How to perfect your stinger shot in golf
The stinger shot is a type of golf shot that is played with a low trajectory and a lot of roll. It's a great shot to have in your arsenal, especially in windy or firm conditions. To play the stinger shot, you'll need to make some adjustments to your setup, swing, and follow-through.
To start, you'll need to adjust your ball position and weight distribution. Play the ball slightly back of centre in your stance, about 1-2 inches inside your left shoulder for right-handed golfers.
Distribute your weight slightly more towards your back foot, with about 60% of your weight on your back foot and 40% on your front foot.
Next, align the clubface slightly closed, aiming directly at the target or slightly left of it for right-handed golfers. This will help you achieve a lower trajectory and reduce spin.
Now, let's talk about the swing. Use a slightly more shallow swing plane than normal, with the clubhead approaching the ball on a more horizontal plane.
Attack the ball with a slightly negative angle of attack, which means the clubhead is approaching the ball from a slightly higher position than the ball.
Make contact with the ball with a slightly firmer grip pressure than normal, using a more glancing blow to reduce spin and create a lower trajectory. Keep your follow-through shorter and more controlled than normal, avoiding any excessive rotation or lift.
As you release the clubhead, allow it to rotate naturally without any forced or abrupt movements. This will help you maintain control and consistency.
The Stinger shot can be played with different clubs, including long irons, hybrids, and fairway woods. Experiment with different clubs to find the one that works best for you.
Also, be sure to adjust for wind and slope, taking into account any conditions that may affect the shot.
Finally, remember that the Stinger shot requires practice and patience to master. Start with shorter shots and gradually increase the distance as you become more comfortable with the technique.
With time and practice, you'll be able to add this valuable shot to your golfing game. Catch you on the fairways!
-Sewgolum is PGA AA golf professional and a golf pro for Saudi Aramco. He was voted in the Top 5 of the International Golf PGA Pro 2022.
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The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Dean Burmester wins BIG in Chicago
Home » LIV Golf | Dean Burmester wins BIG in Chicago Dean Burmester sank a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester and win the LIV Golf Chicago title. Image: X @livgolf_league South Africa's Dean Burmester sank a six-foot birdie putt on Sunday's first playoff hole to beat Spaniards Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester and win the LIV Golf Chicago title. Burmester, who squandered a two-shot overnight lead with three bogeys to start his round, battled back to shoot a par-71 final round to match Rahm and Ballester on nine-under 204 for 54 holes at Bolingbrook Golf Club. 'This has been emotional,' Burmester said. 'Since before Virginia (in June) I've been going through a bit of a rough time, personal stuff. I've just been grinding and trying to get better, thinking about my wife and my kids back home, and I'm just trying to do the best I can for them.' At the par-four 18th hole in the playoff, Ballester landed 12 feet from the hole, but Burmester, who found the rough off the tee, dropped his approach six feet from the hole while 2024 Chicago winner Rahm's ball was 10 feet away. Ballester and Rahm missed their birdie putts and Burmester sank his for the victory. 'After three bogeys in a row to start I was like, fudge, I don't know where I'm going. My head was nowhere but I just kept at it,' said Burmester. 'To hit that out of the rough and get the right bounce and roll it in – I watched Jon's go left and I knew I hard to right line – to roll it in in front of everybody that's here is amazing.' It was Burmester's second LIV title after last year in Miami. Ballester, the 2023 European Amateur and 2024 US Amateur champion who turned professional in June, was in only his seventh pro event at age 21. Rahm, Ballester, Burmester and Mexico's Carlos Ortiz, who finished fourth, shared the lead at eight-under with three holes remaining. Burmester birdied the 16th from four feet to seize the solo lead but Ballester sank a four-foot birdie putt at 18 and Rahm made his birdie putt from five feet to