Before you even think about swinging the club, you must first tee your ball at the appropriate height. Knowing how and where to tee the ball is a crucial step of the game. Unfortunately, many beginners often overlook this element, randomly poking the tee in the ground while paying little-to-no attention to its height.
Do I Really Need To Tee My Ball?
Let me first start off by saying that YOU SHOULD ALWAYS USE A TEE. Whether it’s a massive par 6 or a beginner-friendly par 3, always tee your ball when give then the chance. Doing will increase your club’s surface contact with the ball, which translates into greater accuracy and longer distances. It only takes a couple seconds to tee a ball, but it will pay off in the long run.
Tee Height: Explained
The ideal tee height varies depending on the club being used. Generally speaking, longer clubs should use higher teed balls. Assuming you are using a driver (longest club), you should tee your ball so the crown (AKA the top) of your driver is alongside the bottom of the ball. Hold your driver in a normal position and raise or lower the tee so the bottom of the ball is aligned with the top of your club.
Remember, you’ll get the greatest connection by hitting the ball with the middle of your driver’s club face. If you hit it too low, it may create backspin so the ball goes higher into the air but not as far distance-wise. Hitting the ball in the “sweet spot” will lessen or eliminate backspin while increasing your distance.
If you’re using a shorter club, such as a 3-wood, you’ll need to lower the tee height for greater contact. A good rule of thumb when teeing a ball for a 3-wood is to leave about half of the ball exposed above the crown of the club. Other fairway woods should be teed with just 1/3 to 1/4 of the ball above the crown. Irons perform best when teed even lower to the ground.
Tee your ball higher when using longer clubs, and tee it lower when using shorter clubs. Keeping this in mind will give you a huge advantage over the competition. It may take some trial and error, but you’ll eventually learn the correct tee height for each of your clubs.
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It’s good to know that you should tee your ball high if you are playing with long clubs. My grandpa has been having a difficult time teeing since he can no longer bend his knees as much. It may be best for him to use some sort of tee placement device to help him.