Zero Friction Tee Review
Posted September 16th, 2005 by Erik J. Barzeski
The Zero Friction golf tee may be the best of the "alternative" golf tees around. You just can't break these things!
460cc composite drivers with movable weights. The hybrids explosion (with movable weights). Lob wedges with y-grooves. Golf balls tuned to launch high with less spin. Launch monitors. Huge advances in agronomy.
The golf world has changed dramatically in the past ten years, but a few things have remained the same: the diameter of the hole, the location of The Masters, and the lowly golf tee.
Oh, wait, scratch that last one. Just this year alone we've reviewed several new kinds of tees, from the outrageous Brush-T to the fairly traditional Stinger Tee. We even reviewed a biodegradeable tee known as the Epoch-3. Now it's Zero Friction's turn at the tee, quite literally. How does it fare? Keep reading…
Theory
I wrote this for the Stinger Tee review:
The theory behind the Stinger tee is the same as we've seen with the Epoch and Brush-T: less tee touches the ball, minimizing clubhead deflection and drag. The ball launches with less resistance and lower spin.
The same holds true for the Zero Friction tee: three little posts contact the ball, creating a large pocket of air beneath the ball and little chance of resistance as the ball begins sliding off the tee at impact.
The Zero Friction tee itself is relatively simple, as you can see to the right. Made of a biodegradable material, the tee consists of a tapered end, a post, and three little prongs at the top. You know, just like a regular old tee. Instructions tell you to point one of the prongs down the fairway to minimize drag and, I suspect, to minimize the chance of snapping off one of the three posts with your driver.
This is a rather conventional design, naturally, and one that is easily adopted by golfers. Stick a Brush-T in someone's hand and they'll often give you a funny look. The Zero Friction Tee is at least "user friendly."
Performance
Zero Friction Tees have been used to win several PGA Tour events. Great. Laura Davies tees her ball on top of a mound of earth, so we're pretty confident that PGA Tour pros could win with anything.
Excel Golf Tee, Inc. - makers of the Zero Friction tee - claim that the Zero Friction tee will enable you to hit the ball 5 yards further and 7 yards more accurately than any other distance tee. Naturally, and as we've said in our other distance tee reviews, it's tough to verify whether these tees provide any additional yardage. After all, we're not machines, and our swings can't be counted on to produce scientifically reliable results.
We did manage to put together a somewhat scientific test, however. Ten golfers having handicaps ranging from 5 to 15 each hit 20 balls on the driving range. The tee beneath the ball was randomly and blindly chosen so that 10 shots with both a standard wooden tee and a Zero Friction tee were hit. All other aspects were as controlled as possible - a consistent tee height was kept and so forth. 10 shots were hit with each. Any obviously mishit shots were replayed so as not to affect the averages dramatically.
Balls hit from the standard wooden tee served as the control, and balls hit from the Zero Friction tee were obviously the test subjects. The results aren't spectacular, but they do indicate some increased performance:
Wooden Tee Zero Friction Distance 253 yards 257 yards Deviation 13.5 yards 11.9 yards
In other words, the Zero Friction tee produced, on average, tee shots that were four yards further and about 1.5 yards closer to the center of the fairway than standard wooden tees. Not quite the 5 and 7 yards claimed, but 1.5 yards is the difference between the first cut of rough and the fairway, and four yards is nearly half a club less on approach shots.
I was initially concerned that the height of the tees - a fairly meager 2.75 inches - would not be appropriate for the 460cc drivers, but if you consider that by putting the tee in the ground 3/4", the center of the ball will be nearly three inches in the air, your fears will subside. In other words, 2.75" seems to be just enough height to set the ball up high enough for the largest drivers available. Still, it would be nice to see a taller version, if for no other reason than to calm the fears of the über-sensitive.
But One Other Thing…
What we noticed most in testing was that these tees simply did not break. We took a pack of 50 tees to the test site and returned with 49, but only because one "tester" pilfered his after smashing a drive 320 yards. He's a believer.
