ask, would you even want to try? First of all, it comes in handy when windy conditions demand a low, controlled shot that hits the fairway and runs. Second, it can be hit with virtually any club off the tee — if you don’t carry a 2- or 3-iron, a fairway wood will achieve similar results. The concept behind the shot can also be used for punch approach shots to receptive greens, using any club down to a pitching wedge. Here’s how.
Address: Settle the ‘Y’
At address, play the ball an inch or two farther back in your stance than normal, which will set your hands slightly forward. Choke down about an inch on the grip for added control. These adjustments should cause your arms and the shaft to form a “y.” Make a smooth, full backswing and try to retain this “y” as much as possible throughout the swing.
Impact: Bow the wrist
The stinger’s low trajectory and extra roll result from the bowed wrist position at impact. This means the left wrist is firm and curved toward the target. To feel this, my father had students hit a punch-slice with a long iron, asking them to “hit and stop.” The only way to stop so quickly after impact is to keep the wrists firm. At impact, my arms resemble the “y position from address. This prevents the wrists from flipping over or “releasing” after impact.
Finish: Rotate the torso
Once you achieve the bowed impact, the finish flows naturally, as the trunk and arms rotate the club around to the left. Instead of causing a slice, this allows for a low, running draw. The faster the body unwinds, the farther you can hit the ball. The finish should feel very different from a normal swing where the hands turn over. To “sting” it, the wrists stay firm, and the left elbow folds down toward the ground.
