Tee it lower?

[ezra76]

For I don't know how long I've been playing the ball teed up pretty high (with driver). I've noticed other guys tee it lower, some a lot lower. So I've been trying it lately and I'm astounded. Hitting the ball higher and much more consistantly. Anyone else have luck teeing it up a bit lower?

[Bossman641]

I've sorta been messing around with this a little bit as well. I switched straight from a 975J to a Launcher Ti 460 this year. That is a big jump from 312cc to 460cc and at first I had a big problem with topping the ball. With the J I had to pick the ball off the tee, while the Launcher has to be hit considerably higher up on the face. I've gotten used to the height of the face now and have actually started teeing it a little lower. Results thus far are very good.

[BStone]

I tee the ball relatively low with the larger headed drivers of today. Typically the top of the ball is level with the top of the club head at address.

[SilverUberXeno]

What Rockford generally says is what works for me: tee the ball up so that the top of your driver rests at the middle of the ball. Works best if you try to catch the ball on the upswing, which is what most drivers are designed for nowadays.

But really, if it works for you, go for it! Tee it 12 feet high if that's legal and effective.

[Fastback]

cant remember which magazine, but they tested different tee heights, and the higher tee was consistently the longer shot

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by Fastback

cant remember which magazine, but they tested different tee heights, and the higher tee was consistently the longer shot

Except for Hibore, need to tee that sucka lower. Something to do with CoG but it doen't work as well with a hitting it higer in the face. Complete opposite of TEE and 983K!! Go figure!!

I think it also depends on swing characteristics. I hit the ball quite low anyway even with a high tee and 10,5 degrees of loft. With a 9.5 Hibore and low tee, I hit about the same trajectory.

No harm in experimenting.

[$2 Nassau]

I'd say I tee mine up fairly low, by today's standards. I know the general rule is "tee it so the top of the driver meets the middle of the ball."

I tee mine so that the top of the driver meets 3/4 of the way up the ball. Just a small portion of the ball actually above the driver when I sole it on the ground.

[$2 Nassau]

As far as trajectory, I believe it is pretty much the opposite of what you might think.

If you tee it lower, you will hit the ball higher (unless you tee it TOO low) because you will attack with a more upright swing and steeper angle. A higher teed ball, makes you have to flatten out your swing to hit the ball in the middle of the clubface...giving you a lower trajectory.

If you say "no, that's not true, because when I tee it a little higher I hit skyballs." Well, that's a problem with your swing in relation to your tee height, you're swinging too steep. Tee it up a little higher, flatten out your swing and concentrate on hitting the ball in the middle of the clubface and the trajectory will be lower.

[Sean]

I experimented with a lower tee up on my drives a ways back and it was a terrible thing for me.

My normal tee is about 1/3-1/2 the ball above the crown at address. I tried dropping it some and started hitting the nastiest, highest slices I've ever seen. Moved it back up to my regular spot and it started going straight again.

Not sure if it's how I hit it or the tee height itself, but it was UGLY.

[ezra76]

Still got it lower and hitting it higher and much more control. Kiss the pop ups goodbye. I creamed about 3 dozen down a 10yd. wide lane. Carrying over 250 and rolling near 270.

[ualtim]

Originally Posted by ezra76

Still got it lower and hitting it higher and much more control. Kiss the pop ups goodbye. I creamed about 3 dozen down a 10yd. wide lane. Carrying over 250 and rolling near 270.

I will believe it when your next driver survives a few rounds without any skymarks.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by ualtim

I will believe it when your next driver survives a few rounds without any skymarks.

No skying today. Hit it very well on a few holes. Drove it to inside 20yds. on 332, 155 on 412 uphill and the last drive of the day I had 120 in on 410. I'm literally teeing half as high as I used to and smoking it up the middle.

[AaA]

Hey EZ-

I noticed how high you used to tee the ball up. I think when the ball is "propped" up like that, my mentality is to swing at it, rather than through it. It's almost like tee ball. I always tee mine up low and I've never had problems getting good height. If you watch most pros, even with their 460cc drivers, the ball is quite low.

[LyleG]

Teeing it lower will put more back spin on the ball. Hence higher and straighter.

[Sandy]

Whenever I tee it lower I do OK and then start hitting wicked pull-slices that barely get above head height.

Personally I seem to be hitting it sweetly by teeing it up nice and high on a 3 1/4" tee, but hovering my club head before the shot. Probably the equivalent of what EZ is doing with his lower tee, but all taking place 3 inches above the ground!