Slanted Tee box question

[divot dave]

I've developed a rather neutral swing over the course of the summer such that I have (for the most part) eliminated my slices and hooks and teeing off is usually straight on with maybe a little fade or very little draw. With that said, I've had a heck of a time maintaining that consistency when hitting on a slanted tee box where the ball is above or below my feet. The other day I hit a wicked hook into the trees while teeing off from a rather steep uphill slant.

My question(s): do you all experience the same problems and how do you successfully counteract a slanted tee box? What techniques have worked to neutralize the effect?

[AmazingWhacker]

I handle it by complaining about the slanted tee box and swearing under my breath that I'm going to start playing at a better course.  The one time you should be guaranteed a good lie is off the tee!

But since I play mostly cheap courses with lots of slanted tee boxes I just try to play it like any other slanted lie.  I try to find the most level spot on the tee box, take a few practice swings, a waggle or 2, then a few under-the-breath curses - and then I hook it into the trees.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by divot dave

I've developed a rather neutral swing over the course of the summer such that I have (for the most part) eliminated my slices and hooks and teeing off is usually straight on with maybe a little fade or very little draw. With that said, I've had a heck of a time maintaining that consistency when hitting on a slanted tee box where the ball is above or below my feet. The other day I hit a wicked hook into the trees while teeing off from a rather steep uphill slant.

My question(s): do you all experience the same problems and how do you successfully counteract a slanted tee box? What techniques have worked to neutralize the effect?

Since it's usually more of a mental than a physical thing, I just don't worry about it.  Most crooked tee boxes aren't as slanted as they look, and since the ball is on a tee, it's going to be above your feet anyway, so if you adjust the tee height 1/2" one way or the other it shouldn't matter what the ground is doing.

[divot dave]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Since it's usually more of a mental than a physical thing, I just don't worry about it.  Most crooked tee boxes aren't as slanted as they look, and since the ball is on a tee, it's going to be above your feet anyway, so if you adjust the tee height 1/2" one way or the other it shouldn't matter what the ground is doing.

if it were a matter of a 1/2" adjustment, there would be no thread lol... trust me, it matters... especially when the best lie puts the ground at  shin level

[MEfree]

How do you do on uneven lies in the fairway?  I would likely approach it the same way.  I don`t like uneven tee boxes, but try not to get annoyed unless the box is slanted the opposite way that the shot calls for.

[divot dave]

Originally Posted by MEfree

How do you do on uneven lies in the fairway?  I would likely approach it the same way.  I don`t like uneven tee boxes, but try not to get annoyed unless the box is slanted the opposite way that the shot calls for.

interesting question... still trying to iron out (no pun intended) those kinks as well. I typically choke up a little on the grip and adjust my target line a little to how I think it will perform coming off the ground, but that's not quite the same scenario as a ball that is on a tee on an uneven lie, where the toe of the driver ends up pointing at the sky (exaggeration).

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by divot dave

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Since it's usually more of a mental than a physical thing, I just don't worry about it.  Most crooked tee boxes aren't as slanted as they look, and since the ball is on a tee, it's going to be above your feet anyway, so if you adjust the tee height 1/2" one way or the other it shouldn't matter what the ground is doing.

if it were a matter of a 1/2" adjustment, there would be no thread lol... trust me, it matters... especially when the best lie puts the ground at  shin level

Then that isn't a tee box.  Sorry but I've seen some ragged tees, but if it's 2" from one side to the other then that's as bad as it gets.  If you play a course worse than that, then that course isn't worth playing.

[divot dave]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Then that isn't a tee box.  Sorry but I've seen some ragged tees, but if it's 2" from one side to the other then that's as bad as it gets.  If you play a course worse than that, then that course isn't worth playing.

