Stinger Driver

Typhoon

I know it’s late in the year for some of us but the end of last year I tried this shot and this year I worked on it with stupidly good results. This came about because if I wanted to hit a 3 wood off the tee, the increased side spin was not my friend a lot of the time. We have a couple holes where 3 wood off the tee down the middle is perfect but I’d have to say 60% of the time I miss the fairway... it does me no favors.

So I started hitting what I call a “stinger driver “. It goes 75% of the distance of my driver, half the height like a bullet. It’s not affected by the wind either. Goes dead straight too.

To do it is easy. Normal ball position, tee height and stance. Just choke down a bit, take it back 3/4. For my overswing I probably go to parallel but it feels like 3/4. Anyway, smooth swing with a sawed off finish to keep it down.

Just something you guys might want to try, It’s been perfect for me, a great secret weapon to have off the tee because it doesn’t curve. Point and shoot.

Par4QC

Typhoon Normal ball position, tee height and stance. Just choke down a bit, take it back 3/4.

I've used that shot for a few years now. Esp. on those longer Par 3 holes. The ones over 135 yds..
😁

Eguller

Typhoon
Congrats. The '75%' driver is a great weapon on doglegs, layups, wind, etc. Mostly tempo (mental) adjustment.

Par4QC

Typhoon It goes 75% of the distance of my driver, half the height like a bullet. It’s not affected by the wind either. Goes dead straight too.

I've also been known to make this same shot with a SW. Not a shot I can depend on though, as it just comes and goes. When IT wants to. And, mostly from too close to the green to even make it effective!

Weirfan

Ive tried but cannot master, or even muster this shot.

my regular match play and playing partner can "bunt" a driver....he's a low single cap and doesn't carry a 3wood but can hit his driver laser straight anywhere from 200 to 260.

Typhoon

Good to see u guys know the shot. Weirfan, that’s exactly mine...laser straight 270. And like Eguller said, it’s a big tempo thing.

KCee

I've had a bit of success with that shot this year. Mainly using it on really windy days and on some tight dogleg holes. It really is a tempo thing so that's probably why I struggle with it. I seem to be able to execute it well on this one right to left dogleg and I think it's because I know I don't need to kill it to get it to the corner. If I could just get into that mindset more often.

Spuzz

If I feel the need for a stinger driver, I will just use a lower lofted, stiffer shafted driver.
No such thing as a club limit in my bag.
😉

Typhoon

Spuzz

we have a guy like you in our group,

Weirfan

Par4QC

i took a few lessons and one involved a technique for distance control in wedges...in particular the long chip and knock down shot
this involved using the face of a clock for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 etc swings.....by placing the ball a bit back of centre and using a sort of straight back straight thru 1/4 or 1/2 swing I can hit any club wedge thru 6) low and under the wind and run it into holes.....great shot to have....just yesterday used a 6iron ( normal 180/85 club) to hit a low shot into the wind from 140 that took a few bounces before the green then ran up just past the pin.

unfortunately, beyond the 6 iron doesn't work so well for me, but if I choke down alot and swing easier i can hit a lower shot but not very controlled with the longer clubs

Par4QC

Weirfan face of a clock for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 etc swings.....by placing the ball a bit back of centre and using a sort of straight back straight thru 1/4 or 1/2 swing I can hit any club wedge thru 6) low and under the wind and run it into holes.....

Losing so much distance the past couple years, I've gone to a lot of these type shots, just for 'normal' shots. If I try a full swing with anything above the 9, they seem to go way too high & way too short. If I do a 1/2 swing on a lower lofted club, I can do fine. If I'm hitting a 6i where I used to hit 8, & getting the result, I'm good with that! I play in a lot of wind around here anyway, so it helps doing it the way I have been. This year has been good the way it's been so soft; the ball doesn't roll so far(bad on drives), so scoring has been really nice. I don't have the strong lofted clubs; mine are basically 'old school' with a 30* 6i. Not 'old, old school' of 32, but still way off the 26 of today's 6 irons. I will use the choke down driver on any Par 3 longer than 160; just cannot hit any other wood that straight off the tee, for that distance.
It may read as though I'm a mess on the course 😁 , but I've shot a lot in the 70's this summer, even with my favorite hybrids failing me daily!

btw, I really don't hit skulls with my SW. I don't use it farther out than 20-30 yds.. And rare that I'm in sand.

Tinker

A bit of an open stance helps greatly with the knock down shots.

DC300

The reason I carry a 3 wood is to hit that laser drive. I try to knock one down and I just end up with a low drive going 50 yards left or sometimes worse, I dont close the face and hit a pop fly 30 yards right. Now, Im still generally too stupid to hit the 3 wood, even when I should. I wish I could hit anything less than full with a consistent result, generally just hit pull hooks.

Weirfan

DC300 The reason I carry a 3 wood is to hit that laser drive.

Well you hit your 3 wood 290 so don't need a driver ....one day that will sink in....you young guys all full of testosterone and ego 😉

DC300

Weirfan I just decided to admit it, I'm there to hit the all, to hell with the score. Its so rare every part of the game shows up, especially for more than 5 holes, there's just no sense in getting all bent out of shape when I don't score well. I'll keep hitting the driver, its more fun!