When teeing it up in South Florida you’re inevitably going to deal with windy conditions. Now that The Honda Classic is over (did you see how many golf balls were hit in the water last week?!) the PGA Tour moves down the road to Trump National Doral for the WGC-Cadillac  Championship. This invite-only field features the top players from across the globe and if you watch closely you’ll see lots of low “stingers” being played off the tee. In order to hit a “stinger” off the tee you’ll need to think about these three things.

Club Selection

Many tour players will opt for the 3-wood when they need to keep it low and hit the fairway. They’ll do this for a couple reasons; your 3-wood is easier to control off the tee and you can hit it lower than your driver. Sounds easy right? Don’t make the game harder than it is, opt for the smart shot and utilize your course management knowledge.

Ball Position

Typically your ball position off the tee is just off the inside of your lead foot. However, to hit the “stinger” you’ll need to move the golf ball to the middle of your stance. This change in ball position will have you setting up with your hands ahead of the ball creating more shaft lean, which is necessary to keep a shot low.

Impact

You’ll notice that as you swing, you’ll feel your hands and the shaft of the golf club are trying to stay out in front of the golf ball (this may be a strange feeling for most of you). Don’t worry, this is the exact feeling you need to create a low trajectory.

Throughout the impact zone, and into your follow through, try to mimic this feeling as long as you can. The more your hands lead and the lower you keep them the lower the shot will be.

Quick Recap

1. Club Selection – Go for the control shot.

2. Ball Position – Middle of your stance.

3. Impact – Lead with your hands and extend as long as possible.

Remember, the “stinger” will produce a lower trajectory that remains low to the ground and runs for days when it hits the fairway. For those tee shots where the wind is down wind and you want to bomb it, read our tip  on how to tee it high and let if fly!

Does the PGA Tour Florida swing make you want to visit this golf mecca? Good news, we have your guide to navigating Palm Beach, Florida and your guide to the best golf, food, and fun South Florida has to offer.

Ryan King

Ryan King was raised in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania just south of Pittsburgh. Ryan attended Campbell University where he received his Bachelors of Business Administration in December 2013. He then earned his Class A membership with the Professional Golfer’s Association of America in February 2014. During his apprenticeship he interned at The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club in Chapel Hill, NC and followed that with stints at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY and Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT. After his internships he accepted the position as Assistant Golf Professional at Raleigh Country Club in Raleigh, NC. While at Raleigh Country Club he taught numerous lessons, drawing from the many different teaching skills he learned from fellow PGA Professionals throughout his internships. Currently, Ryan is a Listing Agent at GlobalGolf and ensures the accuracy of all clubs that come through the doors.

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