Stinger element vs. a conventional PDC cutter impacting a hardened steel block at 18,000 lbf to simulate drilling into a hard limestone at 60 ft/hr. Stinger elements apply a significantly higher concentrated point load on the rock, and the elements’ thicker diamond table enhances impact strength and wear resistance. This combination enables StingBlade bits to significantly improve footage and ROP in challenging drilling applications that can cause impact damage to conventional bits.