Irons from tees

[iku]

I've noticed I tend to hit my iron tee shots much better if I don't use the tee at all. I've tried both with traditional and castle tees but I badly slice the ball at least 50% of the times while my shots without tee are ok 9/10.

Having said so, I'm sure I'm leaving some yards there because when I hit well from the tee it naturally goes further.

Any tip to fix this problem? Shall I just give the tee up with my irons?

Cheers

 

[ADB]

I'd take 9/10 good tee shots with an iron any day of the week, even if it meant a loss of distance.

 

[USER1999]

If you tee up an iron, you are giving yourself a preferential lie. You are supposed to tee it fractions off the deck. It sounds like you have it way too high. If it is too high the ball will come off the dead zone at the top of the club. Remember, you are supposed to take a divot still, even off a tee.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Why make it harder. The tee shot is the only one you are guaranteed a perfect lie so why not make sure you use it. Tee it up properly and as Murph says aim to hit it as you would do normally

 

[rosecott]

If you tee up an iron, you are giving yourself a preferential lie. You are supposed to tee it fractions off the deck. It sounds like you have it way too high. If it is too high the ball will come off the dead zone at the top of the club. Remember, you are supposed to take a divot still, even off a tee.

Who says you have to take a divot?

Using an iron off the tee on par 3s, I tee right down to ground level and don't take a divot.

 

[Imurg]

Have a look at the teeing ground at a par 3 during a Pro event - that'll tell you that you're supposed to take a divot.

 

[Bucky]

there is no right way or wrong way to play a shot. The aim is to get the ball in the hole, not take the perfect six inch divot that flies further than your ball.

Take a read of this months mag and you will hear about how Seve used to like to nip the ball off the turf without barely leaving a mark on occasion.

There are many unorthadox swingers/ball strikers out there.

yours,

J furyk

 

[Region3]

I think the point is, whether you have the ball on a tee or not, swing the same whether that's with a divot or without one.

Unless your swing is good enough to swing the club 1/4" higher or lower on demand.

 

[Piece]

Back to the OP, if your shots are 9/10 good without a tee, then I think you've answered your own question...

 

[iku]

Thanks for the replies.

When I said good I meant that they are straight, not risky and tend to hit the fairways.

However those hit properly from a tee are better: longer, better kick, etc. Sadly a good 40% of them find the second cut or the woods...

For some reason I seem to play better from the grass. Also the mats at the driving range feel worse.

 

[BoadieBroadus]

I think there's a mental element in believing that the ball is higher than it normally would be for an iron shot, that preys on your subconscious and makes you swing differently if you are thus affected.

Couple that with knowing you "should" be hitting a very specific target and I think that can lead to a number of inconsistencies on par 3 tee shots.

It;s something that's affected me in the past so i have ssympathy with the OP. I've toyed with hitting off the deck without a tee, but then our tees are so terrible that that doesn't seem like such a great idea.

 

[iku]

I think there's a mental element in believing that the ball is higher than it normally would be for an iron shot, that preys on your subconscious and makes you swing differently if you are thus affected.

Couple that with knowing you "should" be hitting a very specific target and I think that can lead to a number of inconsistencies on par 3 tee shots.

It;s something that's affected me in the past so i have ssympathy with the OP. I've toyed with hitting off the deck without a tee, but then our tees are so terrible that that doesn't seem like such a great idea.

I think you hit the nail on the head here! I'll try to think less about it and swing normally.

Thanks

 

[Piece]

Thanks for the replies.

When I said good I meant that they are straight, not risky and tend to hit the fairways.

However those hit properly from a tee are better: longer, better kick, etc. Sadly a good 40% of them find the second cut or the woods...

For some reason I seem to play better from the grass. Also the mats at the driving range feel worse.

Weird, I would expect the other way around! Anyway, perhaps it is a mental thing...

As posted earlier, try teeing it up just fractionally so it looks like you've a tasty lie in the grass. Then shorten grip fractionally...

 

[dazb]

it does sound like you are not striking the ball "correctly"
I used to have the same problem with driving range mats, the problem is the bounce if you catch the ground first instead of ball you will be lucky to even get the ball airborne. It wasnt untill it was pointed out to me how to hit the ball correctly that it clicked into place for me.
If you catch the ground slightly before your teed up ball it is likly that this is causing your mis hits.

This is just my opionion im by no means an expert.

 

[rosecott]

Have a look at the teeing ground at a par 3 during a Pro event - that'll tell you that you're supposed to take a divot.

I'm no Pro and never will be and I suspect the same goes for you - maybe you could be a teaching Pro telling everyone where they're going wrong.