Driving Tee Height

[TheCaddie]

Something I have been thinking a lot about the last week or so is driving tee height.

I was always led to believe you should be tee'ing the ball high with a Driver, especially when starting out, however, a few of the ranges I have been going to recently (Silvermere), has relatively "low" fixed tees for driving and then a smaller one for irons. Same as at Richmond Park.

Other ranges offer a variety of heights (New Malden), but I wanted to know why the fixed tees at ranges for driving were what I would consider middle to low height?

I am finding that tee'ing high isn't really helping me at all, as my balls are going way to high and often I seem to lack much control.

When I am hitting them off the fixed tees at the range, there are still a few poor ones, but much less. Now, I know the obvious answer is just tee it lower if playing. But I wanted to get everyone's thoughts and see how high they tee it up, and also, what tees that specifically use to drive. I am using the white wooden ones atm.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Pink castle tees for me.

I've read that you should have the ball half a ball above the top of the driver at address.....doesn't work for me at all, the only result being sky marks on the crown.

 

[Curls]

It funny cos I thought you tee'd it up to hit it lower and tee'd it down to hit higher? As in hitting with a descending blow creating backspin and height, as against catching it on the level.

If you're hitting them high maybe its too far forward in your stance and you're hitting it on the upstroke? Or nearly off the crown? Hard to say, but its defo after getting in your head so it isnt helping!

I use the pink castle tee and either push it a little further down or leave it poking up a bit.

 

[patricks148]

if you are hitting the ball too high i imagine its more a swing issue of hitting down on the ball and not the tee height.

I used to tee the ball lower, but since getting the SLDR i tee it much higher and get far better distance as im hitting on the up.

 

[virtuocity]

Pink castle tees for me.

I've read that you should have the ball half a ball above the top of the driver at address.....doesn't work for me at all, the only result being sky marks on the crown.

I'd bet this is because your pink castle is too low, meaning you hit down on the ball.

The top of the face is my favourite place to hit the golf ball from. Very recently (after years of using pink) went to orange castles in a bid to learn how to hit up on the ball. Much better contact of late and when you get steep, you certainly know about it.

 

[Snelly]

Pretty low for me - about same as a yellow castle or a white castle if I want to hit it high.

I don't know any of the swing science behind this - I just know from experience that this is the best for my swing.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I'd bet this is because your pink castle is too low, meaning you hit down on the ball.

Yeah very good point, I think you're right. In fact I think I went to pink castles initially because I was hitting the ball too high.

Couldn't be happier with it now though. I think its another one of those things that what works for you...works for you.

 

[duncan mackie]

I always have a good laugh at these threads - if there was a hierarchy of needs for golfers and driving, the need for a positive AoA comes so far above the rest it's never going to be on the radar of most golfer!

hitting it
hitting it sort of straight
hitting it sort of straight where it's being aimed
hitting it out of the middle of the club
increased club head speed .....

once you have got there then tweaking your loft and AoA to deliver the ultimate trajectory with optimum spin will deliver more - but until you get there the tee height that gives you the greatest confidence to consistently hit it out of the middle is the winner

 

[TheCaddie]

I always have a good laugh at these threads - if there was a hierarchy of needs for golfers and driving, the need for a positive AoA comes so far above the rest it's never going to be on the radar of most golfer!

hitting it
hitting it sort of straight
hitting it sort of straight where it's being aimed
hitting it out of the middle of the club
increased club head speed .....

once you have got there then tweaking your loft and AoA to deliver the ultimate trajectory with optimum spin will deliver more - but until you get there the tee height that gives you the greatest confidence to consistently hit it out of the middle is the winner

Glad I made you laugh Duncan.

 

[walliams8]

I always have a good laugh at these threads - if there was a hierarchy of needs for golfers and driving, the need for a positive AoA comes so far above the rest it's never going to be on the radar of most golfer!

hitting it
hitting it sort of straight
hitting it sort of straight where it's being aimed
hitting it out of the middle of the club
increased club head speed .....

once you have got there then tweaking your loft and AoA to deliver the ultimate trajectory with optimum spin will deliver more - but until you get there the tee height that gives you the greatest confidence to consistently hit it out of the middle is the winner

This . Always hit my driver high (teed high) not miles right but always started left of target and generally been pretty accurate but lose a lot of distance. Always been a strong part of my game though as I always knew how to play with it .
Recently started really working on my driver with my pro . Completley changed ball position , posture , club position , swing path , tee height etc and really been struggling with it . Played last night and hit a couple of huge pulls left and was really struggling . Next tee I went back to my old swing and plonked the next 3 tee shots middle of the fairway . Decided to work on it at the range rather than course .
High/right/left/short, as long as it's in the middle of the fairway it'll always been the winner over the massive high draw that finishes in the trees !

 

[drew83]

Pink castle tee for me.

top of ball level with crown of driver. Ball a balls width toward the front foot from centre.

As long as I swing correctly, lovely 230-240 carry with a mid high flight. If it's windy, drop the ball back to centre for a lower flight. Jobs a good 'un

 

[Paul77]

I tee it up if I want a Draw, and just below the crown for a straighter safety shot. More often than not the lower safety shot results in the driver going away and pulling the 3 wood out.

 

[One Planer]

Pink castle tee user here.

 

[cleanstrike]

Another vote for the pinkie here

 

[delc]

Another vote for the pinkie here

Me too!

 

[TheCaddie]

Pink Castles are on order!!!!

 

[the_coach]

in an ideal world driver AoA wants to be at least level through the strike, at best someways on the 'up' +AoA so swing arcs low point is some inches before the clubhead arrives to the ball.

so with a 'good' set up the equator of the ball would be aligned level to the crown top of the driver.

most folks I see that struggle over this, the issues start at set up.

either the ball is to far back in the stance. less often too far forwards.

or, even with the ball in a 'good' forwards position. folks will negate a good ball position by setting up taking their head forwards, up to the ball, which means the chest/upper body moves forwards, so then it's more both the chest & head are more on top of & looking at the ball which also puts the shoulders open.

will lead to being ways too steep down into the ball so contact high up on the face or skied off the crown. or folks sensing this then lean back some & the trail hand flips up palm to sky.

 

[chrisd]

Orange for me, I did try pink but I believe it puts more spin on the ball

 

[richart]

Never seen a Pro use castle tee. Nice white wooden tees are the way to go. tee it lower for a little fade, higher for a draw.





oh yes and a huge amount of ability to play both shots to order.

 

[shortstuff]

'Tee it high and let it fly' is a load of bo***cks! As far as I am concerned anyway. I have the tee a bit lower than most but granted, some players like it high. It all depends on your swing. Having a consistent tee height, that suits you, is critical to being consistent with the driver. So try different heights and see what works.