force the playoff. Burmester's horrid start signaled a final-round shootout, although his birdie at the fifth hole put him one ahead of Rahm at the turn. Ballester birdied the par-four 10th to match Burmester for the lead and they both birdied the par-five 12th. Ortiz joined the co-leaders with birdies at the par-three 13th and par-five 14th. Ballester birdied 14 to seize the lead alone but Rahm birdied 15 to pull within one and when Ballester made bogey there moments later, the Spaniards shared the lead with Ortiz and Burmester. Chile's Joaquin Niemann, a five-time winner this season, finished on 211 to share 17th but still led the season points standings ahead of defending season champion Rahm entering next week's final individual event at Indianapolis. Burmester's Stinger GC team beat Niemann and Ortiz's Torque in a playoff for the team title. It was a very lucrative three days for the all-South African Stinger GC team. Burmester pocketed $4 million (R70.8 million) plus $750 000 (R13.3 million) for his share of the team prize for a total of $4.75 million (R84.1 million). Brandon Grace finished in a tie for fifth place and banked $700 000 plus $750 000 for a total of $1.45 million (R25.7 million). Charl Schwartzel was next best in a tie for 25th place which was good enough for a $187 500 pay cheque along with his $750 000 team share for an overall pay day of $937 500 (R16.6 million). Stinger GC team captain Louis Oosthuizen ended in a share of 29th place which earned him $165 000 plus $750 000 for a total of $915 000 (R16.2 million). Position Player Score Earnings 1* Dean Burmester (Stinger GC) -9 $4,000,000 T2 Josele Ballester (Fireballs GC) -9 $1,875,000 T2 Jon Rahm (Legion XIII) -9 $1,875,000 4 Carlos Ortiz (Torque GC) -8 $1,000,000 T5 Harold Varner III (4Aces GC) -7 $700,000 T5 Branden Grace (Stinger GC) -7 $700,000 T5 Paul Casey (Crushers GC) -7 $700,000 T8 Thomas Pieters (4Aces GC) -5 $483,750 T8 Talor Gooch (Smash GC) -5 $483,750 T10 Peter Uihlein (RangeGoats GC) -4 $381,667 T10 Sebastian Munoz (Torque GC) -4 $381,667 T10 Richard Bland (Cleeks GC) -4 $381,667 T13 Mito Pereira (Torque GC) -3 $311,250 T13 Chieh-Po Lee -3 $311,250 T13 Marc Leishman (Ripper GC) -3 $311,250 T13 Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC) -3 $311,250 T17 Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC) -2 $235,000 T17 Bubba Watson (RangeGoats GC) -2 $235,000 T17 Cameron Tringale (HyFlyers GC) -2 $235,000 T17 Patrick Reed (4Aces GC) -2 $235,000 T17 Jason Kokrak (Smash GC) -2 $235,000 T17 Abraham Ancer (Fireballs GC) -2 $235,000 T17 David Puig (Fireballs GC) -2 $235,000 T17 Sergio Garcia (Fireballs GC) -2 $235,000 T25 Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC) -1 $187,500 T25 Lucas Herbert (Ripper GC) -1 $187,500 T25 Charl Schwartzel (Stinger GC) -1 $187,500 T25 Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC) -1 $187,500 T29 Caleb Surratt (Legion XIII) E $165,000 T29 Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC) E $165,000 T29 Brooks Koepka (Smash GC) E $165,000 T29 Cameron Smith (Ripper GC) E $165,000 T29 Matthew Wolff (RangeGoats GC) E $165,000 T34 Tom McKibbin (Legion XIII) 1 $145,200 T34 Martin Kaymer (Cleeks GC) 1 $145,200 T34 Andy Ogletree (HyFlyers GC) 1 $145,200 T34 Tyrrell Hatton (Legion XIII) 1 $145,200 T34 Anirban Lahiri (Crushers GC) 1 $145,200 T39 Lee Westwood (Majesticks GC) 2 $132,800 T39 Charles Howell III (Crushers GC) 2 $132,800 T39 Henrik Stenson (Majesticks GC) 2 $132,800 T39 Ian Poulter (Majesticks GC) 2 $132,800 T39 Yubin Jang (Iron Heads GC) 2 $132,800 T44 Anthony Kim 3 $126,000 T44 Adrian Meronk (Cleeks GC) 3 $126,000 T44 Sam Horsfield (Majesticks GC) 3 $126,000 T47 Jinichiro Kozuma (Iron Heads GC) 4 $121,500 T47 Ben Campbell (RangeGoats GC) 4 $121,500 T49 Kevin Na (Iron Heads GC) 5 $60,000 T49 Matt Jones (Ripper GC) 5 $60,000 51 Danny Lee (Iron Heads GC) 6 $60,000 T52 Brendan Steele (HyFlyers GC) 8 $50,000 T52 Graeme McDowell (Smash GC) 8 $50,000 54 Frederik Kjettrup (Cleeks GC) 14 $50,000 Position Team Score Earnings 1* Stinger GC -17 $3,000,000 2 Torque GC -17 $1,500,000 T3 4Aces GC -15 $250,000 T3 Fireballs GC -15 $250,000 *denotes won in a playoff Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
How much money Dean Burmester will bank after winning LIV Chicago event
