Par 3 and Irons off the tee.

[Dave2512]

The tee makes no difference. It's an advantage not a change.

[Ernest Jones]

As others have said, Tee'd up less than an 1/8 of an inch and hit it like any other iron shot. Slightly higher for hybrids but not by much, maybe a 1/4 inch?

[WUTiger]

I use a tee - about 1/8" high for short and medium irons - and hit the same type of shot as from fairway.

What I have done sometimes is tee up the ball about 1/4" high, and take one more club than normal. I'll hit a groove higher on the face, but I get the ball up, and regain the distance with the extra club chosen.

[RetroJFrancisco]

Originally Posted by Kevin04

Hey guys,

Just curious to see what most you guys do on a Par 3 or if hitting an iron off the tee on a hole.

Do you hit down much like you would if you were in the middle of the fairway with an iron, or do you hit it differently, more like a scoop type shot?

I didn't either think about this until I seen a video on the net recently from a PGA pro Conan Elliot saying that most golfers do and are meant to hit down on it from the tee, and the tee is used just as an aid to give yourself a perfect lie.

I did not know that at all, and I think in my 4 years or so of playing regular golf I more or less kind of hit the ball differently from the tee (almost a half scoop/half hitting down) very, very rarely leaving a divot.

It would be interesting to see what most folk do?

And to be honest, I don't know if I want to try hitting down like my regular iron play as I am usually qute strong from the tee e.g played today, 5 par 3s and parred 4, bogey on the last. I've found though I tend to use a lower club n a bit and almost give it a 80% swing rather than a direct flowing one with less club.

Anyhoos, thanks again.

I dont use a tee for any iron off the tee except my 4iron, if I tee it up I find dont get the same decending blow

[misty_mountainhop]

FWIW, always use a tee and basically sink the shank entirely so the head is all that's above the ground. Normal swing. Re. not using a tee, sure it was Nicklaus who commented that the game was hard enough already without ignoring the few perks the rules allow you.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by misty_mountainhop

FWIW, always use a tee and basically sink the shank entirely so the head is all that's above the ground. Normal swing. Re. not using a tee, sure it was Nicklaus who commented that the game was hard enough already without ignoring the few perks the rules allow you.

Most of the best pros to play the game have made that observation.  Lee Trevino has stated several times that it makes no sense not to give yourself the best lie possible when the opportunity presents itself.  Of course, we have bogey golfers here on the forum who know better.

[adam e]

I only tee it up if its more than a 7 iron. I used to tee everything, but I found that's hit higher irons too high and felt i was losing distance. I take a normal swing when it's teed and take a normal divot. Might be more mental than an actual issue, but hitting high irons off a nice lie off the deck works for me.

[Kevin04]

Thanks for the replies.

Really interesting to read all the opinions.

I noticed last night as I hadn't paid much attention to it in the past, but my buddy hits a club less than me. I'm going to try the hitting down tonight.

Maybe scooping is not the best description of it, but it's definitely a lighter type of hit than I would in the middle.

[boogielicious]

Same with me.  I tee it up just slightly above the grass and use my normal shot.  Teeing higher may reduce distance as well if the hit the ball higher of the face.