Golf instruction is always changing, but the best advice is timeless. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we highlight the greatest pieces of advice from teachers and players in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today, have a breakdown of Tiger Woods’s famous stinger from our January 2001 issue.
With three majors behind us for the big 2026 season, there’s only one left: the Open Championship. Last year, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler captured his first Claret Jug at Royal Portrush, joining an iconic list of all-time champions.
Among the hall of famers whose names are inscribed on the Jug is Tiger Woods, who won the Open three times during his career. One of the biggest reasons for his success in link style editing? The ability to keep his tee shot out of the air with his famous “symbol”.
It’s a shot that every golfer can use in their arsenal – and one that’s easier to use than you might think. Back in the January 2001 issue of GOLF Magazine, Hall of Fame instructor Craig Harmon broke down how to hit the perfect shot. Check it out below.
How to beat the sting of a Tiger
You can dress up as a Tiger, play the Tiger driver and pump your fist when you make an important putt. But can you play as Tiger? Yes, you can, or at least you can learn to play his low, stinging song called “stinger.”
Contrary to popular belief, the Tiger did not invent the sting. My father, Claude Harmon Sr., taught shooting mechanics to many of his students, including my three brothers and myself. I’m sure he never imagined that one day a player would use it to hit the ball 280 yards with a 2-iron, and I don’t think you’d expect Tiger-like distance from this shot. But the good news is that, with the right strategy, almost anyone can beat it.
Why, you ask, would you even want to try? First, it’s useful when windy conditions require a low, controlled shot that hits the fairway and runs. Second, it can be hit with almost any club except the tee – if you don’t carry a 2 or 3 iron, the fairway wood will achieve the same results. The concept behind the shot can also be used to capture a punch approach to receptive greens, using any club up to the pitching wedge. Here is the way.
Address: Edit ‘Y’
At address, play the ball an inch or two further back in your stance than normal, which will put your hands slightly forward. Cut about an inch off the grip for added control. These changes should make your arms and shaft form a “y.” Make a smooth, full backswing and try to keep this “y” as much as possible throughout the swing.
Impact: Bend the wrist
A lower stinger trajectory and more roll comes from a bent wrist position. This means that the left wrist is stiff and bent towards the target. To hear this, the father asked the students to hit a piece of long iron, asking them to “hit and stop.” The only way to stop immediately after impact is to keep the wrists tight. When I hit, my arms are in a “y” position from address. This prevents the wrists from turning or “letting go” after impact.
Finish: Rotate the body
Once you achieve a bowed impact, the finish flows naturally, as the trunk and arms swing around the club to the left. Instead of creating a piece, this allows for a low, flowing drawing. The faster the body relaxes, the faster you can hit the ball. The finish should feel very different from a normal turn where the hands turn. To “stab it,” the wrists remain tight, and the left elbow bends downward.