The South African Stinger team also captured the team title on Sunday. South African golfer Dean Burmester will be smiling all the way to the bank in the coming days after winning the LIV Golf Chicago tournament on Sunday. The big-hitting South African won on the first playoff hole against John Rahm and Josele Ballester. Burmester made a birdie three, while the other two golfers made par-four on the 18th. All three men finished at nine-under-par after their regulation three rounds. Burmester's winning prize is $4 million — in Rands, a whopping R70.88 million! It is Burmester's second tournament win, after he also captured the Miami tournament last year. Stinger team team-mates Branden Grace (Portland 2022) and Charl Schwartzel (London 2022) have also won LIV tournaments, since the start of the breakaway tour. In Chicago on Sunday, Grace tied for fifth after also being in the hunt on the back nine and he will pocket $700,000 (just over R12 million) while Schwartzel (tied 25th) will earn R3,3 million. Oosthuizen (tied 29th) will bank R2.9 million. Stinger also won the team title on Sunday, beating Torque in a play-off. Both teams finished on 17-under-par. The Stinger players will split $3 million for winning the team trophy. The next LIV event will take place in Michigan between 22 and 24 August. South Africa will host its first LIV tournament in March next year at Steyn City in Joburg. Full payouts
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Dean Burmester overcomes bumpy start, wins LIV Golf Chicago in playoff
Burmester's second victory on the LIV Tour didn't come easily, as he had a bumpy beginning with bogeys on the first three holes to blow his two-shot lead entering the final round. He recovered three strokes with birdies at the par-4 fifth hole, the par-5 12th and the par-4 16th and made par on the other holes. 'Yeah, obviously had the dream start, didn't I, 3-over through 3,' Burmester quipped. 'I'm not going to lie, I tend to get down on myself, and in that moment, I thought, I've got a lot more to fight for than just the golf tournament. For me, it was about hanging around. I made a great up-and-down on 4 and then a great birdie on 5 and that was kind of me going again. I had loads of chances that I didn't make. Left a lot of putts short.' His round of even-par 71 got him to 9-under 204 and in the playoff, where Spaniards Rahm and Ballester also advanced after they played together in the final group. Burmester had missed a 23-foot birdie putt on the final regulation hole, while Rahm and Ballester each sank birdies to join him at 9 under. Rahm had an adventurous third round with three bogeys on the front nine — at Nos. 2, 3 and 8, which he countered with birdies at Nos. 5, 7, 12, 15 and 18 to post 69. Ballester also carded 69, with birdies at Nos. 10, 12, 14 and 18 and blemishes with bogeys at Nos. 3 and 15. Ballester, 21, was making just his seventh professional start. However, each missed birdie putts from about 12 feet on the first playoff hole, and Burmester did not miss. 'Read it right to left and it went right to left and then went right and lipped in,' Burmester said of the winning putt. 'I was halfway through a fist pump and then had to pause and have a second go at it.' Stinger GC won the team competition on the first hole of a playoff with Torque GC after each finished 17 under in regulation. Burmester's 71 was combined with scores from Branden Grace (67), team captain Louis Oosthuizen (67) and Charl Schwartzel (72). They were 7 under for the third round, while Torque went 12 under to force a playoff. Grace and Schwartzel each birdied the 18th in the playoff. 'The moment after the emotion of trying to win a golf tournament, there's nothing sweeter than that,' Burmester said. 'Then to have these two boys do it right behind me, all three of us birdie the playoff hole, is special.' Team captain Joaquin Niemann (67), Sebastian Munoz (68), Carlos Ortiz (68) and Mito Pereira (69) scored for Torque in regulation. The two playoffs on Sunday was just the second time that's happened on the LIV Tour. For the Stingers, who had gone 31 straight regular-season tournaments without a win going back to Tulsa in 2023, it replicated their success at the tour's first event in London in 2022, when Schwartz captured the individual title and the Stingers claimed team honors. 'The boys played well the whole week,' Oosthuizen added. 'For (Burmester) to get that win, and then for Charl and Branden to hit those two shots into 18 was very special, and it was very relieving for me to watch.' Niemann, who tied for 17th, remains the leader in the individual points standings.
