At what hcp did you make the jump from the white to the blue tees ?

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

If you can hit it 250 off the tee on average, then I'd just go play the tips on your next round if you haven't already. 7000 really isn't that difficult if you're okay hitting 200 yard approach shots on 450 yard par fours. I played from 7000 yards for the first time recently and found it be easier in some ways. I hit more fairways than I ever had before. The obvious downside of course is mishitting my driver and leaving myself a 3-wood into a green. I only did that once during the round though.

Clearly it depends on what kind of course we're talking about here and it helps to know the layout first so you can have an idea of what's possible and what isn't given your current skill level. The courses I play don't have insane forced carries or anything like that when playing from 7000.

I respectfully disagree because most guys will NOT admit they don't hit it < 250 yards with the driver. The average person needs a shorter club in their hands on their approaches; NOT a longer one.

Playing tees that measure out at 7,000 yds for someone who can't break 80 isn't helping the game en masse. If they can't break 80 from there, they SHOULD move forward. It's all about skill and NOT about distance. If they're already hitting 3-4 by the time they even get near the greens, they're already resigned to making an 'other'. Why not move up and teach them to score so they can save par. As they progress with their scoring, then move back since they've honed their short game.

People; play the appropriate tees. When is the last time ANYONE asked you what tees you shot _____ from? Never, I'm guessing.

[JetFan1983]

I agree, people who are lying about their distances should play the appropriate tees.

If you legitimately hit it 250 yards on average off the tee though, you've got a decent enough swing I think. I would certainly encourage teeing it forward 99 out of 100 times, but when I tried 7000 yards for the first time, I was surprised to find that the lines off the tee were actually much easier most of the time. And the fairways looked enormous (obviously depends on the course, but in my case this was true).

Once in a blue moon, if you know you won't hold anyone up and you're looking for a little variety, why not? If nothing else, when I play from 6500 yards (my normal yardage), it felt short. That's a good feeling to have as a golfer -- at least, in my experience.

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

I agree, people who are lying about their distances should play the appropriate tees.

If you legitimately hit it 250 yards on average off the tee though, you've got a decent enough swing I think. I would certainly encourage teeing it forward 99 out of 100 times, but when I tried 7000 yards for the first time, I was surprised to find that the lines off the tee were actually much easier. And the fairways looked enormous.

Once in a blue moon, if you know you won't hold anyone up and you're looking for a little variety, why not? If nothing else, when I play from 6500 yards (my normal yardage), it felt short. That's a good feeling to have as a golfer -- at least, in my experience.

I know what you're saying man and I agree for the most part. However, it's best for those that want to experiment with length to try the tips during non peak times. Kind of like having your inexperienced kids/wife/gf out there. Don't mess with everyone else's round for the sake of trying out something.

I've played from the gold (tips) tees for several years and ended up taking a break from the game (for 5+ years) because I was getting too frustrated. I started back again and went to the blue tees (we have reds/pewter (seniors)/whites/blues/golds) until I start breaking 80 consistently. Length is not the issue; consistency is and that's my point. If I can't consistently score, why make it difficult on myself and those behind me (waiting as I take 15 more shots during the round)?

[JetFan1983]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

I agree, people who are lying about their distances should play the appropriate tees.

If you legitimately hit it 250 yards on average off the tee though, you've got a decent enough swing I think. I would certainly encourage teeing it forward 99 out of 100 times, but when I tried 7000 yards for the first time, I was surprised to find that the lines off the tee were actually much easier. And the fairways looked enormous.

Once in a blue moon, if you know you won't hold anyone up and you're looking for a little variety, why not? If nothing else, when I play from 6500 yards (my normal yardage), it felt short. That's a good feeling to have as a golfer -- at least, in my experience.

I know what you're saying man and I agree for the most part. However, it's best for those that want to experiment with length to try the tips during non peak times. Kind of like having your inexperienced kids/wife/gf out there. Don't mess with everyone else's round for the sake of trying out something.

I've played from the gold (tips) tees for several years and ended up taking a break from the game (for 5+ years) because I was getting too frustrated. I started back again and went to the blue tees (we have reds/pewter (seniors)/whites/blues/golds) until I start breaking 80 consistently. Length is not the issue; consistency is and that's my point. If I can't consistently score, why make it difficult on myself and those behind me (waiting as I take 15 more shots during the round)?

Trust me, I'm not immune to frustration either.

All good points, P. I think I was mostly playing devil's advocate with my original point, but I thought it was important to throw some of those points out there. The tips are certainly harder -- but there were a couple things that I did find to be easier.

But definitely don't mess with the round of the players behind you (or the one's in front of you for that matter). That's a big no-no in my book too.

[Flav]

I'm probably in the minority. i play the men's, middle, white (6200ish) tees what ever you want to call them. I give it two holes. If my swing doesn't feel right that day I will move up and play the shorter tees. No sense in struggling all day to shoot a horrible score and take the fun out of it. My home course is not the longest but not the shortest either. I see to many people who are afraid to go up to the forward tees because they still have the "women's" tees mentality. I bet if they did and carded a few birdies they would think differently of it.

[NuclearMike]

My length, or lack of it, has me hitting from the whites.  It's absolutely about distance.  6300 is good for me, 6800 isn't.  I drive it 220-240 and hit a 5 iron about 160.

[Clambake]

I concur with everyone's comment that it is about the length and not handicap, I'll add a little wrinkle in that it I feel it should also be about the variety of shots and therefore also depends on the course setup.   I like to play the tee combination that will let me hit pretty much every club in the bag, and the layout of the course also comes into play and not just the length.   When I found I could keep hitting driver/wedge on a majority of par 4s, I needed to move back to be able to hit a variety of clubs for approach shots.    On some courses, I find it is driver/4 iron on too many of the holes and that means I move up.

Just looking at the overall yardage can fool you as it depends on where the yardage really is, what the overall par is, and how well greens hold an approach shot.       6400 yards on a par 71 course with a couple shorter par 5s and 3s and hard greens can be way too long to provide variety on par 4 approaches, while 6800 yards on a par 72 with softer greens and a couple long par 5s and long par 3s can feel too short.

[ThominOH]

In my opinion.. play from the tees that reasonably challenges you without effecting play on the course..   In other words.. If you are taking 4, 5, or 7 strokes just to get to the green, MOVE up to the next yardage tees.. You are slowing down play for yourself and others.. If you are hitting wedges into all the par 4's and irons on the 2nd shots on par 5's.. MOVE back to a longer distance.. The proper tee box is both a combination of yardage and handicap.. Most of the issues with "which tee box" to use is based on ego.. I play with guys that are older and can't hit their drives past 200, but insist on playing off the same tees they always did in the past when they were younger..  They refuse to swallow their ego's and MOVE up to a closer tee.. But then, I know alot of young guys that have no right to be teeing off the 6100 yardage distance as well..

For the last 30 years, I use a simple method.. What tee box gives me the best chance to hit 8 or 7 iron on AVERAGE into the par 4's on my second shot.. This normally means I'll hit wedges on short par 4's, and longer irons on the tougher ones.. All par 4's should be reachable in two, ignore par 5's and par 3's.. This normally puts me in the 6500 category..

[saevel25]

It should primarily be based on how far you hit the golf ball. A good course will have varying lengths of holes and should challenge you through out your bag, you shouldn't be hitting wedge after wedge, or hybrid after hybrid into greens. There might be more than other's but on average i think middle irons should be what you should play into greens majority of the time.