Tees

[gsu_paintballer]

I'm sure this is a dumb question....but are the tees supposed to break on drives? Are there hard plastic tees available as opposed to the wooden ones I have always seen?

Also, tees are only used on drives, correct?

[twotacosfor99cents]

1) Yes, it's ok for them to break. Annoying, but yes.

2) Get these tees: http://www.zerofrictiontees.com . They don't break.

3) You use tees for just about any club you want off the tee. For drivers and woods, the tee height should put 1/2 of the ball over the head of the club. For short irons, the tee should be flush with the ground. For long irons, the tee should be about 1/4 inch above the ground to give the ball a good lie.

Here's some photographic references for you:

Driver:


Hybrids + Fairway Woods (1/2 inch off ground):


Short Irons, 6I - PW (Flush):


Long Irons, 2I-5I (1/4 inch off ground):

[elchene]

It's normal for tees to break on drives. However, I notice that when I'm hitting well and my drives are longer and more solid, the tee never breaks. When the tee stays in the ground and doesn't break, it usually means you're sweeping the ball off the tee from the inside which is what you need for solid contact. When I pop up a drive, the tee always breaks.

[Shindig]

  gsu_paintballer said:

I'm sure this is a dumb question....but are the tees supposed to break on drives? Are there hard plastic tees available as opposed to the wooden ones I have always seen?

Tees break sometimes. I break about 4-5 per round. It's definitely an argument for the other types of tees that I tend to bend too much but most good players have had great success with.

Tees being used on drives... tough question. Always use a tee with your driver. And always put your ball on a tee for your first shot on a hole. If you're hitting an iron (say, on many par-3s), use the top half of a broken tee and push it mostly into the ground. On these, the tee is used to guarantee yourself a good lie. I see way too many people just drop a ball in the teeing zone and hit it from a sometimes questionable lie. I understand hitting from a divot on the driving range, but when the score matters and you have the option of a perfect lie instead? Also, it has been observed that air offers less resistance than dirt.

[Greg_G]

I break a tee on every drive... But I usually bring a huge bag of them so I don't really care.

[MGP]

Here is a recent similar thread:

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11805

[DJYoshi]

  gsu_paintballer said:

I'm sure this is a dumb question....but are the tees supposed to break on drives? Are there hard plastic tees available as opposed to the wooden ones I have always seen?

I use Epoch tees. they're biodegradable so if you break them or they fly and you can't find them after your drive, it's cool... BUT

I will say even though they're more expensive than a regular wooden tee, I can go 3 - 4 rounds using the same tee. You'll lose 1 before you break it.

[T.J.K.]

I sometimes break tees on drives, but normally the tee should come out of the ground and fly up. That's what I have always heard, and what seems to happen when I am striking the ball well.

I would think if the tee is breaking, you are hitting the ball too high on the club face.

Also, anytime you have a chance to use tee, do it.

[La Costa Golfer]

I wouldn't suggest plastic tees. They will definitely leave a ding mark on your the face of a Ti driver...the metal being soft.

[Snake]

  twotacosfor99cents said:

2) Get these tees:

+1

FWIW, I recently got a practice net and made a practice mat out of a bath mat and a piece of wafer board. I drilled a hole in the middle and tapped a zero friction tee into the hole with a hammer - it was a TIGHT fit. At least 100 practice drives later the same tee was still standing! I had to bend it straight again every now and then, but it never snapped. If that doesn't illustrate zero friction tees' durability, I don't know what does!

[Clubswinger21]

I used to think tees didnt matter, I would buy the bulk pack at my local golf store. Every solid strike the tee would break.. even when i put it losely in the ground. I found a driver sized brush tee on the course which id seen only on infomercials. Loved it for the driver i was using (400cc). One of the reasons i hate over sized drivers is because my down swing has a farely shallow path, even then id still need an XL tee to get it high enough. Really, if you're a decent ball striker you'll be able to tell the difference between tees at contact with any club.

[goblue107501]

One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned is the type of tee box. If the tee box is hard (very dry) you are more likely to break a tee since the ground won't give as much when it moves. It the box is softer (wet) or has a little bit higher grass the tee will just pop up after hitting since there is less resistance on it.

[Matt P]

  twotacosfor99cents said:

2) Get these tees:

I use zero friction tees and love'em. I am still using the same package I bought two years ago, after giving a bunch of them to friends. They will break on some iron shots, so I usually use a broken tee or a wooden short tee for iron shots.

Check out this SandTrap review !