Yea, there are a couple of tee boxes I have in mind that sit at a drastic incline, but aside from that it really is a decent public course, kinda hard to throw the baby out with the bathwater. But at this stage in my career (< 1 year in) I'm playing budget friendly courses for the most part where its not uncommon to have a poorly maintained tee box or two, and there's not always a 1:1 correlation between tee box condition and play-worthiness of a course.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by divot dave

interesting question... still trying to iron out (no pun intended) those kinks as well. I typically choke up a little on the grip and adjust my target line a little to how I think it will perform coming off the ground, but that's not quite the same scenario as a ball that is on a tee on an uneven lie, where the toe of the driver ends up pointing at the sky (exaggeration).

I`d like a physics guy to weigh in, but I think part of the reason you may draw/fade when the ball is above/below you is how your weight gets pushed towards your heels/toes.  Adjusting tee height wouldn`t change this factor.

If I was generally hitting it straight, I would tend to try to do the same thing and play for a draw if the ball was above me.  Not certain about when it is below- some say a fade, but Johnny Miller says that pros have more of a tendency to pull the ball when it is below them.  If you get the chance, I would try hitting multiple shots off uneven tees to try to find your tendency and see what is comfortable.

[geauxforbroke]

I'm not a physics guy, but thinking about the way the lie will affect the swing, I think it's more a matter of how the lie can change your swing plane. Since the shaft angle changes from standard when the ball is significantly above or below the feet, your plane with naturally change a bit. But it seems like many people have the tendency to get even flatter, more like a baseball swing, when the ball is well above the feet. The opposite seems true when the ball is below, the swing gets even more upright. My tendencies are to hook it when the ball is above my feet, and pull it when it's below my feet.

[MSchott]

Originally Posted by AmazingWhacker

I handle it by complaining about the slanted tee box and swearing under my breath that I'm going to start playing at a better course.  The one time you should be guaranteed a good lie is off the tee!

But since I play mostly cheap courses with lots of slanted tee boxes I just try to play it like any other slanted lie.  I try to find the most level spot on the tee box, take a few practice swings, a waggle or 2, then a few under-the-breath curses - and then I hook it into the trees.

This. No halfway decent muni should have tees that are not flat. But if the tee is slanted and there are no other options, you have to play for the slope.

[MSchott]

Originally Posted by divot dave

Yea, there are a couple of tee boxes I have in mind that sit at a drastic incline, but aside from that it really is a decent public course, kinda hard to throw the baby out with the bathwater. But at this stage in my career (< 1 year in) I'm playing budget friendly courses for the most part where its not uncommon to have a poorly maintained tee box or two, and there's not always a 1:1 correlation between tee box condition and play-worthiness of a course.

You probably know this but you can tee the ball up to 2 club lengths behind the tee markers. This may give you more options to find a level area.

[divot dave]

Originally Posted by MSchott

You probably know this but you can tee the ball up to 2 club lengths behind the tee markers. This may give you more options to find a level area.

actually i just found that out today... lol. However, I have always tried to find as level a position as possible within reasonable distance of the markers (behind of course).

[phan52]

Originally Posted by divot dave

I've developed a rather neutral swing over the course of the summer such that I have (for the most part) eliminated my slices and hooks and teeing off is usually straight on with maybe a little fade or very little draw. With that said, I've had a heck of a time maintaining that consistency when hitting on a slanted tee box where the ball is above or below my feet. The other day I hit a wicked hook into the trees while teeing off from a rather steep uphill slant.

My question(s): do you all experience the same problems and how do you successfully counteract a slanted tee box? What techniques have worked to neutralize the effect?

"Steep uphill slant"? On a tee box? You've got to be kidding. My suggestion would be to play at a better maintained golf course.

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by phan52

"Steep uphill slant"? On a tee box? You've got to be kidding. My suggestion would be to play at a better maintained golf course.

Or rent a bulldozer one night...

[Valleygolfer]

If it is below I tee high and focus on hitting the ball and the opposite for above.

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by Valleygolfer

If it is below I tee high and focus on hitting the ball and the opposite for above.

Tee it low and focus on hitting the ground?

[Paradox]

If a tee box is REALLY REALLY bad(as you can sometimes get with public courses that get a lot of wear) I would just try to find a level spot ANYWHERE behind the tee markers.

Some courses won't take the time to till up a worn out tee box and re-do it, which is a shame because after many years they can become unusable.