Teeing up .... launch angle ?

I have been tweaking around with the tee up height for the driver.

As my swing isn't really consistent (I think none of us can really say it is) I have trouble fiding the exact height ball after ball after ball .....

So after a previous thread I focussed on teeing up the ball at a level where the center of the ball matches the top edge of my driver's face, as most drivers tend to produce longer balls when hit slightly above the center sweetspot.

Problem is that if I hit it just a tiny bit to high on the face, balls go up a mile orso and then you can only be pleased with the fact, you hit the fairway for sure at 150 yds out.....

Now I am teeing it up a little lower, but how low would be optimal ..... ?

You will launch it higher the higher you hit the ball on the clubface, because the clubface is curved.

Everything has to be compared to the other factors at hand, like angle of attack, driver loft, ball speed, spin rate etc. It's hard to work on such a small detail without using a launch monitor.

You could be losing distance by teeing it lower, or you could be gaining. We can't say how high (or low) you should tee it without knowing the launch conditions. One way to find out is by experimenting yourself.

In general if your driver is 400cc - less than 460cc you should be teeing it up so half a ball is above the crown.  If it is a 460cc you need about 2/3rds above the ball.  Its to help you sweep it on the upswing and to hit just above the middle of the driver where the sweetspot is.  It also does depend on your angle of attack etc as well.

You can't make general statements based solely on the size of the clubhead. There are many factors involved in this.

I went through this about a month ago. I read an article about the need for increased tee height with the 460cc.  I decided to try it, nothing to lose.

My drives went easily 20yds further and straighter.

I found this article form Kevin Downey of Innovex Golf at the W3, what do you think of it ?

In the June Golf Digest (p. 46), Hank Haney tells about the risks to the average golfer of teeing the ball too high for drives. Haney advises a lower tee level than Downey does:

Quote:

I've tried this on the range, and the drives feel hotter and carry a bit lower. I'll give an update if the rains stop enough I can actually play.

Also on Downey, I'm leery of playing the ball too far forward. More height on my drives is not what I need.

Note: I offer this for what it's worth. I don't claim Haney as my guru or anything like that.

(Edit corrects month of GD article)

That is the nice thing in golf, guru A says high for length, and guru B says low for straight drives

So I guess we'll have to figure this out by ourselfs !!!!

Sofar I have had best results with the Pride PTS Prolength tees (2 3/4" white/yellow) that I push into the ground till the the yellow band exactly disapears in the ground ....... with my 909 D3 the top of the face matches the middle of the ball, but I also have a Hibore XLS and I have been tinkering with the Prolength Plus tees (3 1/8" white/blue) to bring the ball up at the higher face, that is where many problems come from, maybe I don't know but now they are going like hell 300+ with a nice high trajectory, but the next might go 30 yds to the right and the distance is still good. But I am getting a bit upset, playing from the next fairway at 6/14 holes.

Yesterday I hit actually only 2/10 fairways, before I left it in the bag and was in the center fairway hitting around 210-220 with my hybrid.......

I sometimes use the Shorttee version (its intended use is FW woods, etc.) but when teeing up low, I have a tendecy to hit down at the ball ....... other problems.

Anyway I am going to the range today to figure out my personal best tee height, it would not surprise me if the outcome for both drivers will be the 2 3/4" white/yellow ones, but I might aswell work with the Haney Tip.

CU, Gerald.