May 2, 2015 Posted by Matt

It’s pretty easy to decide – should you hit your ball out of the water?  If your ball comes to rest in water but half of the ball is above the water line, you have a good chance to play it out. Suggest you remove your shoes and socks. However, it is very important that you do not open the face of your wedge. If you open the face as you would for a sand shot, the club will bounce off the water and you will miss the ball. Keep the face square so the lead edge cuts into the water, goes down, and lifts the ball up and out.

April 28, 2015 Posted by Matt

Don’t let a restricted swing hold you back.  If you find your ball near a tree in your way or another obstacle that will no allow you a free and full swing, you need to make an adjustment.  Rather than trying to make a mini golf swing that will lack the force to get your ball back into play, try this method.  Make a short backswing and then accelerate into the ball and stop the club right at impact.  Feel as if you are driving a hammer into a nail.  The ball will scoot out of the trouble, and your club will not get caught up in the tree or bushes because you used the short and powerful swing.

April 26, 2015 Posted by Matt

Golf Tip – If fairway bunkers are your nemesis, try an alternative.  If you’re having trouble hitting shots from a fairway bunker, maybe you should change your approach.  Instead of trying to hit an iron out of the bunker, use a hybrid club and punch it out.  The hybrid will glide on top of the sand instead of digging and will get the ball out a good distance so that you still get to the green.  Make sure that you can get over the front lip of the bunker before trying the hybrid punch, but once you learn this shot you will love using it.

Where Did My Golf Ball Go?

All these years I’ve been wondering – Where did my golf ball go? Now I know! It must have been that gofer from Caddyshack!

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a focused and goal-oriented Realtor in southwest Florida who will help you achieve your Real Estate needs, please reach out to us directly. Additionally, if you are looking for a golf community expert or you are considering buying or selling a home, luxury home, vacation home, golf home or dream home, call or text us at 239-370-0892 or email Matt@NaplesGolfGuy.com

April 21, 2015 Posted by NaplesGolfGuy, Matthew Klinowski

April 17, 2015 Posted by Matt

Learn the motion of a good pitch shot or chip shot – Many players hit poor pitch and chip shots simply because they lack a feel for the shot.  The pitch and chip shots are actually a way of tossing the ball to a spot on the green.  Stand about 25 yards from a practice green and simply toss the ball into the air so that it lands on the green.  Notice that your right hand does not flip at the wrist and that your right arm makes a smooth, continuous motion instead of a short, jerky one to get the ball to the green.  Move up to a few yards from the green and toss a ball so that it lands a yard onto the green and rolls to a hole.  Again, you will notice no flipping action and no stopping of the motion.  You now know what the feel of a good pitch and chip shot feels like.  Pick up your clubs and replicate the feeling as you practice. View more Golf Tips.

Use the bounce on your sand wedge correctly.

The sole of your sand wedge angles backward from the lead edge to create what is called bounce.  The bounce prevents the club from continuing to dig into the sand so that it glides under the ball and comes up and out on the other side.  To use the bounce, open the face of the club by turning the toe of the club to the right.  When you are playing a sand shot, do not open your stand wide to the right.  Aim toward the hole and swing straight back and through with the open face.  The club will slide through the sand and send the ball on the correct line to the hole.

Masters History is filled with great moments.  Check out some of the best all the way back to the 1930’s  including great players such as Bobby Jones (pictured here) and great moments at http://www.augusta.com/masters/history.

The Masters begins with a time honored tradition.  The big 3, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer tee off at the first hole of Augusta.  So many memories and so much excitement.  You can’t help but get goosebumps watching this video.

April 5, 2015 Posted by Matt

Pick the right 3 wood.  Not all 3 woods are alike.  If you have trouble getting the ball into the air with your three wood, look for one that has a shallow face from top to bottom and is longer from front to back.  This club will catch the ball low and glide through the turf for a high launch.  If you have a  fast swing speed and tend to hit your fairway woods too high, look for one with a large face and short body, as this will reduce the spin for a more normal ball flight.

April 4, 2015 Posted by Matt

If you have a pitch shot to a green that is well elevated and the pin is cut close to you, you only have a few options.  If the lie is great, with the ball sitting up in the grass, you could attempt a flop shot by lifting the ball high into the air, but this is very risky unless you have practiced hundreds of them.  A better way to play this shot is to bump it into the bank of the hill so that it strikes the hill and bounces onto the green.  Use an eight or nine iron and aim for about one yard below the top of the hill.  Strike the ball firmly and let the hill kill the shot so that it takes one bounce up and onto the green.  You may not get the ball close, but you will get it on the green and give yourself a putt at par.