I've personally played about 20 rounds of golf with four or five Zero Friction tees in my bag. They're somewhat dirty now, but I still have the same four or five tees I started with. These things are so indestructible (yet biodegradeable?) that I'm having a hard time figuring out how Excel Golf Tee plans on making any money. After all, once everyone's bought a 50-pack of Zero Friction tees for $4.99, they may never need to buy tees again.
After years of "indestructible" plastic tees, a truly indestructible tee is well worth ten cents apiece. Whether Excel Golf Tees, Inc. likes this or not, that may be this tee's best feature.
The Zero Friction tee touches the ball in three very small spots and provides a cushion of air beneath the ball to further reduce deflection.
Conclusion
My allegiance has shifted: I no longer play the Stinger tees as I once did. I've switched full-heartedly to the Zero Friction tee. It may or may not give me increased distance and accuracy, but it does give me round after round of dependability.
Which is more than I can say for my golf swing.
Feedback
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Posted 17 Sep 2005 at 2:14pm #
All in all....still a tee
Posted 28 Nov 2005 at 7:14pm #
Great article and study of the various tees on the market.
Enjoyed reading, and I have been experimenting around with all myself. I found two Zero Friction Tees at the Range the other day, and ditto the reviewers sentiments.
I hit several Drives with the same tee, and they didn't seem to 'pop' up out of the ground and fly forward as much as the Epoch tees.
Thanks
Posted 05 Jan 2006 at 12:27pm #
I found one tee on the course recently, and played about 5 holes with it. My ball was stopping closer to the middle of the fairway while using the zero friction tee.
I will go buy a bag of these tees.
Posted 09 Jul 2006 at 11:14pm #
I've been using these for over 1 year now. I think they have improved mt driving accuracy. Great news they now come in a 3 1/4" version. Now it is my most favorite tee!
Posted 19 Aug 2006 at 6:08pm #
I like Launcher-Tees better, I think they perform better and they are unbreakable. I've found the zero-friction tees a little flimsy.
http://launcher-tee.com
Posted 05 Oct 2006 at 8:03pm #
The zero friction tee is decent, but the prongs to break every 4 to 5 hits. Launcher Tee is at least equal or better the perfomance hasn't broke at all. One guy at their website says he has used the same one for 4 months.
Posted 05 Oct 2006 at 8:22pm #
I categorically deny what Austin has said. I've used Zero Friction tees since I did this review (over one year ago) and have only ever broken four in that year. I've logged over 80 rounds since March alone.
I do not use the ZF tees on par threes (with irons), but I use on every par four and five.
Austin, this is your second comment on tees (you also commented here), so I am beginning to think you're not just a casual user, but that you have "Launcher Tee" business interests in mind.
I will also say that it's been the experience of everyone I know - including those in the forum - that the Zero Friction tees last darn near forever (a link to that discussion).
Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 8:53am #
Both ZF and Launcher tees are pretty good but I prefer to make my own using Teemorph - available online from http://www.teemorph.co.uk
This great product allows you to make your own custom designed golf tees and can easily replicate the same effect as Zero Friction and Launcher tees
As they can be remoulded simply in hot water if they get bent Teemorph golf tees are theretically everlasting and you can also experiment with different designs to find the one that works best with your swing
Posted 28 Feb 2007 at 1:18am #
This tees are built like tanks ..... Unless your burning them they wont be destroyed .... I love it. I still have my whole 50 tees since I bought them 6 moths ago.
Posted 04 Apr 2007 at 5:56pm #
Been using this year - lost 1, broken 3 in 12 round of golf! Generally remains in the earth after tee shot or with 6 inches. I love them because I carry 1 spare and a broken one for par 3s. No idea about extra carry but every little helps. 9hcp.
Posted 09 Apr 2007 at 9:01pm #
Only problem i have with these tees is sometimes it seems the ball falls off too easily them when teeing them, compared to normal wooden tees. Kind of makes me nervous when im addressing it with driver. I also dont really like them for par threes, as they seem distracting.
