Welcome to this week’s episode of How’d He Hit That? where every week we take a look at an unbelievable golf shot and help you to learn how you can use that shot in your game. This week we’re looking at Tony Finau’s ridiculous low cut stinger from the trees at the 2018 WGC-Mexico Championship.
First and foremost, what we need to understand is that PGA Tour professionals are out here on the range practicing these shots all the time by envisioning the obstacles and pulling off the shots. That way when they get out on the course, they have the confidence to pull off the shot when it’s required.
For this shot, Finau needed to adjust his stance and swing to account for the overhanging trees in his line of play. Using a long iron, Finau aimed his body — feet, hip and shoulders — well left of the target and opened the face of his club to account for the cut spin he needed to put on the shot.
In opening up the face of the club you add loft to it, so by making sure you’re imparting a lot of forward shaft lean onto the shot, you can deloft the club. Your clubface should be aimed at where you want the ball to start so that when you swing along your body path, the ball will take off on the line of your clubface and then cut thanks to the spin put on the ball.
