Tee Height

[slowhand]

After a session last night at the driving range, I was wondering what effect the height of the tee has on the shot. The reason for his is my driving range has two heights of tee, one is too low for my driver, and too high for my 3 wood, and the taller one is too high for my driver (both Callaway Diablo).

Will the tee height make any difference to the shape of the shot (I assume the launch angle will be different), i.e exaggerate a hook or slice, or turn a fade into a slice/draw into a hook?

Also, what height do you tee the ball up with driver, 3 wood and irons?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm pretty sure it will do. Apart from anything else if both are too high you will change your swing albeit subconsciously as you wil be afraid of skying it and marking the club. I have found recently if I tee my driver lower into the wind I get a straighter shot anyway and a better flight. If I tee my driver up I tend to get more draw spin. Not sure if thats normal or just me

 

[USER1999]

Higher promotes a draw (shallower swing plane), lower promotes a fade. Generally.

With driver or 3w I tee the ball so just over half the ball is showing over the top line of the club face.

 

[minigolfer]

for a driver i have always been told to put the tee about 10mm of the ground

 

[RGDave]

for a driver i have always been told to put the tee about 10mm of the ground

mini...you do school, yes?

10mm = 1 cm.

1 cm for a driver is plain WRONG.

If I teed up one of my 460cc drivers and hit them off a tee 1cm, I'd either hit
1) a thin shot
2) a shot off the bottom of the face, or,
3) a skyed shot, from striking down.

Honestly, unless you are playing with an old skool driver, tee it up, catch it on the up, watch it fly!!!

f.w.i.w.

On the tee, 1cm = 3w, half that for 5w and about 2-3mm for everything else. These get adjusted for wind as well

 

[Ken_A]

A fantastic post that has helped me no end.

http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk//showfl...true#Post146935

 

[RGDave]

That is an interesting video Ken....well spotted.

There is a lot to consider if you/we are consistent enough to tinker with driver ball position and angle of attack and loft etc. etc.

The current thinking is that a) the driver should be hit on the up and b) the launch angle needs to be quite generous for a lower clubhead speed player.

I have 2 custom fit drivers and both give fairly decent launch angle and distance, despite being different lofts (one is 10, the other 12).

I also have a high loft driver (benny) which I used in the winter for maximum carry. I expect to use it again this year.

This was a picture taken at the range one evening

With the ball teed at this height, if I was to catch it at the bottom if the swing, the result would be not good. This is a little higher than on the course, where I use a pink castle tee or equivalent height with a wooden 3 1/4 inch. I also tee it "just a tad" towards the toe of the club, because when in position, the face will be more central as the club is off the ground, enough to graze an un-mowed tee, but not a freshly cut one!!!

There is much experimenting to do to max out driver distance. I'm safely in the 230-250 category and never more. I have hit my 10 degree FT-3 further (up to 270) but prefer to hit a solid straight shot that goes a little higher than take my chances with a lower one that may not get quite enough height.

 

[chrisj96]

i have the same problem as this if i have a high tee i top it and if i have a low tee i hit it down loads!!

 

[CrapHacker]

I'm experimenting with a slightly higher tee than usual, and hovering the driver at address.

Promotes a nice smooth takeaway, and encourages a sweeping shot, not quite such a mad thrash at it, like I normally manage.

 

[Chinaalan]

One thing I notice when people tee up high is that they have very level shoulders and thus tend to have a flat swing and end up skying the ball. Tee the ball up high by all means but the right shoulder should be lower than the left.There should be a "feel" that you are swinging up when the club impacts the ball.

For 3w or 5w I tee about 5mm. For the driver, if into a strong wind I tee down low, for shots with no or a following wind, up high about 1/2 to 2/3 ball diameter above the top line of the driver and just let it rip!!

Have a good day

 

[viscount17]

The danger with 'getting the feel that you are swinging up' is that it can screw up weight transfer, you end up either on the backfoot or helping the ball up.

I been teeing lower and a bit further forward following a spate of sky shots, but trying to make sure I drive through. It's also reduced the number of big slices, <u>if</u> I control the swing, letting rip is just a recipe fpr disaster unfortunately.

 

[CrapHacker]

The danger with 'getting the feel that you are swinging up' is that it can screw up weight transfer, you end up either on the backfoot or helping the ball up.

Yes. Definately a problem until you get the right feel for the shot.

I'm slowly getting there, but on the range earlier this week I hit some beautiful pull hooks, that were literally 80 yards left of target by the time they finished rolling. All because I kept my weight too much on the right foot.

It's a case of getting the weight transfer right, but keeping it behind the ball. Which is why, I suppose, we tee it further forward in our stance. ( is that right ? )

 

[RGDave]

One thing I notice when people tee up high is that they have very level shoulders and thus tend to have a flat swing and end up skying the ball. Tee the ball up high by all means but the right shoulder should be lower than the left.There should be a "feel" that you are swinging up when the club impacts the ball.

For 3w or 5w I tee about 5mm. For the driver, if into a strong wind I tee down low, for shots with no or a following wind, up high about 1/2 to 2/3 ball diameter above the top line of the driver and just let it rip!!

Have a good day

Good post! I agree. Flat/level shoulders with the driver is a no-go for me.