Posted 31 May 2007 at 4:52pm #
I recently heard about the Zero Friction tees and thought that nothing else could hurt my game. I love to play golf, but rarely have the time to play, much less practice. Therefore, it is all practice to me. With that said, I had pick-up the Zero Friction tees...Holy Cow...I have never hit the ball so conistantly in my golfing career. I am hooked on the game, but also hooked on the Zero Friction tees. I just hope that they stay a secret a little while longer.
Posted 04 Jun 2007 at 10:13am #
[...] still want to make a lasting impression, here's just the thing. The Zero Friction tees we reviewed here are simply amazing. I can't vouch for the "zero friction" aspect leading to any increased distance, [...]
Posted 19 Jun 2007 at 8:52am #
I'll vouch for the indestructibility of these tees as well. I found one in a cart back in March. I have been playing with it ever since!
Posted 08 Jul 2007 at 8:37am #
I have been a believer in these tees ever since my 9-year old wanted me to buy them because they looked so "cool." These tees truly are indestructable. Occasionally I will shear off the top of the tee when using an short iron on a par 3 due to a descending blow to the ball. Other than that, I have never broken one with a long iron or wood. The only complaint I do have with these tees is that they tend to bend when used over the course of the round or rounds. This results in sometimes having difficulty in keeping the ball on the tee when teeing it up, and my playing partners heckling me. As far as distance, I can't say either way.
Posted 25 Sep 2007 at 2:07pm #
I'm a believer! Most of my golfing buddies use the ZF tee exclusively. I am in the process of cleaning out my bag by giving my old tees away and going with the ZF. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense but ever since I started using it, my average score has dropped several strokes and with my swing, I need all the help I can get.
Posted 09 Oct 2007 at 5:54am #
Love 'em. The only way to get rid of them is to give a couple to the uninitiated.
Posted 02 Jan 2008 at 12:46pm #
Gotta love these tees! Used them for more than a year now and have never broken one!!!
Posted 11 Feb 2008 at 4:41pm #
I use this about one month ago , wow , I never seen any tee's like this before , it really works for me. Yesterday,I bought another pack to make sure never ran of this amazing tee for my rest of games. I'll keep this as a secret to all my groups .
Posted 24 Feb 2008 at 1:56am #
Like a lot of Zero Friction tee users i was introduced to them by chance. Having heard about them i was delighted to have found one at the range and saving me the monetary risk of investmenting in a pack in case i did not like them.
well i love them. right away i felt as though my drives were going straight with more consistency plus that tee lasted for quite awhile right up until i lost it at the same range where i'm sure by now it has been found once again...i think maybe it is that tees destiny to convert golfers into believers...
Posted 27 Feb 2008 at 11:27pm #
I have found this tee to really reliable and as everyone has stated...indestructible. I too found on one on the course and tried it and immediately noticed the difference (perhaps it was just a lucky shot I hit, but the ball traveled farther and straighter) that convinced me. I initialled went to the golf store and bought the epoch tee by mistake. The epochs are just collecting dust and I will probably give them away. I am a a Zero fan now!
Posted 23 May 2008 at 2:22pm #
I used some of these two seasons ago and I wasn't that impressed for the price difference from a massive bag of good ol' fashioned wood tees. Any performance gain was minimal, which I believe this review essentially points out.
As for the durability of the tees, sure they are more durable than wood tees, but I still broke all 5 I had in about a 3 month period. Now, granted, breaking only 5 tees in 3 months of golf is impressive, but they aren't "indestructible" as some may lead you to believe. I think it really depends on the conditions. I used them during the peak summer months here and the ground can become awfully hard from lack of rain, etc. I think what tends to happen is when the ground is too hard for the tee to pop out, they bend hard on contact and spring back while staying in the ground. After doing that enough I could actually see the stress point in the middle of the tee where the plastic had changed color from the constant stress. Once you could see that it was only a matter of time before it snapped.
Posted Yesterday at 9:54pm #
I love these tees and have been using them for two seasons now. It's true, they are in-friggin-destructible. I've broken only one over that time and yes they do tend to bend, but jeez, that's only after a couple of rounds of golf with the same tee - who knows how many wood tees you'd go through in two rounds. My only complaint is that they are hard to see when they come out of the ground. I would love to see them in a flourescent color.